Don’t Get Stuck in the Mud

"So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire." - Jeremiah 38:6 (NKJV)

"Now behold, all the women who are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be surrendered to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say: 'Your close friends have set upon you, and prevailed against you; your feet have sunk in the mire, and they have turned away again.'” - Jeremiah 38:22 (NKJV)

Jeremiah, also known as the weeping prophet, was persecuted for his obedience to God. He proclaimed the messages God gave him, while the people of Judah listened turned away in disgust. By chapter 38, they have had it with Jeremiah. He is not just imprisoned, but left in the dungeon with “no water, but mire” (v. 6). Mire refers to mud or swamp-like conditions. It’s also a term used for clay or dirt. Jeremiah was isolated and stuck in a dark, muddy dungeon. Later, Jeremiah is rescued by Ebed-Melech because he saw the prophet’s innocence.

In verse 22, the same term “mire” is used in a different context. This time, God is emphasizing the impact of Judah’s disobedience to him. Instead of freedom, they would remain stuck in the mire to the point that they will sink.

Notice the contrast between Jeremiah and the people of Judah. Jeremiah was seemingly stuck in the mire, simply from obeying God, but he found greater freedom when he was rescued. The disobedient people of Judah, however, chose to live as they pleased. Their “freedom” only kept them stuck in the mire; their sin held them back from all that God had for them.

Today, we have the hope of Jesus to be free from sin, no matter how far we stray (John 8:36, Galatians 5:1). We don’t have to get stuck in the mire because he is our rescuer! It’s our responsibility to be aware of who and what we obey. And if we want God to use us, we can’t be stuck in old ways and disobedient desires.

In Psalm 40:2, David rejoices that God “lifted [him] “out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire” and “set his feet on a rock and gave [him] a firm place to stand” (NKJV). Again, we can visualize the slimy, dark pit like the one Jeremiah was put. But God brings us out! He cleanses us of the mire, of our sin, so we no longer are dirty, but pure and clean. When we are no longer sinking or sliding in mud, then he places us firmly on a rock. We, his body and his church, are set high and firmly on a rock where we won’t be shaken. We won’t slip or fall. As we obey and trust him, God keeps us secure.

Reflect: Who can you relate to more – Jeremiah or the people of Judah? Why?

What sin do you need to repent of and surrender to God? He wants to free you from it today!

When has there been a time that God refined and purified you, so that you could stand firmly on a rock?