◄ Jeremiah 20:12 ►
O LORD of Hosts, who examines the righteous, who sees the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.
Study Bible
O LORD of Hosts
This phrase emphasizes the sovereignty and supreme authority of God over all heavenly armies. The Hebrew term "Yahweh Sabaoth" reflects God's omnipotence and His role as a divine warrior. Historically, this title reassures believers of God's power to protect and deliver His people, as seen throughout Israel's history, where God intervened in battles and conflicts.

who tests the righteous
The Hebrew word for "tests" is "bachan," which means to examine or scrutinize. This phrase indicates that God evaluates the faithfulness and integrity of His people. The testing of the righteous is a recurring theme in Scripture, illustrating that trials are a means for spiritual growth and purification, as seen in the lives of figures like Job and Abraham.

and sees the heart and mind
The Hebrew words "lev" (heart) and "kilyah" (mind or kidneys) denote the inner being and deepest thoughts of a person. This phrase underscores God's omniscience, His ability to perceive beyond outward appearances and understand the true intentions and emotions of individuals. It serves as a reminder that nothing is hidden from God, aligning with passages like 1 Samuel 16:7, where God looks at the heart.

let me see Your vengeance upon them
Here, Jeremiah appeals for divine justice. The term "vengeance" in Hebrew, "naqam," refers to God's righteous retribution against wrongdoing. This plea is not for personal revenge but for God's justice to prevail, reflecting a deep trust in God's moral order and His promise to uphold justice for the oppressed.

for to You I have committed my cause
The act of committing one's cause to God, as expressed by the Hebrew word "galal," meaning to roll or entrust, signifies a profound reliance on God's wisdom and justice. Jeremiah's declaration is an act of faith, entrusting his situation entirely to God, reminiscent of other biblical figures who placed their trust in God's hands, such as King David in the Psalms.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
The prophet who is speaking in this verse. He is known for his messages of warning and judgment to the people of Judah.

2. LORD of Hosts
A title for God emphasizing His sovereignty and command over the heavenly armies.

3. The Righteous
Those who are faithful and obedient to God, whom He tests to refine and prove their faith.

4. The Wicked
Implicit in the context, these are the people against whom Jeremiah seeks God's vengeance.

5. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Jeremiah prophesied and faced opposition.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Justice
God is the ultimate judge who sees and knows all. His testing of the righteous is part of His sovereign plan to refine and strengthen their faith.

The Role of Prayer in Seeking Justice
Like Jeremiah, believers are encouraged to commit their causes to God, trusting Him to enact justice in His perfect timing.

Understanding Divine Testing
God's testing is not to harm but to reveal the true nature of our hearts. It is an opportunity for growth and deeper reliance on Him.

Vengeance Belongs to the Lord
Believers are called to refrain from personal vengeance, trusting that God will right all wrongs and bring justice.

Commitment to God's Cause
Jeremiah's example teaches us to remain steadfast in our commitment to God's purposes, even amidst opposition and hardship.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God as the "LORD of Hosts" influence your perspective on His ability to handle your challenges?

2. In what ways can you discern God's testing in your own life, and how can it lead to spiritual growth?

3. How does Jeremiah's prayer for vengeance align with the New Testament teaching on leaving vengeance to God?

4. What practical steps can you take to commit your cause to God, as Jeremiah did?

5. How can you apply the principle of trusting God's justice in situations where you feel wronged or persecuted?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 7:9
This verse also speaks of God testing the hearts and minds, emphasizing His role as a righteous judge.

1 Samuel 16:7
Highlights God's ability to see beyond outward appearances and into the heart, similar to His testing of the righteous.

Romans 12:19
Encourages believers to leave vengeance to God, aligning with Jeremiah's plea for divine justice.

Hebrews 4:12
Describes the Word of God as discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart, akin to God's testing mentioned in Jeremiah.

