Jeremiah 15:15-18 reveals the prophet’s heartfelt plea for divine justice, his joy in God’s word, his loneliness in service, and his struggle to reconcile unending pain with unshakable faith in the Lord.
In Jeremiah 15:15, the prophet Jeremiah, who ministered from approximately 627 BC to sometime after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, pours out his distress to the LORD with the words: "You who know, O LORD, Remember me, take notice of me, And take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away; Know that for Your sake I endure reproach" (v. 15). Jeremiah feels the weight of opposition from those who reject his prophetic message in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. By pleading that the LORD would remember and notice him, Jeremiah demonstrates how deeply he longs for God’s intervention.
When Jeremiah asks God to takevengeanceon his persecutors, he acknowledges that only the LORD can establish true justice. This prayer comes from the prophet’s conviction that God sees all wrongdoing and will ultimately defend those who speak His words faithfully. Despite the environment of hostility around him, Jeremiah trusts that God’s patience has its divine purpose, even if that means a temporary delay in judgment.
The final phrase in Jeremiah 15:15 highlights that Jeremiah endures reproach for the LORD’s sake. He understands that the calling placed on him by the Almighty has set him apart, resulting in rejection from his community. Yet the prophet clings to the assurance that God is both his witness and his vindicator, a theme echoed throughout the writings of the prophets and into the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to entrust themselves to God’s righteous judgment (1 Peter 2:23).
To endure, is a goal proclaimed in Jesus' teaching, but it was also painfully modeled by Him. He first prophesied to His disciples, concerning their preparation for the end times,
"and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain you lives" (Luke 21:17-19).
Then, a few chapters later in Luke, Jesus was accused, treated with contempt, mocked, punished without cause, and finally crucified before His disciples (Luke 23). The reproach Christ bore is incomparable in its injustice, since He was and is entirely guiltless. Yet despite having done no wrong, He taught, and then showed what it looks like to endure such reproach. When Jeremiah seeks the LORD in Jeremiah 15:15, he submits his supplication to the only One who could truly know what he was experiencing. Had he sought salvation or vindication from man or even from himself, the prophet would have failed to endure. Because Jeremiah sought God, however, and attributed his endurance to the LORD, he prefigures the suffering servant, Christ, who cried on the cross, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1). Jesus did not play into the hand of the Romans or the Pharisees, but was faithful to the end, obeying the Father's will and trusting in Him.
Continuing into Jeremiah 15:16, Jeremiah further finds his identity and joy in the One who called him: "Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts" (v. 16). Here the prophet reveals deep spiritual hunger, finding meaning and sustenance in the message given by the LORD. The metaphorical act of eating God’s words illustrates not only an acceptance but an internalization of divine truth. God also commanded the prophet Ezekiel to "eat" His word and proclaim it to Israel (Ezekiel 3:1-3).
The experience of discovering God’s words and consuming them like a food signifies a life—giving relationship between the prophet and the Almighty. Jeremiah’s heart is filled with joy, showing how the Word of the LORD brings profound satisfaction to those who embrace it wholeheartedly. This concept parallels the New Testament teaching that humanity does "not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
In acknowledging that he has beencalledby the LORD’s name, Jeremiah affirms his identity as a servant set apart for God’s mission. Though his ministry in Judah would be fraught with challenges, the joy he receives from immersing himself in the LORD’s message sustains him. In a world rife with spiritual confusion, Jeremiah’s feast on God’s truth underlines how divine revelation nourishes the soul of those who embrace it.
In Jeremiah 15:17, Jeremiah shares more of his personal struggle: "I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers, Nor did I exult. Because of Your hand upon me I sat alone, For You filled me with indignation" (v. 17). Here, the prophet describes his isolation from typical societal gatherings. He refrains from joining revelry or idle celebrations because God’s calling has birthed a burden of holy discontent within him.
