ESOCS Devotional 5 March 2024 – Victory in Persecution
MEMORY VERSE: “But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one, therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail : they shall be greatly ashamed , for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.” Jeremiah 20:11
TEXT: JEREMIAH 20:7-18
O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
12 But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
13 Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
14 Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.
15 Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.
16 And let that man be as the cities which the Lord overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;
17 Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.
18 Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
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The wave of persecution, which faced Prophet Jeremiah was like an unending hurricane. Authorities persecuted him. The persecutions were as heavy as his prophecies were weighty. Yet, the former could not prevail. As it is written in Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.’’
One of the trademarks upon a true and righteous prophet is persecution. The prophet labored hard to bring God’s word to his own people Israel for their own salvation but they rejected the truth and grievously persecuted him. He was like he should throw in the towel and quit prophesying but God’s hand was heavy upon him to continue. The good news is that the same God, which bade him continue preaching was also present and protecting him. This is where every preacher and prophet must draw courage from: that God who sends you to preach will not abandon you, but will deliver you. The Lord even wants you to rejoice that you are persecuted for preaching righteousness: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10).
Apostle Paul in the course of duty suffered so much persecution and will recount some: “… of the Jews, five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren” (2 Cor. 11:24-26).
Despite the wave of persecution, Paul said to the Romans that neither tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword shall separate us from the Love of Christ. Concluding most assuredly, he said, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
Let this confidence be in you, which was in Paul and stay focused on righteous living and preaching, take pleasure in infirmities and persecutions, for when you are weak, God’s strength will manifest in you .
- What are God’s promises for His children in times of persecution? Search for them and note them.
- Almighty God, I beseech thee, send me help in the day of trouble, faith and zeal to continue with your work all my days, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Further Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
ESOCS Devotional 5 March 2024
