Jeremiah: Embracing Exile and Renewal
The Tears of Things
Jeremiah’s role as a prophet extends far beyond the religious sphere. His name itself has become synonymous with those who call for repentance and warn of impending judgment. A Jeremiah is someone who pronounces cosmic judgment and warns of the need for repentance and change. [1] This identity highlights his enduring influence, not only in religious texts but also in secular language. The term jeremiad reflects this influence, describing a lamentation or warning about societal decline. A jeremiad is a type of bitter lament at unrighteousness or a prophecy of doom, typified by the sermons of Puritan preachers that cataloged the people’s sins and warned New Englanders of God’s coming wrath. [1] While Jeremiah’s voice was indeed filled with warnings, his life and teachings reveal a deeper message of transformation.
Jeremiah’s prophetic work unfolded during two critical periods in Israel’s history — before and during the Babylonian exile. His early warnings urged the people to recognize the consequences of their spiritual infidelity (Jeremiah 2:13; 5:19), yet his message did not stop there. It is generally agreed that this author taught in two crucial periods in Israel’s history: before the Babylonian exile... and during the exile, telling them to trust it. [1] Jeremiah understood that exile, while painful, would become a path toward renewal. Rather than despair, he pointed to the hope that arises when people pass through suffering with trust. He concluded that all hope for the future would come precisely from those who had passed through such a purifying journey. [1] His teachings reveal that periods of loss can become gateways to a deeper sense of purpose and faith (Jeremiah 29:10–14).
Like many prophets, Jeremiah’s spiritual journey was marked by an evolving response to the struggles of his time. He began in anger, as all prophets do, but he did not stay there, moving into lamentation and slowly tiptoeing into praise. [1] This shift reflects the arc of inner transformation, where righteous indignation gradually gives way to compassion and hope. Even when circumstances gave him little reason for optimism, Jeremiah dared to declare a vision of joy. Midway through the book, while having no real-life evidence for such praise, he shouts, 'Jerusalem shall be my theme of joy, my honor, and my boast, before all the nations of the earth' (Jeremiah 33:9). [1] His movement from anger to praise models how authentic spiritual growth invites us to embrace both grief and hope (Jeremiah 31:13; Lamentations 3:22–23).
Jeremiah’s commitment to his calling exposed him to severe persecution. His words unsettled those in power, and they responded with hostility. Jeremiah’s prophecies so enraged those who did not want to hear them that they plotted to kill him and put him in prison. [1] Yet even in his suffering, Jeremiah’s story reveals a surprising pattern — salvation often comes from unexpected sources. Here we see the emerging pattern that God’s people are invariably rescued by those on the edges themselves. [1] This theme underscores the sacred role of those society overlooks, affirming that wisdom and compassion often arise from places of marginalization (Jeremiah 38:6–13; Jeremiah 39:15–18).
Jeremiah’s teachings about the new covenant were radical in his time, expanding the understanding of God’s love beyond traditional frameworks (Jeremiah 31:31–34). In the introduction to the Jerusalem Bible, the translator goes so far as to call him "the father of all that was best in Judaism." [1] This recognition points to Jeremiah’s profound influence, as he introduced a vision of divine love that transcended legalistic boundaries. His insistence on God’s infinite love offered both comfort and challenge, confronting assumptions about who belongs to God’s embrace. His teachings about God’s infinite love are as challenging to us today as they were for his contemporaries. [1] Jeremiah’s message continues to call humanity beyond narrow divisions into a broader awareness of shared dignity and divine presence (Jeremiah 32:38–41).
Jeremiah’s enduring message remains as relevant now as it was in his own time. His call to spiritual trust emerged in a period of crisis, requiring courage and vision (Jeremiah 17:7–8). He needed a lot of cachet to spread such a message among people who never imagined anything more than the existing covenant. [1] Jeremiah’s ability to proclaim hope amid uncertainty stands as an invitation for us to do the same. His final plea remains clear: We would all do well to listen. [1] His life reminds us that the path to renewal is not found in avoiding hardship, but in facing it with unwavering trust and openness to transformation (Jeremiah 33:14–16).
[1] Richard Rohr, The Tears of Things