Jeremiah, referred to as the weeping prophet, was powerfully used by God in Old Testament times. He worked as an Israelite priest in Southern Judah. God called him to warn Israel of the coming judgement unless the people turned away from their sin to get right with God. Jeremiah began his ministry around the time of King Josiah’s reign, around the same time that Babylon was swelling with dominion and power. Sadly, Judah had been spiraling into decay by accepting idolatry and the ways of the world.
Jeremiah spoke of the coming doom of exile and urged the people to repent of their foolish ways. He earned the titled of the weeping prophet because of the deep grief and mourning he expressed for those not living rightly before God. Jeremiah’s tears revealed the heart of God. Nonetheless, even in the midst of his own suffering, he continued to call others to change.
THE CLAY POT
Before Jeremiah’s famous saying of having a ‘fire shut up in his bones’ (in chapter 20), he was brought by the Lord to a potter’s house. There he was shown the potter working clay into the form of a pot, and the Word of the Lord came to him:
O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:6 ESV
The Lord explained to Jeremiah that the people must turn from their evil ways. However, (and that’s a pretty big ‘however’) he warned the prophet that the people will not listen because they have forgotten all about Him.
But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways. Jeremiah 18:15 ESV
Then the Lord gives Jeremiah specific instructions to buy a potter’s earthenware vessel (a/k/a a clay pot) and gather some elders, and elders of the priests. Then, he was to go to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom in front of the Potsherd Gate to warn the people. This valley has significance in this story. Its location is near the walls of Jerusalem and the gate opened towards it (the valley is also referred to as Topheth). However, the valley became a place of idol worship where babies and children were sacrificed to Molech. BibleAtlas.com describes why the Valley of the Son of Hinnom is referred to the Valley of Slaughter.
It was on account of these evil practices that Jeremiah (7:32; 19:6) announced the change of name. Into this valley dead bodies were probably cast to be consumed by the dogs, as is done in the Wady er-Rababi today, and fires were here kept burning to consume the rubbish of the city. Such associations led to the Ge-Hinnom (New Testament “Gehenna”) becoming the “type of Hell” (Milton, Paradise Lost, i, 405).
And this is where it gets VERY interesting. The Lord gives Jeremiah specific instructions on how to address the people.
Hear the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind – therefore, behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when this place shall no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.
And in this place I will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem, and will cause their people to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of those who seek their life. I will give their dead bodies for food to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth. And I will make this city a horror, a thing to be hissed at. Everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its wounds. And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and everyone shall eat the flesh of his neighbor in the siege and in the distress, with which their enemies and those who seek their life afflict them. Jeremiah 19:3-9
IS THIS MIC ON?
Wow. So this is what Jeremiah had to say in front of people. But before that, he was to literally (and probably dramatically) break the clay pot.
Then you shall break the flask in the sight of the men who go with you, and shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, so that it can never be mended’. Jeremiah 19:10-11
And Jeremiah’s message keeps going, saying the Lord will bring disaster upon the cities and towns because they did not heed the previous warnings. Talk about an eye opening speech! Does this remind you of some of the things we experience today? Abominations being committed right outside that of the temple (or church in our circumstance) and nothing has been done?
AND it was for THIS reason, the chief officer, Pashhur, in the house of the Lord, yes the house of the Lord, came and beat Jeremiah up and put him in the stocks. According to Bible Gateway and BibleHub commentary, the stocks may have referred to some kind of restraining device, like a metal collar. It’s possible it was very uncomfortable as some believe these things were used as a form of torture.
However, even after this horrific experience when Jeremiah is released from the stocks, by Pashhur, he has the boldness to tell him:
“The Lord does not call your name Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side. For thus says the Lord: Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends.” Jeremiah 20:3-4 ESV
SIDE NOTE -The name Pashhur is believed to be a form of the word Passover, meaning ‘delivered’ in a sense. So the name change is a reversal of his original name meaning.
AND ANOTHER THING!
