16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, then I prayed to the Lord, saying, 17 ‘Ah Lord [d]God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, 18 who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The Lord of hosts is His name; 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; 20 who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day. 21 You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; 22 and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; therefore You have made all this calamity come upon them. 24 Behold, the siege ramps have reached the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the pestilence; and what You have spoken has come to pass; and behold, You see it. 25 You have said to me, O Lord [e]God, “Buy for yourself the field with money and call in witnesses”—although the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’”
Jeremiah just got done doing something a bit crazy (vv. 16,25) and I think he needed a little encouragement to make sure he hadn’t lost his mind. So what does Jeremiah do? He praises God, not necessarily just for the things God had done in his life, but the big and amazing things that were all around. In both cases, it is easy to take God’s wonders for granted, but Jeremiah needed to focus in on God once more.
Jeremiah writes of God’s incredible power in making the heavens and earth (v. 17). He speaks of God’s lovingkindness to many, as well as His judgments on those who rebel (v. 18). Even in “The Lord of hosts” is a reminder, for God is not alone in His endeavors, but commands legions upon legions of angelic hosts. In v. 19, God’s wisdom is great, His deeds are mighty, and He sees all that is done on the earth.
God did miracles in Egypt, and did not stop there, but gave them a rich land “flowing with milk and honey.” Sadly, that then reminds Jeremiah of their rebellion, and their current calamity, but even then Jeremiah remembers, “what You have spoken has come to pass; and behold, You see it.” This, this great and mighty God, who sees all, and accomplishes all that He has spoken, this is the God who has asked Jeremiah to do this thing before God and everyone (v. 25).
We sometimes walk around with blinders on, heads down, just trying to make it through the day, or the week, or the month. Take time today to look up, see the wonders of God, think of the things He has accomplished all through history. Read about them if you need to, and praise Him for it all. God has spoken, and it shall come to pass. He has no blinders, but sees each of us, right where we are. Praise Him who is great in counsel and mighty in deed, indeed.