Jeremiah 17:17-27: a reflection

17Don’t be a terror to me. You are my refuge in the day of evil. 18Let them be disappointed who persecute me, but don’t let me be disappointed. Let them be dismayed, but don’t let me be dismayed. Bring on them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction. 19The LORD said this to me: “Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, through which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem. 20Tell them, ‘Hear the LORD’s word, you kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: 21The LORD says, “Be careful, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22Don’t carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Don’t do any work, but make the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23But they didn’t listen. They didn’t turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction. 24It will happen, if you diligently listen to me,” says the LORD, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but to make the Sabbath day holy, to do no work therein; 25then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David’s throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will remain forever. 26They will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country, and from the South, bringing burnt offerings, sacrifices, meal offerings, and frankincense, and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving to the LORD’s house. 27But if you will not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. It will not be quenched.”’”

In the midst of persecution and distress, Jeremiah prays a simple, steadying line to God: Do not be a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of evil. Surrounded by those who oppose and persecute him, facing a day of evil, Jeremiah names God as his refuge, the place he runs to for safety when trouble comes. God is not to be feared as a source of terror, but trusted as a shelter; he is Jeremiah's refuge in the day of evil.

Notice what Jeremiah calls God in his distress: my refuge in the day of evil. He does not face the day of evil alone, or with only his own strength; he has a refuge, a place of safety to run to, and that refuge is God himself. When trouble came, when persecutors pressed, Jeremiah's recourse was to God, his shelter. God was not a distant figure to Jeremiah, but a present refuge, the place he ran to when the day of evil came.

That is a truth to hold when our own days of evil come. We all face days of evil, of trouble, distress, opposition; and in them we need a refuge, a place of safety to run to. Jeremiah found that refuge in God himself. When your day of evil comes, do not face it alone, or trusting only in your own strength; run to God, your refuge, as Jeremiah did. He is a present shelter in trouble, the place of safety for those who run to him. In the day of evil, make God your refuge, saying with Jeremiah, you are my refuge in the day of evil. Do not seek shelter only in lesser things that cannot finally protect you; run to God, who is a true refuge, a present help in trouble, and find in him the shelter you need when the day of evil comes.

Lord, in the midst of persecution and distress, Jeremiah prayed a steadying line: do not be a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of evil. He did not face his day of evil alone, but had a refuge to run to, and that refuge was you. Give me that truth when my own days of evil come. I face days of evil, of trouble, distress, opposition; and in them I need a refuge, a place of safety to run to. Jeremiah found that refuge in you yourself. When my day of evil comes, keep me from facing it alone, or trusting only in my own strength; help me run to you, my refuge, as Jeremiah did. You are a present shelter in trouble, the place of safety for those who run to you. In the day of evil, help me make you my refuge, saying with Jeremiah, you are my refuge in the day of evil. Keep me from seeking shelter only in lesser things that cannot finally protect me; help me run to you, a true refuge, a present help in trouble, and find in you the shelter I need when the day of evil comes. Be my refuge, Lord, in every day of evil.