Jeremiah 20:5-8 - You deceived me Lord!

20:5,6

Pashur was to pay a heavy price for his disobedience. This was not a one off, but was the result of his acting on his own behalf, instead of God’s behalf. All the valuables of the city would be taken off to Babylon. Pashur and his whole household would be among the captives taken off to Babylon. There he would die, along with all his friends to whom he prophesied lies. False prophecy is a very serious matter.

20:7,8

Jeremiah now voices another complaint. Yet again he is calling God a liar “You deceived me Lord, and I was deceived”. He feels that God forced him into this situation, and forced him to obey the Lord. He faithfully proclaims the word of the Lord and gets nothing but insults and attacks. Was Jeremiah wrong to respond in this way? Of course he was, but God has recorded this. Religiosity teaches us to cover up our true feelings, the Bible teaches us to take them to the Lord. Wrong as they are, God can sort us out if we are open with Him.