The WEEPING Prophet: The Story of the PERSECUTION and TORTURE of the PROPHET JEREMIAH.

Jeremiah a name that resonates Through the Ages is undoubtedly one of the most profound and moving figures in the Bible living in a time of great turmoil he was called to an almost impossible mission to warn the kingdom of Judah about the imminent destruction that would come as a consequence of their unfaithfulness to God and here we are delving into the story of this Prophet who with tears in his eyes and a trembling voice Proclaim claimed Divine truths that few were willing to hear imagine a time when the chosen nation was on the brink of

collapse and God In His Infinite Mercy still sent messages of warning hope judgment and restoration through one man this was Jeremiah the weeping prophet born in the late 7th Century BC Jeremiah grew up during a period of drastic political and religious changes the king of Judah governed by a succession of Kings who often led the people away from God's ways was in Decline the nation once prosperous and protected by the Covenant with the Lord was now heading towards destruction and it was in this context that God called Jeremiah to be his voice among the people

a voice crying out in the spiritual Wilderness from a young age Jeremiah felt the weight of this calling a responsibility he never asked for but accepted with reluctance and obedience the Bible tells us that even before he was born he had been set apart for this Mission before I formed you in the womb I knew you before you were born I set you apart I appointed you as a prophet to the Nations Jeremiah 1:5 a Divine Mission he could not refuse even in the face of his fears and insecurities Jeremiah was a man who understood

the difficulties he would face he was not ignorant of the suffering that would come from being the voice of God in a time of such Rebellion the call from God which came with unmistakable Clarity was not something he accepted easily it was a mission of pain rejection and loneliness Jeremiah like any young person had his fears and insecurities he did not see himself as a great speaker or as someone capable of confronting Kings and Nations when God called him his immediate reaction was one of hesitation alas Sovereign Lord I said I do not know how

to speak I am too young Jeremiah 1:6 Jeremiah's Humanity shines through In This Moment he was after all just a young man aware of his limitations however God is not impressed by human weaknesses for his strength is made perfect in weakness and so the Lord the Lord responded to Jeremiah's fear with a promise of constant presence do not say I am too young you must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you do not be afraid of them for I am with you and will rescue you declares the Lord Jeremiah

1:7 to8 even so the prophet rose with a heavy heart to face the challenge he knew that he did not speak on his own behalf but for God the one who knew him from his mother's womb had set him apart to proclaim the words that no one else wanted to say and so with tears in his eyes Jeremiah began his ministry a Ministry that would be marked by sorrow suffering and unshakable faithfulness to the god of the Bible the kingdom of Judah was on the brink of the abyss and Jeremiah's warnings echoed as a final

call to repentance he spoke not not only of disasters and destruction but also of the need to return to God to once again Embrace The Commandments and the Covenant that had been neglected and so we begin our journey through the life and Ministry of Jeremiah the weeping prophet as we explore his story we will see not only a man who suffered for his faith but also a faithful servant who despite the adversities remained steadfast in the mission God entrusted to him Jeremiah's calling thrust him into a difficult and challenging Mission he was not just a

prophet but God's spokesperson in times of great crisis during the reign of the righteous Josiah there was hope that Judah would return to the ways of the Lord but as the years passed it became clear that the people's hearts were still hardened Jeremiah Was tasked with a mission that would require unwavering courage to warn Judah of the imminent destruction if they did not repent of their sins the nation having turned away from The Fountains of Living Water was now about to reap the bitter fruits of their Rebellion my people have committed two sins they have

forsaken me the spring of Living Water and have dug their own systems broken systems that cannot hold water Jeremiah 2:13 Jeremiah's mission was in essence an act of divine love God in his Mercy did not want his people to perish but to repent and returned to him however Jeremiah's task was anything but easy he faced daily resistance from a people who did not want to hear the truth who preferred the smooth words of false prophets over God's hard but necessary warnings idolatry and spiritual corruption were the main targets of Jeremiah's messages he saw how God's

people had traded the glory of the Lord for Idols of wood and stone how they had turned away from the true God to follow false gods that could do nothing for them Jeremiah's heart achd to see the spiritual degradation of Judah a nation once called to be holy and set apart he fervently proclaimed the words that the lord gave him words that exposed the people's sins and called them back to righteousness but despite his warnings Jeremiah faced scorn and rejection from many including the religious leaders themselves who should have been the first to listen and

repent in the midst of his mission Jeremiah faced a dilemma how to continue preaching to a people who refused to listen yet he persevered knowing that he was fulfilling God's will his warnings were not just words in the wind but a desperate attempt to save Judah from destruction with each new Prophecy with each new message Jeremiah renewed his commitment to God even when his own heart was heavy with the burden he carried he knew that his ministry would not be measured by the number of conversions or by popularity but by his faithfulness to the Divine