Revelation 2:23
Jesus declares that He searches hearts and minds, reinforcing the theme of divine insight and judgment.
Sermons
The Sorrow and Joy of God's ServantA.F. Muir Jeremiah 20:7-18
The Name Magor-Missabib Wrongly AppliedD. Young Jeremiah 20:10-13
Evil WatchersJ. Parker, D. D.Jeremiah 20:10-18
Existence RegrettedD. Pledge.Jeremiah 20:10-18
Pathetic ExperiencesJ. Parker, D. D.Jeremiah 20:10-18
The Best ChampionJohn Trapp.Jeremiah 20:10-18
People
Benjamin, Immer, Jeremiah, Magormissabib, Pashur
Places
Babylon, Benjamin Gate, Topheth
Topics
Almighty, Armies, Beholder, Cause, Committed, Examine, Forth, Heart, Hosts, Mind, O, Opened, Probe, Punishment, Reins, Revealed, Righteous, Seeing, Sees, Seest, Test, Testing, Tests, Thoughts, Trier, Triest, Upright, Vengeance, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 20:12

     1466   vision
     5017   heart, renewal
     5166   liver and kidneys
     6185   imagination, desires
     6233   rejection, experience
     8208   commitment, to God
     8478   self-examination

Library
The Revelation to which the Scripture of the Old Testament Owes Its Existence.
"O Lord, . . . Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed."--Jer. xx. 7. The understanding of the Holy Spirit's work in Scripture requires us to distinguish the preparation, and the formation that was the outcome of the preparation. We will discuss these two separately. The Holy Spirit prepared for Scripture by the operations which from Paradise to Patmos supernaturally apprehended the sinful life of this world, and thus raised up believing men who formed the developing Church. This will seem very …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Revelation of the Old Testament in Writing.
"Then I said, I will not speak any more in His Name. But His word was in my heart as a burning fire, shut up in my bones: and I was weary with forbearing, but I could not."--Jer. xx. 9. Altho the miracles performed for and in the midst of Israel created a glorious life-center in the midst of the heathen world, yet they did not constitute a Holy Scripture; for this can not be created except God speak to man, even to His people Israel. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

One Thing is Needful;
or, SERIOUS MEDITATIONS UPON THE FOUR LAST THINGS: DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN, AND HELL UNTO WHICH IS ADDED EBAL AND GERIZZIM, OR THE BLESSING AND THE CURSE, by John Bunyan. London: Printed for Nath. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1688.[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. According to Charles Doe, in that curious sheet called The Struggler for the Preservation of Mr. John Bunyan's Labours, these poems were published about the year 1664, while the author was suffering imprisonment for conscience …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Baptist's Inquiry and Jesus' Discourse Suggested Thereby.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XI. 2-30; ^C Luke VII. 18-35. ^c 18 And the disciples of John told him of all these things. ^a 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent by his disciples ^c 19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them unto the Lord [John had been cast into prison about December, a.d. 27, and it was now after the Passover, possibly in May or June, a.d. 28. Herod Antipas had cast John into prison because John had reproved him for taking his brother's wife. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Hindrances to Mourning
What shall we do to get our heart into this mourning frame? Do two things. Take heed of those things which will stop these channels of mourning; put yourselves upon the use of all means that will help forward holy mourning. Take heed of those things which will stop the current of tears. There are nine hindrances of mourning. 1 The love of sin. The love of sin is like a stone in the pipe which hinders the current of water. The love of sin makes sin taste sweet and this sweetness in sin bewitches the …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord."--Jeremiah i. 8. The Prophets were ever ungratefully treated by the Israelites, they were resisted, their warnings neglected, their good services forgotten. But there was this difference between the earlier and the later Prophets; the earlier lived and died in honour among their people,--in outward honour; though hated and thwarted by the wicked, they were exalted to high places, and ruled in the congregation. …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Meditations for the Morning.
1. Almighty God can, in the resurrection, as easily raise up thy body out of the grave, from the sleep of death, as he hath this morning wakened thee in thy bed, out of the sleep of nature. At the dawning of which resurrection day, Christ shall come to be glorified in his saints; and every one of the bodies of the thousands of his saints, being fashioned like unto his glorious body, shall shine as bright as the sun (2 Thess. i. 10; Jude, ver. 14; Phil. iii. 21; Luke ix. 31;) all the angels shining …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Ninth Commandment
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.' Exod 20: 16. THE tongue which at first was made to be an organ of God's praise, is now become an instrument of unrighteousness. This commandment binds the tongue to its good behaviour. God has set two natural fences to keep in the tongue, the teeth and lips; and this commandment is a third fence set about it, that it should not break forth into evil. It has a prohibitory and a mandatory part: the first is set down in plain words, the other …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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