EGW WritingsJeremiah 20

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)

Ms 16a, 1885

4LtMs, Ms 16a, 1885, par. 39

It is a beautiful morning. We have no seasickness as yet. Last evening we enjoyed a beautiful sunset. The broad ocean was all that we could see surrounding us, and the sun went out of sight in the broad waters. We went into the dining room to attend services. Under the Episcopalian services, prayers were read, and chapters in the Old and New Testaments that were very appropriate for the occasion. The hymns sung were excellent in sentiment. The chapter read first was in Jeremiah. The second was in the New Testament in regard to the shipwreck of Paul. I wrote eight pages and prepared a reported article for the press. We were on deck most of the time.

From Splendor to Shadow

Jeremiah’s Peaceful, Shrinking Disposition

SS 218.4

His sensitive soul was pierced by the arrows of derision hurled at him. “I have become a laughingstock all the day; every one mocks me.” “Say all my familiar friends, watching for my fall ... ‘Perhaps he will be deceived, then we can overcome him.’” Jeremiah 20:7, 10, RSV.

SS 218.5

But the faithful prophet was daily strengthened. “The Lord is with me as a dread warrior,” he declared in faith. “Therefore my persecutors will stumble, they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed.” Jeremiah 20:11, RSV. He learned to pray, “Correct me, O Lord, but in just measure; not in Thy anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing.” Jeremiah 10:24, RSV.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Ms 56, 1902

17LtMs, Ms 56, 1902, par. 15

How scornfully the Jewish nation treated the message that the Lord gave to them through His prophet Jeremiah! Of his experience Jeremiah the prophet says: “O Lord, Thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.” [Jeremiah 20:7, 8.]

17LtMs, Ms 56, 1902, par. 16

So strong was the opposition against Jeremiah’s message, so often was he derided and mocked, that he said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name.” [Verse 9.] Thus it has ever been. Because of the bitterness, hatred, and opposition manifested against the Word of God spoken in reproof, many other messengers of God have decided to do as Jeremiah decided. But what did this prophet of the Lord do after his decision? Try as much as he would, he could not hold his peace. As soon as he came into the assemblies of the people, he found that the Spirit of the Lord was stronger than he was. The record is: “His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with foreboding, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.” [Verses 9, 10.]

17LtMs, Ms 56, 1902, par. 18

Jeremiah’s enemies did not prevail; for he says, “The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible One: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.” [Verse 11.] These words were spoken by One who knows the hearts of all. He can never make a mistake.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 34—Jeremiah

PK 420.1

Cruel were the mockings he was called upon to endure. His sensitive soul was pierced through and through by the arrows of derision hurled at him by those who despised his messages and made light of his burden for their conversion. “I was a derision to all my people,” he declared, “and their song all the day.” “I am in derision daily, everyone mocketh me.” “All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.” Lamentations 3:14; Jeremiah 20:7, 10.

PK 420.2

But the faithful prophet was daily strengthened to endure. “The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible One,” he declared in faith; “therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be really ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.” “Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for He hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.” Jeremiah 20:11, 13.

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 35—Approaching Doom

PK 432.1

The prophet’s words, instead of leading to confession and repentance, aroused the anger of those high in authority, and as a consequence Jeremiah was deprived of his liberty. Imprisoned, and placed in the stocks, the prophet nevertheless continued to speak the messages of Heaven to those who stood by. His voice could not be silenced by persecution. The word of truth, he declared, “was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” Jeremiah 20:9.

Ye Shall Receive Power

A Burning Fire, January 14

YRP 22.1

Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Jeremiah 20:9.

