Posted by dawis on
URL: https://mikraite.arkian.net/Is-the-Old-Testament-obsolete-tp1953p1954.html

The context which many prophets of Israel were operating is the complete forsaken of the Torah by the Israelites:

"The priests did not ask,
    ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
    the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
    following worthless idols." (Jer 2)

In that context no one listened to Jeremiah, so eventually he was thinking of stopping his mission and complained to god:

"You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived;
    you overpowered me and prevailed.
I am ridiculed all day long;
    everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I cry out
    proclaiming violence and destruction.
So the word of the Lord has brought me
    insult and reproach all day long." (Jer. 20)

And yet Jeremiah could not stop:

"But if I say, “I will not mention his word
    or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
    a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
    indeed, I cannot." (Jer. 20:9)

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My question to you is why is that Jeremiah could not stop?