Emphasis Preaching Journal

When I was a seminarian in the 1960s, there was much talk of "prophetic" ministry, of "putting yourself on the firing line" and "challenging the powers that be." Prophetic ministry often seemed to mean setting yourself up to be shot down, taking positions and using methods most likely to be opposed, therefore proving how prophetic you were. The true experience of the prophet is different indeed. The most remarkable statement in this text is that Jeremiah is surprised he is being attacked. He has not gone looking for unpopular causes.