What is the meaning of Jeremiah 15:20? Then I will make you a wall to this people – God responds to Jeremiah’s discouragement (Jeremiah 15:15-18) by promising supernatural strength. – Like the earlier promise in Jeremiah 1:18, “I have made you today a fortified city,” the imagery points to stability and courage that do not originate in Jeremiah himself. – Ezekiel heard similar words: “I will make your forehead like adamant” (Ezekiel 3:8-9), underscoring that when God commissions, He equips. a fortified wall of bronze – Bronze, harder than ordinary stone, evokes permanence and resilience (1 Kings 7:15; Job 40:18). – The phrase assures Jeremiah that his prophetic office will withstand every assault; the wall cannot be breached. – Psalm 18:34 echoes the idea: “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze,” reminding us that divine empowerment surpasses human limitations. they will fight against you but will not overcome you – Resistance is guaranteed, yet defeat is impossible. The same thought appears in Jeremiah 1:19, “They will fight against you but will not prevail over you.” – Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper,” confirms the principle that opposition cannot thwart God’s messenger. – Acts 18:9-10 shows the New-Testament parallel when the Lord told Paul, “No one will lay a hand on you to harm you.” God’s servants often face conflict, but ultimate victory is assured. for I am with you to save and deliver you – The promise pivots on God’s presence. He does not merely give strength; He stays with His servant (Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:10). – “Save” and “deliver” cover both spiritual preservation and physical rescue. Paul testified to the same faithfulness: “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me… and I was delivered” (2 Timothy 4:17-18). – Dependence on the Lord, rather than on personal ability, guarantees safety and success. declares the LORD – This closing certifies the pledge with God’s own unchanging authority (Jeremiah 33:2). – Numbers 23:19 reminds us that He “does not lie or change His mind,” so every word stands firm. – The divine signature turns a promise into a certainty; Jeremiah can proceed in confidence. summary Jeremiah 15:20 assures the prophet that, despite fierce opposition, God Himself will transform him into an unbreakable defense—a bronze wall. Conflict is inevitable, but defeat is impossible because the Lord’s abiding presence guarantees salvation and deliverance. The verse calls believers to trust that when God commissions, He also fortifies, and His declared word is unshakably reliable. |