From Splendor to Shadow

The Perversity of King Jehoiakim

SS 224.3

The prophet’s words aroused the anger of those high in authority, and Jeremiah was imprisoned, and placed in the stocks. Nevertheless, his voice could not be silenced. The word of truth, he declared, “was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” Jeremiah 20:9.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 124, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 124, 1899, par. 8

If the churches do not feel that the work done in the Echo office is a most important work, and that the workers need their sympathy and hearty, intelligent co-operation, this deficiency will be a drawback to the work. Complaints will be made in regard to the men who carry a heavy load. Discouragements come upon these men because of the unconsecrated elements in the churches, who love to talk, and say, “Report, and we will report it.” [Jeremiah 20:10.] They are making more work for the men who are already overburdened.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)

Ms 38, 1901

16LtMs, Ms 38, 1901, par. 20

I speak to our people in Iowa. I hope you will carry what I have said to the whole conference. Tell our people that God wants them to come into working order. Tell them that He wants them to take up the work they have neglected. This neglect has thrown upon Dr. Kellogg a burden which he should never have had to carry, a burden which he would not have had to carry if our people had done their appointed work. Not till you begin to do the work Dr. Kellogg has done will it be time for you to criticize him. But it is never right to find fault. If you hear that some one has done wrong, go to him, and find out whether he is really at fault. Have you done this in the past, or have you said, “Report, and we will report it”? [Jeremiah 20:10.] May the converting power of God come upon His people in Iowa, for they need this power. The work in this State ought to be much farther advanced than it is. Let those who leave their own work undone to criticize the work of another remember that all they say is written in the records of heaven, and that by their words they will be either justified or condemned.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Lt 186, 1902

17LtMs, Lt 186, 1902, par. 1

I thank the Lord with heart and soul and voice that my health is as good as it is. I have every reason to praise my heavenly Father for the clearness of thought that He has given me in regard to Bible subjects. I long to bring out these precious things so that the minds of ministers and people may, if possible, be drawn away from contention and strife to something that is nourishing to the soul—food that will give health, hopefulness, and courage. Many are now saying, “Report, and we will report it.” [Jeremiah 20:10.] Some are greedy for those things that satisfy a depraved spiritual appetite and that will ruin their religious experience, placing them outside the city of God with those who live and make a lie.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 20 (1905)

Lt 339, 1905

20LtMs, Lt 339, 1905, par. 5

We must try to bring the people back to the messages God has given us. This will help all around. We must try to bring our people into unity and enlighten many who need enlightenment. O how I long to see that love and tenderness for one another that we used to see in the first years of our experience! We must have the simplicity of genuine faith in the Word of God, and we must have the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. “Report, and we will report it,” men say today. [Jeremiah 20:10.] Very little of this kind of work was done in our early history. Heart blended with heart. On the countenances of those who were converted to the truth there was an expression of great cheerfulness and thanksgiving to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Ms 29, 1907

22LtMs, Ms 29, 1907, par. 72

“Floating rumors are often the destroyers of unity among brethren. There are some who watch with open mind and ears to catch flying scandal. They gather up little incidents which may be trifling in themselves, but which are repeated and exaggerated until a man is made an offender for a word. Their motto seems to be, ‘Report, and we will report it.’ [Jeremiah 20:10.] These tale-bearers are doing Satan’s work with surprising fidelity, little knowing how offensive their course is to God. ... The door of the mind should be closed against, ‘They say’ or ‘I have heard.’ Why should we not, instead of allowing jealousy or evil surmising to come into our hearts, go to our brethren and, after frankly but kindly setting before them the things we have heard detrimental to their character and influence, pray with and for them? While we cannot fellowship with those who are the bitter enemies of Christ, we should cultivate that spirit of meekness and love that characterized our Master—a love that thinketh no evil, and is not easily provoked. ...

