“Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace’; whereas a sword touches the throat.’ … My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart! My heart is pounding in me; I cannot be silent, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war” (Jer 4:10, 19).

I often hear believers discussing Israel and last-day events as if they are financial advisors discussing pension options with their clients. Although they are fully aware of all the financial risks and challenges of their clients, they maintain a distant professionalism and display no emotion. Sorry to say: Jeremiah would have made a terrible financial advisor. He was far too emotionally involved with his “clients.” No doubt, Jeremiah was certain that everything would turn out well for Israel in the end (Jer 17:11), but he also suffered from heart palpitations as he considered the difficulties Israel would need to experience on their way to this better future.

Be Involved with God’s Word

The church is in desperate need of theologians and pastors who are more emotionally and physically involved with the warnings, prophecies, and promises of God’s word. While I’m not calling for emotionalism and drama, and I am well aware that all of us have very different personalities, I truly believe that the preaching and the teaching of God’s word would be received more if preachers and teachers were to find themselves more emotionally and physically involved with the message of God’s word. And while we’re at it, I want to ask God to forgive us for reading the book of Revelation without the shedding of any tears!

I truly believe that the preaching and the teaching of God’s word would be far more effective if preachers and teachers were to find themselves more emotionally and physically involved with the message of God’s word.

“My sorrow is beyond healing; my heart is faint within me! Behold, listen! The cry of the daughter of my people from a distant land: ‘Is the LORD not in Zion? Is her King not within her?’ ‘Why have they provoked Me with their graven images, with foreign idols?’ ‘Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved.’ For the brokenness of the daughter of my people, I am broken; I mourn; dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?” (Jer 8:18-22).