Jeremiah goes on even further, explaining that Pashhur’s fate does not look good in the future. This is the context behind Jeremiah saying he cannot stop speaking for the Lord, even if he wanted to. Obviously, it was not all roses for the prophet up to this point. No one was listening and he was getting beat up and thrown in the stocks by a chief priest who was supposed to be following God. A man who should have known better.
AN UNDERSTANDABLE PITY PARTY
An emotionally drained Jeremiah expressed feelings of lament to the Lord because of the trials that came. However, he remained obedient to what the Lord asked of him. God’s words weren’t received well by others, so Jeremiah wanted to stop prophesying. However, the Lord is very persuasive.
If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9
Jeremiah faced mocking and discouragement, but God‘s Word burned within him. It makes me think of my cooking injuries. Every now and then I burn myself on the oven. As we all know, when we accidentally burn our finger (or arm in my case) on the stove, even if you slightly touch the oven for a second, it hurts. And the burn continues like a pulse. That’s what it’s like when God prompts us to do something but we try to ignore it. It pulses within us, prodding us to action.
FIRE IN THE WORD
The Word of God has this effect as well and brings to mind a scripture from the New Testament. In the book of Luke, after Jesus’ death on the cross, two disappointed men were traveling to Emmaus when Jesus decided to join them. The men did not recognize that they were talking to Jesus. But something curious happened in their conversation, they felt something burning within.
They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32 ESV
The scriptures (God’s Word) can have the same effect on our heart as the Old Testament prophets when God laid something on their heart. We must have faith that God has a purpose in the trials we face, big and small. All the terrible obstacles that Jeremiah faced are beneficial for us today. The stories build up our faith, they bring encouragement and strength into our lives. I imagine Jeremiah’s warnings brought faith to the people back then too. Once they saw the destruction and consequences, they must have realized that Jeremiah was hearing from the Lord and felt foolish. How many repented because of his sacrifices?
In fact, one of the most beloved scriptures for encouragement and hope are found in the book of Jeremiah. It was directed toward the exiles to remind them that God is still with them and has plans for them. But this comforting text is also for us today as Jesus is our blessed hope.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
The presence of God is like a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and later in book of Jeremiah, the prophet describes God’s Word as fire as well. Isn’t that true for us today? The more we read the Bible the more we are convicted of the way we think, feel and live our lives. Staying in the Word is crucial in order to be able to speak into other people’s lives as well. Elisabeth Elliot said “We can’t really tell how crooked our thinking is until we line it up with the straight edge of Scripture.” I just love that saying. It speaks right to my heart.
Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29 ESV
KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT
The fire reveals Gods presence which can be explained as the Holy Spirit. Though being filled with Holy Spirit fire can be quite uncomfortable, it is also the most wonderful part of being a Christian. When we can feel the presence of God, we want nothing else, just more of Him (Jesus).
My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue. Psalm 39:3 ESV
Today as Christians we are still facing mocking and ridicule for speaking truth and sharing the gospel. But we still must proclaim God’s truth boldly even in the face of persecution. This is part of the great commission. We can have gratitude in our hearts for prophets, like Jeremiah, who bring us so much inspiration and courage. Let us continue God’s work, as ambassadors with courage and welcome God’s consuming fire!
So can we do what Jeremiah did? If we have a fire within, we can do great things. When we seek Jesus with our whole heart and read His Word daily, we can do anything!
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
Sources:
The Book of Jeremiah, BibleProject Guide, bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-jeremiah/, accessed October 1, 2025.
Jeremiah’s Prophecy, Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/topical/j/jeremiah%27s_prophecy.htm, accessed October 1, 2025.
Why is Jeremiah known as the weeping prophet?, https://www.gotquestions.org/weeping-prophet.html, accessed September 30, 2025.
“Stocks” https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Stocks, accessed October 2, 2025.
“Stocks” https://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/20-2.htm, accessed October 1, 2025.
Valley of Slaughter (Valley of Hinnom), https://bibleatlas.org/valley_of_slaughter.htm, accessed October 2025.
“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
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