calling as Jeremiah advanced in his prophetic Mission the consequences of his faithfulness to God began to manifest in painful ways he increasingly became a controversial figure in Judah someone unafraid to confront the corruption and idolatry of the time but this this boldness did not come without a cost Jeremiah faced Relentless persecution both from the people and from religious and political leaders his commitment to proclaiming the Divine truth even if unpopular made him a constant Target of attacks and reprisals God himself had warned Jeremiah that he would face resistance but he also promised that he would

not abandon him they will fight against you but will not overcome you for I am with with you and will rescue you declares the Lord Jeremiah 1:19 among the many adversities that Jeremiah faced one of the most notorious was the imprisonment ordered by the priest paser Jeremiah obeying God's call was not intimidated by the need to speak the truth even when that truth was painful and unpopular he had received a harsh word from the Lord a prophecy announcing the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple the spiritual heart of Judah for the people and their

religious leaders it was inconceivable that God would allow such a disaster especially against his own house the temple but Jeremiah with the conviction that can only come from Deep communion with God proclaimed these words of Judgment at the Temple Gates urging the people to repent before it was too late among the religious leaders who fiercely opposed Jeremiah Was paser the priest in charge of Temple security Pasha could not tolerate Jeremiah's Prophecies of Destruction seeing them as a threat to the stability and authority of the religious leaders to him Jeremiah Was An agitator someone who needed

to be silenced to maintain order the priest viewed Jeremiah's messages as a direct attack on his own position and the status quo he represented filled with anger and disdain Pasha decided to take action Pasha ordered Jeremiah to be captured flogged and imprisoned the floggings a brutal form of punishment not only caused the prophet physical pain but were also intended to publicly humiliate him after the floggings Jeremiah was placed in the stocks a torture device that restrained the hands and feet forcing the body into a painful position these stocks were set at the upper gate of

Benjamin one of the main entrances to the temple where all who passed by could see the prophet in his Affliction it was a clear attempt to discredit Jeremiah displaying him as a criminal in the eyes of the people throughout that Night Jeremiah remained in the stocks enduring physical pain and public humiliation however even in the midst of this adversity the prophet did not lose his determination he knew that his mission was greater than the momentary suffering the next morning when pashhur ordered his release Jeremiah did not back down instead of yielding to the pressure and

abandoning his message he delivered a new prophecy this time directly against pasur he announced that pash's name would be changed to Mago missabib meaning Terror on every side a name that reflected the Fate awaiting the priest Jeremiah declared that paser and his family would be taken captive to Babylon where they would die and be buried as a consequence of their Rebellion against God Jeremiah 21-6 however Jeremiah's Journey was not just one of outward bravery he also wrestled internally with the difficulties of his calling in moments of deep anguish the prophet even lamented the day he

was born questioning why God had chosen him for such a painful task in Jeremiah 279 he expresses his despair you deceived me Lord and I was deceived you overpowered me and prevailed I am ridiculed all day long everyone mocks me but if I say I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name his word is in my heart like a fire a fire shut up in my bones I am wey of holding it in indeed I cannot these words reveal the intensity of the spiritual and emotional battle Jeremiah waged a struggle between

the desire to give up and the irresistible compulsion to fulfill God's call however the most difficult part was Yet to Come Jeremiah had become an extremely unpopular figure among the political and military leaders of Judah among the most furious with Jeremiah's prophecies were the princes of Judah who saw him as a threat to their Authority and the Very survival of the city they went to King zedekiah and demanded that Jeremiah be severely punished zedi a weak and indecisive King who wavered between the fear of the leaders and the awareness of the truth in Jeremiah's words

gave in to the pressure from the princes with the king's permission they took Jeremiah and decided to get rid of him in the cruestv located in the courtyard of the prison and it belonged to malija one of the princes by that time the sister no longer held water but it was filled with thick deep mud with no way to move or Escape Jeremiah was thrown into the syst sinking into the mud to the point where he could barely move Darkness cold and dampness surrounded him and death by starvation or Suffocation seemed inevitable the princes believed

that by leaving Jeremiah there they could finally silence him without the need to to shed his blood directly however in the midst of this terrible situation Divine Providence acted in an unexpected way Eed MC an Ethiopian who served in King zedekiah's Court learned of what had happened to jermiah Eed MC was a man of Compassionate Heart and despite the risks he decided to intercede for the prophet he went to the king and courageously denounced the Injustice being committed against Jeremiah zedekiah perhaps moved by guilt or by the remembrance of Jeremiah's warnings authorized IED mik to

rescue the prophet from the sistern IED melik then gathered some men and improvised ropes made of rags and old clothes he lowered these ropes into the sistern and carefully instructed Jeremiah to place them under his arms so he could be pulled out this act of kindness and courage saved Jeremiah's life who after being rescued from the sistern was exhausted and covered in mud but still alive after the rescue Jeremiah was placed back in the courtyard prison where though still incarcerated he was at least safe from the terrible conditions of the syst this episode of the

