This chapter is Jeremiah throwing a full-on tantrum. Apparently, he's not a big fan of being mocked and criticized for his "prophecies" (air quotes intended). He complains to God about how unfair it all is, using flowery language that wouldn't be out of place in a bad country song.Here are some of the highlights (or lowlights, depending on your perspective):Verse 7: Jeremiah claims God "deceived" him into becoming a prophet. Not a good look for someone claiming to speak for a divine being.Verse 8: He complains that whenever he tries to stop prophesying, he just can't help himself. Sounds more like an obsession than a divine calling.Verse 18: Jeremiah whines about how everyone hates him because of his pronouncements. Maybe it's not the message, but the messenger?Overall, this chapter is a prime example of why some people might find the whole prophet business a bit suspect. If this is the kind of behavior God condones from his chosen spokespeople, maybe it's best to just stick to reason and good ol' fashioned critical thinking.
