Prophet Jeremiah was one of the major Prophets in the Bible, was born and raised in Anathoth. God chose Jeremiah before he was born to be a prophet to the nations.
The Prophet Jeremiah is also known as the “weeping Prophet” and there has been quite some talks about why he is also called that name.
In this article, I am going to give details on why Prophet Jeremiah is called the weeping Prophet.
Birth & Life of Prophet Jeremiah
Prophet Jeremiah was born C.650BC and raised in the village of Anathoth, a few miles northeast of Jerusalem, in priestly family.
His father was Hilkiah, a Kohen (Jewish priest) from the Benjamites village of Anathoth.
He is the second of the major prophets. According to the biblical Book of Jeremiah, he started his prophetic calling in 627/626- the 13th year of King Josiah’s reign.
It is captured on record that Jeremiah responded to God’s call to prophesy by opposing “I do not know how to speak, for I am only a child”, but he received God’s promise that he would put his own words into Jeremiah’s mouth and make him a prophet to the nations.
He was instrumental in safeguarding Israel and Judah through their long enslavement in Babylon and writing two of the Old Testament’s key books, Lamentations and one that bears his name, Jeremiah. But, according to Jewish tradition, Jeremiah wrote the Books of Kings.
Why is Jeremiah Called the Weeping Prophet?
Jeremiah in his prophetic mission suffered a lot of misery as his message from God to the people was mostly to pronounce judgement.
Despite the difficulties, he remained forever faithful to God and whenever God gave him a strong word and challenged him to execute that word, he did as instructed.
He didn’t like most of the ways that God dealt with the people but he was very obedient and a suffering prophet.
Jeremiah was thrown into prison which was in the King of Judah’s house. He had prophesied to Zedekiah King of Judah that the city should be taken of the King of Babylon saying that the people should come again to their own possession. The people of God are his servants and he is their Lord.
Whiles in Prison, he continued to issue God’s word to the King and other leaders.
King Zedekiah had summoned him from prison twice to have private discussions with him but Jeremiah repeatedly advised him to relinquish to Babylonia. Jerusalem eventually fell and Jeremiah was released from prison by the Babylonians.
Gedaliah, a supporter of Jeremiah was slain by Ishmael, a member of the former Royal family of Judah. Jeremiah was under coersion sent to Egypt by some few Jews men who feared revenge from the Babylonians.
While in Egypt Jeremiah continued to chastise his fellow exiles. According to a tradition that is preserved in extrabiblical sources, he was stoned to death by his extremely angered fellow countrymen in Egypt. He died C.570BC.
Conclusion
Considering the difficulties he endured through his lifetime prophetic mission and the fact that he could analysed his own feelings showed in the books he authored, some scholars touted him as a “weeping prophet”.
