How in the World Did I Get Here?

Written by Colette Fabry

“Then they took Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.” Jeremiah 38:6

Have you ever been in a place wondering “How in the world did I get here?” A few people in Scripture did. David ended up in a cave. Joseph was put into a pit. And Jeremiah was sinking into clay. All were the result of someone else’s sin. Jeremiah, God’s faithful mouthpiece, was held captive because the princes of Judah wanted to shut him up. Their father, King Zedekiah allowed it so that Jeremiah wouldn’t be seen or heard.

Jeremiah, whose name means ‘exalted by Jehovah’, must have felt anything but exalted! He preached that those who bring trouble upon the innocent will instead bring trouble upon themselves. He prophesied that those who don’t obey God will be put into shame and confusion. But here he was, in shame, confusion and trouble- in a place that didn’t seem fair.

In Lamentations 3, we get insight into his thoughts. He used words like “darkness”, “broken” and “distress”. Halfway through the chapter, the tone changes. Jeremiah begins to remember the truth:
“The Lord’s compassions never fail and are new every morning.”
“Great is His faithfulness.”
“The LORD is my portion, and therefore I will hope in Him,”
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him and that seek Him.”
“Salvation comes from Him.”

While Jeremiah was exalting God, God was working to exalt him up and out of this place of despair. He sent a servant to the king who successfully pleaded for Jeremiah’s deliverance. This servant and 30 men ran to rescue him, and lifted him from the dungeon. Many things have changed since Jeremiah’s days, but some things never change- like the faithfulness of God.

The end of Jeremiah’s story was good. He was free and lived out his days peacefully. God dealt harshly with the King and his sons. In this true account of Jeremiah’s life, God shows that He is a Deliverer, Restorer, Redeemer, and Judge who gives right and fair verdicts.