Jeremiah 37:6-10: a reflection

6Then the LORD’s word came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 7“The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘You shall tell the king of Judah, who sent you to me to inquire of me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help you, will return to Egypt into their own land. 8The Chaldeans will come again, and fight against this city. They will take it and burn it with fire.”’ 9“The LORD says, ‘Don’t deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely depart from us;” for they will not depart. 10For though you had struck the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and only wounded men remained among them, they would each rise up in his tent and burn this city with fire.’”

As Jerusalem hopes that an approaching Egyptian army will save it from the Babylonians, God sends Jeremiah with an unwelcome word of truth: the relief is only temporary, the Chaldeans will return, and the city will fall. And he warns them against a comforting illusion: Don't deceive yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans will surely depart from us; for they will not depart. The people wanted to believe the threat had passed, to comfort themselves with a false hope; but God told them plainly not to deceive themselves, but to face the truth he had spoken, however unwelcome. The comforting self-deception would not change what God had said would come.

Notice the warning against self-deception: Don't deceive yourselves. The people were tempted to believe a comforting illusion, that the danger had passed, that the enemy would not return; and they wanted it to be true. But God told them plainly not to deceive themselves with false hope, but to face the reality he had spoken. Comforting self-deception did not change the truth; wishing the threat away did not make it depart. God called them to face what he had plainly said rather than to soothe themselves with an illusion. The temptation to believe what we wish were true, against what God has plainly said, is a self-deception that leaves us unprepared for reality.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can comfort ourselves with self-deception rather than facing what God has plainly said. When the truth is unwelcome, we can be tempted to deceive ourselves, to believe a comforting illusion, to tell ourselves what we wish were true rather than facing reality, as the people wanted to believe the enemy would depart. But God calls us not to deceive ourselves, but to face the truth, however unwelcome. Comforting self-deception leaves us unprepared for what is real. Do not comfort yourself with self-deception, believing what you wish were true against what God has plainly said; face the truth, however unwelcome. Face honestly what God has plainly said, rather than comforting yourself with a self-deception that believes what you wish were true, as God warned the people not to deceive themselves that the enemy would depart; for comforting illusions do not change reality, and it is better to face the truth God speaks, however unwelcome, than to soothe ourselves with a self-deception that leaves us unprepared.

Lord, as Jerusalem hopes that an approaching Egyptian army will save it from the Babylonians, you send Jeremiah with an unwelcome word of truth: the relief is only temporary, the Chaldeans will return, and the city will fall. And you warn them against a comforting illusion: don't deceive yourselves, saying, the Chaldeans will surely depart from us; for they will not depart. The people wanted to believe the threat had passed, to comfort themselves with a false hope; but you told them plainly not to deceive themselves, but to face the truth you had spoken, however unwelcome. Show me the warning against self-deception: don't deceive yourselves. The people were tempted to believe a comforting illusion, that the danger had passed; and they wanted it to be true. But you told them plainly not to deceive themselves with false hope, but to face the reality you had spoken. Comforting self-deception did not change the truth; wishing the threat away did not make it depart. You called them to face what you had plainly said rather than to soothe themselves with an illusion. Take that to my heart, for I too can comfort myself with self-deception rather than facing what you have plainly said. When the truth is unwelcome, I can be tempted to deceive myself, to believe a comforting illusion, to tell myself what I wish were true rather than facing reality. But you call me not to deceive myself, but to face the truth, however unwelcome. Keep me from comforting myself with self-deception, believing what I wish were true against what you have plainly said; help me face the truth, Lord, however unwelcome, rather than soothing myself with an illusion that leaves me unprepared.