I Will Make You a Fortified Bronze Wall

Vincent Yeung—Cambridge, UK

“You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict.”[1]

This statement illustrates how human beings naturally tend to avoid conflict: we often prefer to go with the flow and keep our head down so that life will be easier.

We do not want to upset others, be it at church, at work, or with our friends and family. We find it easier to preach to strangers: we can simply walk away if they do not like to listen, knowing that we will not see them again. In contrast, when we preach to loved ones, we fear rejection and opposition, and worse, we cannot escape; we have to continue to live in their midst.

When we see wrongdoings among our friends and colleagues, we just keep quiet, not wanting to rock the boat and offend others. Once we have raised the issue, we do not want to repeat it, as we do not wish to be seen as troublemakers. Sometimes, certain situations at church may require that we speak the truth in love. Yet, when we do so, we are often criticized and rejected by others.

Now we have to make a choice: do we regress to our passive stance, compromise to make peace, give up totally, or do we stand firm for what is right in God’s eyes? A passive approach contradicts the active stance of the Bible, which reminds us that we “are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14); that we should “make disciples of all the nations” (Mt 28:19), “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3), and “speak [the] truth with [our] neighbor” (Eph 4:25). The actions of shining, making, and contending inevitably lead us on to a collision course. When speaking the truth, divisions between friends and within the family may become inevitable (Lk 12:49–53).
Prophet Jeremiah knew this dilemma all too well, as he faced enormous challenges during his ministry.

DELIGHTED YET DEPRESSED

Jeremiah was targeted for speaking the truth (Jer 18:18). When he preached God’s message of judgment and repentance, people retaliated and mocked him (Jer 20:7,10). He became a reproach to the people (Jer 20:8). His friends waited for his downfall (Jer 20:10), and his own family mistreated him (Jer 12:6). He was told to speak no more, or his life would be threatened (Jer 11:21).

Jeremiah rejoiced in God’s word (Jer 15:16), and yet became dejected. He asked God for deliverance (Jer 15:15), yet he cursed his own birth (Jer 20:14,15) and lost hope, claiming, “My wound is incurable” (Jer 15:18a). He also questioned God’s faithfulness, contending that God was an “unreliable stream” (Jer 15:18b). The God whom he had once trusted became a potential “terror” (Jer 17:17) and one who would put him to “shame” (Jer 17:18). He derided his own ministry for being in the wrong place and at the wrong time. He lamented that it was filled with labor, sorrow, and shame (Jer 20:18). The juxtaposition between fear and hope, elation and sorrow, faithfulness and accusation, illustrate the contradictions of the human mind.

Jeremiah typifies believers who want to follow God’s words and partake in His ministry. When they encounter difficulties and setbacks, they suppress their emotions, believing they can cope. But there comes a point when they can no longer contain the build-up of feelings, and they vent their anger. It is normal to feel angry when we have been mistreated or wronged, especially when we are in the right. However, waiting for the wrong to be put right can be frustrating. Hence, Jeremiah accused God of filling him with “indignation” (Jer 15:17). With such a negative mindset, we may find that we are no longer able to continue to practice God’s word and to serve Him: we may retire to our mundane life, or else persist with bitterness.

ROAD TO DELIVERANCE

Jeremiah was troubled by the same question that plagued many ancient saints. He asked, “How long?” (Jer 12:4). Promises were made by God, but they did not materialize in Jeremiah’s lifetime. God’s reply was to question Jeremiah’s strength, which was based on his own ability. If Jeremiah was wearied by mere men, how could he overcome horses (Jer 12:5)? And if he could not cope with the little suffering in a “peaceful” Jerusalem, how could he cope with the plain of Jordan, where the lions hid around willows and shady banks, ready to pick their prey (Jer 12:5)?

Rely on God

Jeremiah proclaimed his trust in God, yet God questioned his wholehearted devotion. Jeremiah’s reliance on his own strength had adulterated his trust in God. He was fighting his own fight, with his own ability, tenacity, and strength. Ultimately, he became worn out by the opposition. Today, Satan and his forces are constantly aiming at the heart of believers, ready to strike secretly (Ps 11:2). We need to withstand this constant onslaught by relying on God.

Jeremiah had veered off course and was overwhelmed by the terrors that surrounded him. It is ironic that Jeremiah committed the very mistake that he had rebuked Israel for: “You have forsaken me; you have gone backward” (Jer 15:6).

