Jeremiah 42:7-12: a reflection

7After ten days, the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah. 8Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9and said to them, “The LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before him, says: 10‘If you will still live in this land, then I will build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I grieve over the distress that I have brought on you. 11Don’t be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Don’t be afraid of him,’ says the LORD, ‘for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you, and cause you to return to your own land.

A frightened remnant of Judah, afraid of the Babylonians, has asked Jeremiah to seek God's guidance about whether to stay in the land or flee. After ten days, God's answer comes, and it is full of reassurance: If you will remain in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him, for I am with you to save you and to deliver you from his hand. I will show you mercy. God's answer to their fear is his presence: I am with you to save you.

Notice how God addresses their fear: not by removing the thing they feared, the king of Babylon was still there, but by promising his presence. Do not be afraid, he says, for I am with you to save you. The remedy for their fear was not the absence of danger, but the presence of God; if he was with them to save them, they need not fear even the king they dreaded. And notice God's tender heart in it: he grieves over the distress they have suffered, and promises mercy.

That is how God meets our fears as well. He does not always remove the thing we are afraid of; but he promises his presence: I am with you to save you. And that presence is the true answer to fear, for if God is with us to save us, what we fear cannot finally overcome us. When you are afraid, do not wait for the danger to disappear before you can be at peace. Hear God's word to the frightened remnant as his word to you: do not be afraid, for I am with you to save you. The remedy for fear is not the absence of what we dread, but the presence of God, who is with us to save us; trust his presence, and let it quiet your fear, even when the thing you feared remains.

Lord, to the frightened remnant of Judah, afraid of the king of Babylon, you answered their fear not by removing the danger but by promising your presence: do not be afraid, for I am with you to save you and to deliver you; I will show you mercy. Meet my fears the same way. You do not always remove the thing I am afraid of; but you promise your presence: I am with you to save you. And that presence is the true answer to fear, for if you are with me to save me, what I fear cannot finally overcome me. When I am afraid, keep me from waiting for the danger to disappear before I can be at peace. Help me hear your word to the frightened remnant as your word to me: do not be afraid, for I am with you to save you. The remedy for my fear is not the absence of what I dread, but your presence; help me trust your presence, and let it quiet my fear, even when the thing I feared remains. Thank you that you are with me to save me.