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 1 (1844 - 1868)

Ms 3, 1862

1LtMs, Ms 3, 1862, par. 8

Then Riley Cooper was shown me, dwelling upon sanctification and consecration, when his heart is not right with God. He is deceived and deceiving others. His mind is scattered. He has no anchor to hold him, but his mind is floating here and there without any settled faith, and much of his time has been spent in relating to one and another reports and stories to unsettle minds in regard to my husband and myself, to do away with the influence of the visions, and throw the people into distraction. He knows not whom he is laboring for. God sends him not on any such mission, but Satan is using him as his agent to unsettle the faith of God’s people and to prejudice their minds against the truth of the third angel’s message and against the visions which he knew nothing about. He has stood in this position: “Report, ... and we will report it.” Jeremiah 20:10. False reports have been circulated and weak souls feed upon these things instead of clean provender thoroughly winnowed.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)

Lt 8, 1888

5LtMs, Lt 8, 1888, par. 11

There are those, both men and women, who gossip more than they pray. They have not discerned, their souls are not sanctified through the truth, [and] they have not honored the institution. They have had a spirit that is saying, “Report, and we will report it.” [Jeremiah 20:10.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Lt 40, 1890

6LtMs, Lt 40, 1890, par. 12

What better course to please the enemy and grieve the Spirit of God could be pursued than that which has been pursued by you, my brother, a teacher in Israel. You have had quite a number fully engaged with you in the work, men in responsible positions, presidents of conferences, ministers and workers, that have formed a confederacy to question, to criticize, to say, “Report and we will report it.” [Jeremiah 20:10.] The position these men have occupied, and the influence this position has given them, has caused many to doubt who will never be settled again. The deceptions and delusions of these last days will overcome them, because heaven’s divine illumination is powerless to set them in order for they have decided from the example given them. It makes no difference whether they believe or disbelieve, so if any reproof comes to them which they wish not to believe, they will say, “O, Sr. White is influenced. Some one has told her these things. If Elder Smith, who knows all about the testimonies, says this is only her own opinion and her own judgment, and he does not accept the teachings of the testimonies, and he such a good man, I will follow his example and I will risk it.” This is a very unwise thing to do, yet many are doing this and have done it. I know that the Spirit of the Lord was holding me here in Battle Creek that all might have my evidence whether it was of God or of the devil. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” [Matthew 7:20.] As in the days of Christ, some have overlooked the very <kind of> evidence God has given them and have said, Show us a sign, work some miracle, if you are right.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 81, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 81, 1897, par. 20

In these matters silence is eloquence. You are at the school to keep your observations to yourselves, unless they are of such a character that they should be immortalized by being communicated. But fathers and mothers realize that this class of education should not be perpetuated. Let them decide that they have had enough of this “Report, and we will report it.” [Jeremiah 20:10.] Let students and teachers keep their own counsel. Already I meet here and there little incidents and transactions that have taken place at the school.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 29, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 29, 1897, par. 25

O, better, far better, would it have been for Brother McCullagh to have died in peace while he was anchored in Jesus. What confidence can he have in his future line of faith any more than in the past. God has seen fit to send him and his wife warnings in regard to his family. It does not please the Lord that the family should remain as it is, for mother and daughter are both in a state where their influence is not pleasing to Him. “Report, and we will report,” they say by their actions. [Jeremiah 20:10.] This mischievous gossiping sows seeds of evil. It is like the sinful leaven. Knowing all this, I gave them the warning. I did not parade their defects before a church or people; but I wrote to them, and they have the testimony now if they have not destroyed it, as some have done.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 68, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 68, 1897, par. 17

It is best for every soul to closely investigate what mental food is served up for them to eat. When those come to you who live to talk, and who are all armed and equipped to say, “Report, and we will report it” [Jeremiah 20:10], stop and think if the conversation will give spiritual help, spiritual efficiency, that in spiritual communication you may eat of the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.” [1 Peter 2:4.] These words express much.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Ms 186, 1897

12LtMs, Ms 186, 1897, par. 32

It did not please the Lord that the family should remain as it was, for the influence of both mother and daughter was displeasing to Him. “Report, and we will report it” they said by their actions. [Jeremiah 20:10.] This mischievous gossiping was sowing seeds of evil. Knowing all this, I gave them the warning. I did not parade the defects before a church or a people; but I wrote to them. I thought that if we could correct the evil without making trouble, we would do so; but the church must not be injured by such conversation, such complaining, such jealous surmisings. I sent them the light given me by the Lord; but in the place of reforming, they tried to destroy my influence. O what a work has been done!