Persist by God’s Strength

Even so, God offered him a way back; but Jeremiah had to take the first step. God said, “If you return, then I will bring you back” (Jer 15:19a). The way of return required him to stand firm and not compromise: “[Y]ou must not return to them” (Jer 15:19b). Similarly, it is only when we trust in God (Jer 17:7) that we can endure and have “no fear when heat comes” (Jer 17:8). When we persist in doing God’s will, His promises will follow (Heb 10:37–38).

Purify Our Hearts and Minds

The second condition for Jeremiah’s return was to “take out the precious from the vile” (Jer 15:19), that is to purify himself. Jeremiah was holding grudges against man and against God. His bitterness was both open and insidious, manifesting through the words that had been hidden in his heart.

God searches our hearts. The impurities in our minds are like filth that poisons us and prevents God’s word from working in us. We should be truthful to ourselves and search out the impurities that we pick up consciously or subconsciously in our daily life: the grudges we hold against others (Mt 5:22–23), self-righteousness (Job 40:2–4), jealousy, and anger (Gal 5:20–21)—all these prevent us from drawing near to God. Like Jeremiah, we should remove the vile from our heart—the source of all uncleanness (Mt 15:19).

SERVICE WITH PEACE AND JOY

We do not want to share in Jeremiah’s plight, having to dig ourselves from the nadir of faith. When we suffer for the sake of God and encounter obstacles, we should be aware of warning signs: doubt, mistrust, anger, and the loss of joy. Do we feel lonely, thinking that no one is able and willing to help us? Do we feel frustrated because no matter how hard we try, we do not get the right response or outcome? Have we lost the will to fight and find it hard to continue?

We should realize that God’s work is not about us—success or failure does not depend on our abilities or reputation. We are only God’s instrument—an instrument of righteousness—created to do good works for His glory.

Elijah was hiding in a cave, feeling lonely and frustrated because his great work was not recognized (1 Kgs 19:1–3, 9). He thought he was the only prophet in Israel (1 Kgs 19:14). This self-centeredness blinded him from seeing the bigger picture.

On the opposite end, the apostles rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Jesus’ name (Acts 5:41). Paul considered himself to be merely a fellow worker; he was happy to build and leave it to God to give the increase (1 Cor 3:5,6,9). He was neither worried about how others saw him (1 Cor 4:3) nor perturbed by their motives; he rejoiced as long as the gospel was preached (Phil 1:18). Paul’s clarity over his position and mission defined his ministry. He did not preach himself (2 Cor 4:5), and he understood that the power was not his own but came from God (2 Cor 4:7). Whether he experienced glory or dishonor, good or evil reports, riches or poverty, Paul could rejoice. Even when his troubles, the conspiracy against him, and his own fears remained, he was exceedingly joyful and took comfort in the Lord God (2 Cor 7:4–6; 11:28). He could rejoice because he had the right mindset to do all things through Christ who strengthened him (Phil 4:11–13).

When Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin, he remained at peace (Acts 6:15). He was not perturbed by the crowd and the uncertain future that confronted him. He neither shrank from speaking the truth (Acts 7:51) nor was he upset by the recalcitrance of his accusers. He peacefully accepted his fate and forgave those who inflicted pain on him (Acts 7:55, 60).
Paul and Stephen followed the path of passion laid down by Jesus (1 Pet 2:21); they willingly suffered for righteousness’ sake, without fear and trouble (1 Pet 3:14), because they relied on God.

STAND FIRM

God promised to make Jeremiah a fortified bronze wall (Jer 15:20a)—a wall so strong that it could not be breached by his enemies. This strength would not be based on Jeremiah’s ability, tenacity, and strong will; it would come from God, for He said, “I am with you” (Jer 15:20b).

This promise of divine presence is the assurance of victory, reminiscent of God’s words to Joshua: “[D]o not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh 1:9). This assurance is reiterated throughout the ages and before every great mission (Josh 1:6,9; Mt 26:19,20). This power is from above. No matter how hard we try, we cannot outrun or outwit our enemy; only God can open the way to help us stand firm.

Many of us know what God wants us to do, yet we procrastinate because we are afraid to fail, to be marginalized by our peers, or ostracized by society. We do not openly object to God’s commandments, but past unpleasant experiences have deterred us from doing the right things. Out of fear, mistrust, and indignation, we fail to uphold the truth and to persist in our ministry. Only when we remove the vile from our thoughts, stop our backsliding, and start to rely on God, can we truly overcome the challenges that we face in our faith and service.