◄ Jeremiah 18:19 ►
Attend to me, O LORD. Hear what my accusers are saying!
Study Bible
Pay attention to me
The Hebrew root for "pay attention" is "שָׁעָה" (sha'ah), which conveys the idea of looking intently or considering with care. In the context of Jeremiah's plea, it reflects a deep yearning for God's focused attention amidst his distress. Historically, prophets often found themselves isolated, and Jeremiah's call is a heartfelt request for divine intervention. This phrase underscores the personal relationship between Jeremiah and God, highlighting the prophet's reliance on God's attentive care in times of trouble.

O LORD
The term "LORD" is translated from the Hebrew "יהוה" (YHWH), the sacred and personal name of God revealed to Moses. This name signifies God's eternal presence and covenant faithfulness. Jeremiah's invocation of "O LORD" is not just a formal address but a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people. It reflects Jeremiah's trust in God's unchanging nature and His commitment to justice and righteousness.

Hear
The Hebrew word for "hear" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just auditory reception but also understanding and responding. In the biblical context, to "hear" is often linked with obedience and action. Jeremiah's plea for God to "hear" is a request for God to not only listen but to act on his behalf. This reflects a common biblical theme where hearing is associated with divine intervention and deliverance.

what my accusers are saying
The phrase "my accusers" comes from the Hebrew "רָעַי" (ra'ai), which can mean adversaries or those who bring charges. In Jeremiah's life, he faced opposition from those who rejected his prophetic message. The historical context reveals that prophets often faced hostility from their own people, especially when delivering messages of judgment. Jeremiah's request for God to hear "what my accusers are saying" is a call for divine justice, asking God to acknowledge the falsehoods and malice directed against him. This highlights the theme of God as the ultimate judge who discerns truth and vindicates the righteous.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah. Known for his perseverance in the face of opposition and his deep emotional connection to his prophetic mission.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is both just and merciful. Jeremiah appeals to Him for justice and protection against his adversaries.

3. Accusers
The people who opposed Jeremiah, likely including false prophets, priests, and political leaders who rejected his message and sought to harm him.

4. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Jeremiah prophesied. During his ministry, Judah was facing impending judgment due to its persistent idolatry and disobedience to God.

5. Prophetic Ministry
The context of Jeremiah's plea is his role as a prophet, tasked with delivering God's messages, often of judgment, to a rebellious people.
Teaching Points
God Hears Our Cries
Just as Jeremiah called upon the Lord to hear him, we can be assured that God listens to our prayers, especially when we face opposition for standing for His truth.

Perseverance in Faith
Jeremiah's example teaches us the importance of remaining steadfast in our faith and calling, even when we face adversity and false accusations.

Righteousness and Opposition
Being faithful to God's message may lead to opposition. We should not be surprised by this but rather see it as a confirmation of our alignment with God's will.

Trust in Divine Justice
Jeremiah's appeal to God for attention and justice reminds us to trust in God's ultimate justice, even when human systems fail us.

Prayer as a First Response
Jeremiah's immediate turn to prayer in the face of accusation highlights the importance of making prayer our first response in times of trouble.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jeremiah's plea to God in this verse reflect his relationship with God, and how can we cultivate a similar relationship in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we identify with Jeremiah's experience of facing opposition for standing up for God's truth today?

3. How do the additional scriptures connected to this verse enhance our understanding of how to respond to persecution and opposition?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure that prayer is our first response when we face challenges or accusations?

5. How can we balance the desire for justice with the call to love and pray for our enemies, as seen in the teachings of Jesus?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 17:1-2
Similar to Jeremiah's plea, the psalmist asks God to hear his righteous plea and vindicate him against his enemies.

1 Kings 18:36-37
Elijah's prayer for God to hear him, demonstrating the prophet's reliance on God amidst opposition.

Matthew 5:11-12
Jesus speaks about the blessing of being persecuted for righteousness, which connects to Jeremiah's experience of opposition for speaking God's truth.

Acts 7:59-60
Stephen's prayer for his accusers, showing a New Testament example of responding to persecution with a plea to God.
Sermons
The Preacher's Foes; Or, False Tongues and Deaf EarsA.F. Muir Jeremiah 18:18, 19
Jeremiah's Enemies and His Prayer Against ThemD. Young Jeremiah 18:18-23
PersecutionS. Conway Jeremiah 18:18-23
The Prophet's Prayer for Vengeance on His EnemiesS. Conway Jeremiah 18:19-23
People
Jeremiah
Places
Jerusalem, Lebanon, Sirion
Topics
Accusers, Attention, Cause, Contend, Contending, Ear, Forward, Hearken, Heed, Listen, O, Opponents, Plea, Saying, Voice
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 18:18

     5193   tongue
     5779   advice
     5780   advisers
     5917   plans
     5951   slander
     8787   opposition, to God

Library
The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
"Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation." This is predicated of the judgments of God on those who had shed the blood of his saints. The Savior declares that all the righteous blood which had been shed on the earth from that of Abel down to the gospel day, should come on that generation! But is not this unreasonable and contrary to the Scriptures? "Far be wickedness from God and iniquity from the Almighty. For the work of man shall be render unto him, and cause every …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

The Hebrew Sages and their Proverbs
[Sidenote: Role of the sages in Israel's life] In the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Jer. xviii. 18; Ezek. vii. 26) three distinct classes of religious teachers were recognized by the people: the prophets, the priests, and the wise men or sages. From their lips and pens have come practically all the writings of the Old Testament. Of these three classes the wise men or sages are far less prominent or well known. They wrote no history of Israel, they preached no public sermons, nor do they appear …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Sick Person Ought Now to Send for Some Godly and Religious Pastor.
In any wise remember, if conveniently it may be, to send for some godly and religious pastor, not only to pray for thee at thy death--for God in such a case hath promised to hear the prayers of the righteous prophets, and elders of the church (Gen. xx. 7; Jer. xviii. 20; xv. 1; 1 Sam. xii. 19, 23; James v. 14, 15, 16)--but also upon thy unfeigned repentance to declare to thee the absolution of thy sins. For as Christ hath given him a calling to baptize thee unto repentance for the remission of thy …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

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

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

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians at the Table of the Lord;
COMPRISING I. HIS CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND REASON OF HIS PRACTICE; II. DIFFERENCES ABOUT WATER BAPTISM NO BAR TO COMMUNION; AND III. PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES AND TRUE[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Reader, these are extraordinary productions that will well repay an attentive perusal. It is the confession of faith of a Christian who had suffered nearly twelve years' imprisonment, under persecution for conscience sake. Shut up with his Bible, you have here the result of a prayerful study of those holy …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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

Of the Decrees of God.
Eph. i. 11.--"Who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."--Job xxiii. 13. "He is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth." Having spoken something before of God, in his nature and being and properties, we come, in the next place, to consider his glorious majesty, as he stands in some nearer relation to his creatures, the work of his hands. For we must conceive the first rise of all things in the world to be in this self-being, the first conception …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Degrees of Sin
Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. He that delivered me unto thee, has the greater sin.' John 19: 11. The Stoic philosophers held that all sins were equal; but this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in sin; some are greater than others; some are mighty sins,' and crying sins.' Amos 5: 12; Gen 18: 21. Every sin has a voice to speak, but some …
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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