The phrase “I sat alone” highlights the cost of full devotion to the LORD’s calling. Jeremiah’s allegiance to God meant separation from a lifestyle that trivialized divine truth. He was not driven by mere gloominess; rather, his separation was a response to God’s righteous indignation against corruption and unfaithfulness in the land of Judah. Serving as God’s messenger often placed Jeremiah at odds with popular opinion and cultural norms.
This lonely posture resonates with many prophets who encountered personal cost for speaking on God’s behalf (1 Kings 19:2-3, 22:24-28, Daniel 6:16). However, Jeremiah’s solitude is still rooted in relationship with the LORD. Though he is often set apart from the festivity of others, his true fellowship resides with the One who called him and placed His word in his mouth.
The words from Jesus' mouth in Matthew 5 give a relieving blessing to those like Jeremiah:
"And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied...Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'" (Matthew 5:2-6, 10).
Again, enduring persecution and being isolated from society are shown as worthwhile lifestyles in light of the promised blessings from God. Though Jeremiah mourns his situation, he continuously looks to his LORD and clings to God's eternal and good promises.
Finally, Jeremiah 15:18, the prophet laments: "Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable?" (v. 18). This raw expression unveils the depth of the Jeremiah’s anguish, as he struggles to reconcile his constant pain with faith in a just and loving God. The relentless nature of his distress leads Jeremiah to question whether God’s help might prove elusive.
Jeremiah invokes the image of a “deceptive stream,” a water source that appears refreshing from a distance but dries up when most needed. This parallels the spiritual dryness that the prophet feels as he faces relentless opposition. The internal conflict in Jeremiah’s heart emerges from wanting to believe in God’s unchanging faithfulness while grappling with the harshness of his circumstances.
Still, even as Jeremiah voices these honest doubts, the broader narrative of his life affirms that he will come to trust in the LORD’s steadfastness. Throughout Scripture, seasons of questioning often lead to a deeper reliance on God’s unfailing mercy. The prophet’s cry is a testament to every believer who wrestles with unanswered prayers, urging them to cast their cares upon the LORD and trust Him to provide in His perfect time (1 Peter 5:7).
Jeremiah 15:15-18
Jeremiah's Prayer and God's Answer
15 You who know, O LORD,
Remember me, take notice of me,
And take vengeance for me on my persecutors.
Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away;
Know that for Your sake I endure reproach.
16 Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
Set to dark mode
Jeremiah 15:15-18 meaning
In Jeremiah 15:15, the prophet Jeremiah, who ministered from approximately 627 BC to sometime after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, pours out his distress to the LORD with the words: "You who know, O LORD, Remember me, take notice of me, And take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away; Know that for Your sake I endure reproach" (v. 15). Jeremiah feels the weight of opposition from those who reject his prophetic message in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. By pleading that the LORD would remember and notice him, Jeremiah demonstrates how deeply he longs for God’s intervention.
When Jeremiah asks God to take vengeance on his persecutors, he acknowledges that only the LORD can establish true justice. This prayer comes from the prophet’s conviction that God sees all wrongdoing and will ultimately defend those who speak His words faithfully. Despite the environment of hostility around him, Jeremiah trusts that God’s patience has its divine purpose, even if that means a temporary delay in judgment.
The final phrase in Jeremiah 15:15 highlights that Jeremiah endures reproach for the LORD’s sake. He understands that the calling placed on him by the Almighty has set him apart, resulting in rejection from his community. Yet the prophet clings to the assurance that God is both his witness and his vindicator, a theme echoed throughout the writings of the prophets and into the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to entrust themselves to God’s righteous judgment (1 Peter 2:23).
To endure, is a goal proclaimed in Jesus' teaching, but it was also painfully modeled by Him. He first prophesied to His disciples, concerning their preparation for the end times,
"and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain you lives"
(Luke 21:17-19).
