Jeremiah 37:16-21: a reflection

16When Jeremiah had come into the dungeon house and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days, 17then Zedekiah the king sent and had him brought out. The king asked him secretly in his house, “Is there any word from the LORD?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” He also said, “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” 18Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you, against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison? 19Now where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you, nor against this land’? 20Now please hear, my lord the king: please let my supplication be presented before you, that you not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.” 21Then Zedekiah the king commanded, and they committed Jeremiah into the court of the guard. They gave him daily a loaf of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

Jeremiah has been imprisoned in a dungeon for the unwelcome truth he has spoken. Yet when King Zedekiah secretly summons him and asks, Is there any word from the LORD?, Jeremiah does not trim his message to win his release. There is, he answers plainly; you will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon. Even from prison, even to the king who holds his fate, Jeremiah speaks the true word God gave him, unwelcome as it is, without trimming it to his advantage.

Notice Jeremiah's integrity under pressure. He is in prison for his message; the king who could free him asks for a word; and Jeremiah could easily have trimmed his message, told the king what he wanted to hear, to win release. But he speaks the truth plainly, the same hard word, even to the king's face, even from his cell. His circumstances did not bend his integrity; he spoke the true word regardless of the cost to himself.

That integrity is a challenge to us when speaking the truth is costly. We are often tempted to trim what we say to our advantage, to soften or bend the truth to please those who hold power over us, or to win some benefit. But Jeremiah spoke the true word plainly, even from prison, even to the king, without trimming it to his own advantage. When speaking the truth is costly, when it would be easier and safer to soften or bend it, remember Jeremiah, and speak the truth plainly. Do not trim your integrity to win favor or advantage from those who hold power over you. Speak the true word God gives you, honestly, even when it is unwelcome and even when honesty costs you; integrity that holds under pressure, as Jeremiah's did, is worth more than the advantage a bent word might buy.

Lord, imprisoned for his message, Jeremiah was secretly asked by King Zedekiah for a word from you; and he spoke the truth plainly, the same hard word, without trimming it to win his release. Let his integrity under pressure challenge me. I am often tempted to trim what I say to my advantage, to soften or bend the truth to please those who hold power over me, or to win some benefit. But Jeremiah spoke the true word plainly, even from prison, even to the king, without trimming it to his own advantage. When speaking the truth is costly, when it would be easier and safer to soften or bend it, help me remember Jeremiah, and speak the truth plainly. Keep me from trimming my integrity to win favor or advantage from those who hold power over me. Help me speak the true word you give me, honestly, even when it is unwelcome and even when honesty costs me; integrity that holds under pressure is worth more than the advantage a bent word might buy. Make me honest under pressure, Lord, as Jeremiah was.