Jeremiah 18 “A Prayer of Curse”

Jeremiah 18 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:                                                            

• Touch The Sky – Hillsong UNITED
• HONEST – Influence Music & Melody Noel Worship
• Crowder – Come As You Are

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• How Do We Pray? – Lesson for Kids
• Jesus Prays – Animated Story for Younger Kids
• VeggieTales: God is Bigger than the Boogeyman – Song for Kids
• Psalm 55:22 – Cast Your Cares – Song for Kids
• Give All Your Worries to God (1 Peter 5:7) | HLA Athens VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

The Lord commands Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house. There, the Lord shows him a lesson: just as the potter shapes the clay into a vessel, so the Lord has the power to deal with Israel and all nations according to His will. A potter may change his mind and make a different kind of vessel than he first intended; likewise, the Lord may choose to change His plan — He may cancel judgment and bring salvation, or He may withdraw salvation and bring judgment instead (vv. 1–10).

The Lord tells Jeremiah to deliver this message to the people of Judah (v. 11). It means that even now, if they repent, they can still avoid judgment. Yet, the Lord also reveals that they will not listen to His warning (v. 12). The Lord then describes the depth of Judah’s sin and declares that, in the end, there is no other way but judgment (vv. 13–17).

Just as the Lord said, the people of Judah not only refuse to listen to Jeremiah’s words but also conspire to kill him (v. 18). In deep despair, Jeremiah pours out a prayer of curse before God. He reminds God that he once interceded for these people, praying on their behalf. Now, however, he pleads for judgment on these ungrateful people. His anguish is so intense that, in his prayer, he pours out bitter and harsh words against them (vv. 19–23).

Meditation:

As we read Jeremiah’s prayer of curse, we can feel how deeply wounded and heartbroken he was. At the same time, we may wonder, “How could he speak such harsh and bitter words before God?” After all, Jeremiah was a prophet from a priestly family, yet his prayer seems filled with language unbefitting a holy servant of God.

The Psalms also contain several similar prayers of curse—Psalm 109 is a representative example. Whenever we encounter such prayers, we often ask, “How could someone pray like this before God?” or “Why would the people of Israel include such Psalms in the Bible?”

These prayers are not meant to serve as models for us to imitate, but their inclusion in Scripture teaches us something vital: a person who prays must be honest before God about their emotions. We are not called to act like “good children” in God’s presence. Since God sees the heart, we must pour out our true feelings before Him. If we feel uncontrollable anger toward someone, we should bring that very anger to God. If our frustration is directed toward God Himself, even then we must not hide it but express it truthfully before Him.

Like a compassionate mother, God listens to our cries, curses, and laments that flow from broken hearts. In that process, our pain is healed, and our anger subsides. Over time, such honest prayer can even lead us to the point where we begin to pray for the very person, we once considered our enemy. The prayers recorded in Scripture are not polished examples of perfect prayer, they are prayers that burst forth from real life. They may not be flawless, but they are genuine.

Prayer:

Lord, You are the One who sees the heart. Your eyes are like flames of fire that discern all things. Nothing can be hidden from You. Therefore, each time we stand before You, we raise our hands in surrender. Look upon our weakness and have mercy. By Your grace, clothe us in wholeness and lead us toward completeness in You. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God wants us to pray honestly — even when we’re upset, sad, or angry — because He loves the real us and helps us when we tell Him the truth.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • Have you ever been so sad or angry that you didn’t know what to say? What do you think God would say if you told Him how you feel?
  • Why do you think God wants us to tell Him the truth about our feelings, not just the “nice” things?
  • Can you think of a time when talking to God made you feel better?
    
• Youth:
  
  • Why do you think Jeremiah’s honest (and even harsh) prayer was included in the Bible? What does it show us about real faith?
  • When you’re upset, do you usually hide your feelings from God or tell Him everything? Why do you respond that way?
  • How might being honest with God in prayer help heal your heart or change the way you see others — even those who hurt you?