Then, a few chapters later in Luke, Jesus was accused, treated with contempt, mocked, punished without cause, and finally crucified before His disciples (Luke 23). The reproach Christ bore is incomparable in its injustice, since He was and is entirely guiltless. Yet despite having done no wrong, He taught, and then showed what it looks like to endure such reproach. When Jeremiah seeks the LORD in Jeremiah 15:15, he submits his supplication to the only One who could truly know what he was experiencing. Had he sought salvation or vindication from man or even from himself, the prophet would have failed to endure. Because Jeremiah sought God, however, and attributed his endurance to the LORD, he prefigures the suffering servant, Christ, who cried on the cross, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1). Jesus did not play into the hand of the Romans or the Pharisees, but was faithful to the end, obeying the Father's will and trusting in Him.
Continuing into Jeremiah 15:16, Jeremiah further finds his identity and joy in the One who called him: "Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts" (v. 16). Here the prophet reveals deep spiritual hunger, finding meaning and sustenance in the message given by the LORD. The metaphorical act of eating God’s words illustrates not only an acceptance but an internalization of divine truth. God also commanded the prophet Ezekiel to "eat" His word and proclaim it to Israel (Ezekiel 3:1-3).
The experience of discovering God’s words and consuming them like a food signifies a life—giving relationship between the prophet and the Almighty. Jeremiah’s heart is filled with joy, showing how the Word of the LORD brings profound satisfaction to those who embrace it wholeheartedly. This concept parallels the New Testament teaching that humanity does "not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
In acknowledging that he has been called by the LORD’s name, Jeremiah affirms his identity as a servant set apart for God’s mission. Though his ministry in Judah would be fraught with challenges, the joy he receives from immersing himself in the LORD’s message sustains him. In a world rife with spiritual confusion, Jeremiah’s feast on God’s truth underlines how divine revelation nourishes the soul of those who embrace it.
In Jeremiah 15:17, Jeremiah shares more of his personal struggle: "I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers, Nor did I exult. Because of Your hand upon me I sat alone, For You filled me with indignation" (v. 17). Here, the prophet describes his isolation from typical societal gatherings. He refrains from joining revelry or idle celebrations because God’s calling has birthed a burden of holy discontent within him.
The phrase “I sat alone” highlights the cost of full devotion to the LORD’s calling. Jeremiah’s allegiance to God meant separation from a lifestyle that trivialized divine truth. He was not driven by mere gloominess; rather, his separation was a response to God’s righteous indignation against corruption and unfaithfulness in the land of Judah. Serving as God’s messenger often placed Jeremiah at odds with popular opinion and cultural norms.
This lonely posture resonates with many prophets who encountered personal cost for speaking on God’s behalf (1 Kings 19:2-3, 22:24-28, Daniel 6:16). However, Jeremiah’s solitude is still rooted in relationship with the LORD. Though he is often set apart from the festivity of others, his true fellowship resides with the One who called him and placed His word in his mouth.
The words from Jesus' mouth in Matthew 5 give a relieving blessing to those like Jeremiah:
"And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied...Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'"
(Matthew 5:2-6, 10).
Again, enduring persecution and being isolated from society are shown as worthwhile lifestyles in light of the promised blessings from God. Though Jeremiah mourns his situation, he continuously looks to his LORD and clings to God's eternal and good promises.
Finally, Jeremiah 15:18, the prophet laments: "Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable?" (v. 18). This raw expression unveils the depth of the Jeremiah’s anguish, as he struggles to reconcile his constant pain with faith in a just and loving God. The relentless nature of his distress leads Jeremiah to question whether God’s help might prove elusive.
Jeremiah invokes the image of a “deceptive stream,” a water source that appears refreshing from a distance but dries up when most needed. This parallels the spiritual dryness that the prophet feels as he faces relentless opposition. The internal conflict in Jeremiah’s heart emerges from wanting to believe in God’s unchanging faithfulness while grappling with the harshness of his circumstances.
Still, even as Jeremiah voices these honest doubts, the broader narrative of his life affirms that he will come to trust in the LORD’s steadfastness. Throughout Scripture, seasons of questioning often lead to a deeper reliance on God’s unfailing mercy. The prophet’s cry is a testament to every believer who wrestles with unanswered prayers, urging them to cast their cares upon the LORD and trust Him to provide in His perfect time (1 Peter 5:7).