Jeremiah is imprisoned and mocked. He feels discouraged and briefly considers ceasing to teach and warn his people. But Jeremiah’s testimony of the Lord inspires and motivates him to continue on in his prophetic mission.
Jeremiah 20:7–9
7 O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said:
“Things went from bad to worse [for Jeremiah] until finally he was imprisoned and made a laughingstock among the people. Angry that he had been so mistreated and maligned, Jeremiah vowed, in effect, never to teach another lesson, whether that be to an investigator, Primary child, new convert, or—heaven forbid—the 15-year-olds. ‘I will not make mention of the Lord, nor speak any more in his name,’ the discouraged prophet said. But then came the turning point of Jeremiah’s life. Something had been happening with every testimony he had borne, every scripture he had read, every truth he had taught. Something had been happening that he hadn’t counted on. Even as he vowed to close his mouth and walk away from the Lord’s work, he found that he could not. Why? Because ‘his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay’ (see Jeremiah 20:7–9).”
(“A Teacher Come from God,” Ensign, May 1998, 27.)
