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Jeremiah 15 “The Cost of Discipleship”

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5–7 minutes

Jeremiah 15 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:                                                             

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

Explanation:

The Lord declares that even if Moses and Samuel were to rise and plead on behalf of Judah, He would not turn back His judgment (v. 1). When judgment comes, the people of Judah will desperately ask, “Where should we go?” (v. 2), but there will be nowhere to escape. Some will perish by plague, others by the sword, some by famine, and the survivors will be taken away as captives (vv. 2–3). The nations will be appalled when they see Judah’s destruction (v. 4), for it will be clear that the people have been abandoned by their God because of their rebellion (vv. 5–6). When the invading armies come as instruments of divine judgment, the Lord will show no mercy (vv. 7–9).

Because he delivers this prophecy of judgment, Jeremiah faces intense hatred and persecution from his own people. He laments his situation and cries out to his mother, who is no longer alive, mourning the misery of his life (v. 10). In response, the Lord promises to strengthen him and to judge his enemies (v. 11). Those enemies are none other than the people of Judah themselves. The Lord declares that He will bring “iron and bronze from the north” against them, and those who survive will be taken as captives into foreign lands (vv. 12–14).

Jeremiah pleads for the Lord to avenge him, knowing that all the suffering and persecution he endures is for the sake of the Lord (v. 15). When he was first called as a prophet, he willingly followed God’s call and rejoiced whenever he received the word of the Lord. He sought to live righteously and faithfully as “one who bears the name of the Lord” (v. 16). Yet, what he gained from this was betrayal, humiliation, and threats of death. Although God had promised to protect him, his pain only grew deeper, and his trust in God’s word began to falter (vv. 17–18).

Hearing Jeremiah’s complaint, the Lord urges him not to waver. Jeremiah is tempted to give up everything and live like the people of Judah who had turned away from God (v. 19). But the Lord promises to protect him and make him strong, declaring that He will deliver him from his enemies and rescue him from harm (vv. 20–21).

Meditation:

Jeremiah’s feelings toward the people of Judah can best be described as a mixture of love and grief. On one hand, he had deep compassion for them. Even when the Lord commanded him not to intercede with them, Jeremiah could not help but plead earnestly for them. Yet the very people he prayed for rejected him, despised him, mocked him, and persecuted him. Whenever he was deeply heartbroken, Jeremiah cried out to God, asking Him to bring judgment upon those who wronged him.

Because of this, some have suggested that Jeremiah may have suffered from what we now call bipolar disorder — and it is quite possible. The great Reformer Martin Luther also struggled with similar emotional highs and lows. When frail human beings take up a divine calling that is too heavy for them to bear, it often comes with a painful and costly price.

When Jeremiah was called to be a prophet, he hesitated and tried to refuse. Yet, at the same time, he surely considered it an honor to be called “a man of God.” When God’s word came to him, he said, “I ate them” (v. 16), meaning he received them with joy and hunger. But he never expected that this same word would make him hated by the people of Judah and even threaten his life among his own townspeople. The suffering became so unbearable that he was tempted to give it all up and live like everyone else. Although God had promised to watch over him and protect him, his suffering only seemed to grow worse.

Jesus once explained what it means to live as His disciple through two parables. He said that a man who plans to build a tower must first calculate the cost and prepare the resources before beginning, and a king preparing for war must make sure he has enough troops before going into battle (Luke 14:25–33). In the same way, anyone who chooses to follow the Lord’s calling must be ready to endure loss and hardship. There is a cost to being a disciple. Even if we begin this journey fully aware of the cost, like Jeremiah, we may still falter. How much more likely are we to give up if we start without knowing it?

Prayer:

Lord, after reading Jeremiah’s story, it is hard to dare say, “Let me be Your disciple” or “Make me a man (or woman) of God.” If we were in Jeremiah’s place, we would likely want to turn away from Your calling and walk the other way. Yet, Lord, You know our hearts. You see that, despite our fear and weakness, there is still a deep longing within us — a desire to live as Your disciples, as Your people. Please help us, Lord, to become what You have called us to be. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Jeremiah reminds us that being God’s person isn’t always easy, but God never leaves us. Even when following Him feels hard, we can still trust His love and calling.

  • For Preschool-Elementary:
    • Why do you think Jeremiah kept trusting God even when people were mean to him?
    • When is it hard for you to do what’s right or what God wants?
    • What helps you remember that God is with you when you feel sad or alone?
  • Youth:
    • Jeremiah followed God even when it cost him popularity and safety. What does it mean to “count the cost” of following Jesus in your own life (school, friends, social media)?
    • Have you ever felt like giving up because of your faith or doing the right thing? What helped you keep going?
    • What is one way you can stay close to God when following Him feels difficult or lonely?

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