muddy syst is not just a story of persecution but also a testimony of God's faithfulness in the midst of extreme suffering Jeremiah even facing an apparently certain death was sustained by Divine Providence through Eid melik showing that even in the darkest and most desperate moments God does not abandon those who remain faithful to him the story reminds us that no matter how deep the system of difficulties in which we find ourselves there is always hope and rescue in God's faithfulness sometime later once free Jeremiah's Ministry Advanced and his messages became became increasingly somber and Urgent

he had been called to Proclaim God's judgment on Judah and one of the most devastating prophecies he received concerned the destruction of Jerusalem this city which had been the center of worship to God and a symbol of his presence among the people was now destined for ruin because of the continued Disobedience and rebellion of its inhabitants Jeremiah did not mince words in describing the disaster that was to come and his warnings became the center of his ministry I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon declares the Lord

and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding Nations I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and Scorn and an everlasting ruin Jeremiah 259 the impact of Jeremiah's prophecies was profound especially because he spoke against the popular belief that Jerusalem was inviolable many in Judah believed that God would never allow his holy city to be destroyed especially the temple where his presence had dwelt however Jeremiah with courage and conviction challenged this false sense of security he proclaimed that God's very presence had been profaned

by the idolatry and rampant sin of the people as a result God would use Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon as an instrument of his judgment this prophecy not only shocked Jeremiah's listeners but also enraged them for it was inconceivable that God himself would permit a foreign Nation to destroy his City and take his people captive one of the most notable confrontations of Jeremiah occurred with the false prophet hananiah hananiah attempting to offer a message of hope that contradicted Jeremiah publicly declared that the Babylonian yoke would be broken in 2 years and that the captives and

the temple Treasures would be restored to Jerusalem Jeremiah initially responded with bitter irony wishing that hanah's words were true but knowing they were false he then announced in the name of God that hananiah was deceiving the people and that instead of Peace there would be War famine and pestilence as for the prophet who prophesies peace when the word of that Prophet comes to pass then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the Prophet Jeremiah 28:9 shortly after haniah died confirming the truth of Jeremiah's words and God's judgment on those who distorted his

message despite the harshness of his prophecies Jeremiah also brought messages of Hope for the future amidst the impending destruction he spoke about the promise of restoration although this restoration would only come after a period of 70 years of captivity in Babylon this is what the Lord says when 70 years are completed for Babylon I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place Jeremiah 29:10 This Promise contained in a letter sent to the Exiles in Babylon offered a glimpse of Hope in the midst of Darkness showing that God's

judgment always came with his mercy and that he had not completely abandoned his people the prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem culminated in one of the most tragic moments in judah's history in 586 BC Jeremiah's words were fulfilled with terrifying accuracy the Babylonians invaded the city destroyed the temple and took a large portion of the population into captivity those who had mocked and rejected Jeremiah's words now faced the harsh reality he had foretold the city that once Shone as a beacon of Glory was reduced to ruins and Jeremiah's lament echoed among the broken stones and

broken hearts of the few who survived this episode is a powerful testimony to the Fulfillment of God's promises both of judgment and restoration Jeremiah faithful to his calling proclaimed the Divine truth even when it was unpopular and painful after the destruction of Jerusalem and the ensuing desolation Jeremiah the prophet who had predicted these events with terrifying Precision expressed his pain and sorrow in a way that would resonate for Generations he wrote the book of Lamentations this book is a profound and moving reflection of the suffering of a man who w witnessed the complete ruin of

his Nation his City and his people the words of Lamentations are not merely a historical record but a cry of pain and despair a raar and visceral expression of Israel's Collective grief how deserted lies the city once so full of people how like a widow is she who once was great among the Nations Lamentations 1:1 this initial lament encapsulates the DraStic transformation of Jerusalem from a vibrant Lively City to one that was desolate and abandoned The Poetry of Lamentations is structured in an acrostic form with each chapter beginning with a new letter of the Hebrew

alphabet this format reflects an attempt to find order amidst chaos an effort to articulate in an organized manner the pain and confusion that followed the destruction Jeremiah known as the weeping prophet pours out his soul in every line describing not only the physical Devastation of Jerusalem but also the spiritual abandonment felt by the people the temple once the center of worship to God lay in Ruins and the people felt as if God himself had abandoned them the Lord is like an enemy he has swallowed up Israel he has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed

her strongholds he has multiplied mourning and lamentation for the daughter of Judah Lamentations 2:5 Jeremiah's Lamentations capture the pain of a people facing the consequences of their own Disobedience the prophet Mourns not only the tangible losses the lives the homes the temple but also the loss of God's favor he acknowledges that the destruction was the result of God's just judgment but this does not lessen the intensity of his grief Jeremiah expresses a sense of collective guilt recognizing that the calamities that befell Jerusalem were deserved due to the persistent sins of its inhabitants but it happened

because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests who shed within her the blood of the righteous Lamentations 4:13 this recognition of sin and God's justice is a recurring theme throughout the book showing that even in the midst of lament there is is an understanding that God remains just and Sovereign yet amidst the darkness of Lamentations there are glimpses of Hope Jeremiah even in his profound suffering does not lose sight of God's mercy he reminds the people that God's discipline though severe is not the end of the story because of the

