GEMS FROM JEREMIAH (17) Run your Race! The mindset of a prophet, part I

 

“But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them…I …have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall …against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.” (Jer. 1.17-19)

“I did not send the prophets,
    yet they ran;
I did not speak to them,
    yet they prophesied.” (Jer. 23.21)

“If you have raced with foot-runners and they have wearied you,
    how will you compete with horses?
And if in a safe land you fall down,
    how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?
For even your kinsfolk and your own family,
    even they have dealt treacherously with you;
    they are in full cry after you...” (Jer. 12.5-6)

 

     As far as books of the Bible go, Jeremiah has quite a biographical character; we are given much insight into Jeremiah the man (including his moments of deep despair/humiliation).  This is due largely to the fact that Jeremiah prophesied for so long – over 40 years!  Jeremiah’s life is a testimony to endurance – especially when one considers that his was a high-risk “profession”.  Preaching surrender to the enemy in the shadow of the royal palace during a siege of the nation’s capital wasn’t exactly a recipe for personal security (cf. Jer. Chapters 37-38).

     In the year 490 B.C., a battle was fought between Greeks and invading Persian forces near the city of Marathon (located, naturally, 42.2 km from Athens).  A legend, based on a corruption of Herodotus’ account of the battle, has it that a “runner” (i.e., messenger) was dispatched to Athens and that the man collapsed and died upon delivering his message: “We’ve won!”  What does this have to do with Jeremiah?

     The first image with which God describes Jeremiah’s destiny is that of a race: “Gird up your loins”, God orders the young prophet (Jer. 1.17a).  In a sweltering climate like that of the Near East, where one wears loose-fitting garments, “to gird up one’s loins” is to gather your robes between your legs and to tuck them into your belt, thus freeing up your legs for brisk movement, such as running or physical labour.  Indeed, “running” becomes a prominent theme in the book, as well as a dominant metaphor for the work of a prophet.  In Jer. 23.21, God indicts the false prophets for “running” to deliver a message of their own, without having been sent by Yahweh.  These sprinter-prophets come and go; however, God is calling Jeremiah to run a marathon, to deliver a consistent message which will assuredly be fulfilled, in spite of all appearances to the contrary (things seemed to be going reasonably well for Judah during the first 20 years of Jeremiah’s prophetic activity).  Despite the people’s self-delusion and superstition, the king’s political scheming, and the false assurances of “the prophets”, the doom of Jerusalem is (almost) a foregone conclusion.  Jeremiah is to “stand” his ground (1.17b) and patiently endure all the “wind and rain” of hate and rejection that will come his way – as if he were a “fortified city, an iron pillar, a bronze wall” (1.18).  Jeremiah’s orders are clear: “Run your race, and stay the course!”  Indeed, the opposition started close to home – a plot against Jeremiah’s life was hatched among his neighbours in Anathoth (Jer. 11.18-23; cf. 1.1).  When Jeremiah complains to God, he doesn’t exactly get coddled!  Yahweh replies: “If you have raced with foot-runners and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you fall down, how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?” (12.5).  In other words, if you can’t handle your own family/friends turning against you, what are you going to do when the power of the government is deployed to destroy you?  Yahweh gives no quarter to his messenger: “Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them” (Jer. 1.17c).  Welcome to the prophetic service my son.  This is no 100-metre dash.