While reading in the Book of Jeremiah this past week, I was reminded of a time wherein it was not uncommon to hear the expression "thundering prophets" - particularly among preachers aspiring themselves to be so perceived. (Indeed, in a presumably "Freudian slip," one individual of whom we heard allegedly quoted Psalm 9:17 something to this effect: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God - praise the Lord!")
By and large, such preaching is largely a matter of the past - the opposite extreme having gained a hearing in many instances. A lady of personal acquaintance, for example, shared that her pastor not only endorsed a universalist view (i.e., everyone is a child of God and therefore is, or will be, saved), but that he had shared from the pulpit that Adolph Hitler and Corrie TenBoom (noted World War II believer who suffered much at the hands of the Nazis) were now in heaven "walking together hand in hand!" In the words of Lawrence Welk, "helpah!"
Something can be learned on all sides here. In Jeremiah's day the nation was in an indescribable state of dissoluteness. Idols had been set up in the Temple; babies were burned alive in sacrifice to pagan deities; social corruption and moral debauchery had reached new lows. Calls to repentance were scorned.
Distraught at both his surroundings and resultant devastation, Jeremiah was assigned to pronounce further sentence upon the nation. Eventually, God forbade him to even pray for the people. Far from exulting in the judgment to come, he became known as "the weeping prophet."
As such, Jeremiah was repeatedly moved as well to share the mercies of God with those who would hear. To the distressed, hurting and others similarly broken in heart, Jeremiah was inspired to share these words of encouragement: "Thus says the LORD: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man glory in his strength, nor the rich man glory in his riches; but rather, let him who glories, glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, says the LORD" (Jer. 9:22-23).
Perhaps there is need for a few more Jeremiahs in our time - "thundering prophets" in the sense of those who can weep over present realities. Within this context the Book of Jeremiah represents a "good read." His message will mean more as time progresses.
Burl Ratzsch