Lord's great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail they are new every morning great is your faithfulness Lamentations 32223 these words offer an anchor in the storm a reminder that despite everything God's faithfulness endures they suggest that there is a path to Restoration that God's grace is greater than his judgment and that eventually he will bring healing and renewal to his people the book of Lamentations does not conclude with a complete resolution but leaves the reader with a sense of expectation and hope its words remind us that as painful as the consequences

of sin may be the Door of Hope is never completely closed in Lamentations the prophet not only narrates the destruction of Jerusalem but also paves the way for the next chapter in Israel's story a chapter that will be marked by renewal and a return to Covenant with God in the final days of Jeremiah's Ministry the Prophet faced an even more challenging situation with Jerusalem destroyed and most of the people exiled to Babylon the few who remained in Judah were in despair these remnants instead of turning to God and following the prophet's words decided to follow

their own path seeking protection and safety in Egypt to them Egypt seemed to be the last hope of escaping Babylonian wrath but Jeremiah faithful to his calling continued to warn them against this decision he proclaimed that the apparent safety Egypt offered was an illusion and that Disobedience would continue to bring terrible consequences this is what the Lord Almighty the god of Israel says you saw all the Calamity I brought on Jerusalem and on all the towns of Judah today they lie deserted and in Ruins Jeremiah 44:2 despite Jeremiah's clear and direct warnings the leaders and

people of Judah were determined to flee to Egypt they completely ignored the prophet's words accusing him of treason and claiming that he was conspiring with the Babylonians Jeremiah tried in every way to dissuade the people from their stubbornness but his efforts were in vain finally the leaders decided to abduct Jeremiah and forcibly take him to Egypt along with the remaining people this act of Rebellion not only violated God's direct commands but also sealed the fate of those who followed them in Egypt Jeremiah continued to prophesy now in a foreign land far from the devastated Homeland

but his words did not lose their Clarity or intensity you have seen with your own eyes the disaster I brought on Jerusalem and all the towns of Judah today they lie deserted and in Ruins because of the evil they have done they provoked me to anger by burning incense and by worshiping other gods that neither they nor you nor your ancestors ever knew Jeremiah 44:23 in Egypt Jeremiah delivered one of his final and most somber prophecies that God's judgment would follow the people to that land he declared that just as Jerusalem had been destroyed Egypt

too would face Divine judgment and the remnants of Judah who had fled there would not Escape God's reach Egypt which they saw as a safe Refuge would become their tomb this is what the Lord says I am going to deliver Pharaoh hofra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who want to kill him just as I gave zedekiah king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon the enemy who wanted to kill him Jeremiah 44:30 this final prophecy was a death sentence for those who persisted in their Disobedience historically there are

no detailed biblical or extra biblical records that directly confirm the specific fulfillment of every part of this prophecy exactly as Jeremiah described however it is known that Egypt faced several invasions and conflicts during this period including attacks by the Babylonians under the command of Nebuchadnezzar these events could be seen as the general fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy about the Judgment that would come upon Egypt and the Jews who fled there even though the biblical narrative does not provide a definitive conclusion about the fate of these refugees while the Bible does not provide explicit details about Jeremiah's

final days Jewish and Christian Traditions suggest that the prophet met a tragic end in Egypt some traditions claim that he was stoned to death by his own compatriots who refused to listen to his words until the very end this Grim fate though not confirmed by scripture is consistent with the life of a prophet who constantly faced rejection persecution and suffering because of his faithfulness to God the death of Jeremiah however it may have occurred marks the end of one of the most intense and challenging prophetic Ministries in the Bible throughout his life Jeremiah exemplified what

it means to be faithful to God even when everyone around him turns against him his final prophecies in Egypt are a testament to his unwavering Devotion to the Divine call even in the face of an uncertain and dangerous future he never compromised the truth even when it cost him everything Jeremiah's story until his last days is a powerful reminder that obedience to God does not always lead to an easy life but it always leads to a life of meaning and purpose and even when the voices of Disobedience seem to Triumph the word of God proclaimed

by his Faithful Servants remains unchanging and eternal I hope you enjoyed today's video don't forget to hit the like button and leave your comment and to keep watching just click on one of the videos showing up on your screen thank you for watching take care and God bless