“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
God’s Word is a joy to God’s people. The words of our God bring us delight and spiritual sustenance. They are sweeter than honey and more valuable than gold (Psa 19:10). This has been the experience of God’s people through the ages.
It was also the experience of the prophet Jeremiah. God called Jeremiah out as a prophet and gave him his word. Jeremiah consumed God’s Word, and it was his joy and the delight of his heart. He was happy follow God’s ways and trust his truth.
Yet in context, Jeremiah’s words here are part of a lament. To be clear, he is not lamenting his experience of finding joy in God’s Word but how his own people treated him as a result. In finding joy in God’s Word, Jeremiah separated himself from the false, sinful joy of his compatriots (Jer 15:17). He felt just anger at their disregard for God and his truth. He felt isolated in the midst of a people in rebellion against God.
In other words, Jeremiah delighted in God’s Word, but this actually made his life harder. Joy in God’s Word will not bring us a carefree, easy life in this broken world. Sometimes, our joyful obedience to God’s Word will lead people to reject and ostracize us. We may feel alone at times when we choose delight in God’s Word over the sinful pleasures of the world.
But God promised Jeremiah: If you keep speaking what is precious (i.e., God’s Word), you will not be defeated, “for I am with you to save you” (Jer 15:19-21). The world may oppose God’s truth, but they will not have the final victory over God’s people who delight to obey and proclaim God’s Word.
Jeremiah had a difficult task of proclaiming a message that prophesied God’s coming judgment on a people who were following their stubborn hearts (Jer 16:12). We, however, have a better message that fulfills Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry! The true Prophet, Jesus, has come, and he suffered the reproach of his people. He took the judgment we deserve so that all who trust in him can have peace with God and everlasting life.
So, how much more should we delight to read God’s Word, study God’s Word, obey God’s Word, and proclaim God’s Word! God has set a feast before us in his Word. Will you dig in today and find joy? Will your weekly priorities reveal a joy in hearing, doing, and sharing God’s Word? To be sure, this will make your life harder at times. But the joy of knowing God through his Word is more than worth it.
