You're a Christian, Christ took care of all your suffereing

19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

Have you ever had Christians talk to you about when you’re saved, there is no more suffering? No more pain? I know there are some “Christians movements” out there that claim if you have pain or suffering after you claim salvation, it’s an indication that you were never saved, or that you lost your salvation.

However, they would have a multitude of Old Testament characters to debate on that topic. As well as in the New Testament. Even Paul described a thorn in his side that prevented him from doing certain things. We are not told if this thorn was a physical ailment in his side, or an expression to describe some mental issues he was dealing with. And the only answer he gets about this, is that God’s grace is enough. 

So about the text. This writer (Jeremiah) is remembering some serious afflictions. Don’t forget, he was nicknamed the crying prophet. He was crying for Jerusalem, and in this text seems to focus on the destruction of 586 BCE. What caught my attention was when my favorite pastor was talking about the wormwood and gall. 

Wormwood is an herb that is often used for body cleanse, however, it can also poison and cause severe discomfort. The gall is known today as bile. A juice produced by the liver to help with digestion. If you don’t produce enough of it, you’re going to have digestive issues. If you produce too much, you’re going to have acid and digestive issues.

This brought upon a description in the text that unless you know a bit about biology, or the symbolism in the bible, you would read over it without understanding.

Then we get to the part that builds on this. My soul hath them in remembering and is humbled. The classical definition of humbled, is that you’re bowed down. Usually as a sign of respect or reverence. 

But in this instance, it’s due to stomach pain. He’s bent over in pain. This could be brought upon by severe depression that caused his digestive issues. This could be depression described best by describing some stomach pains. It could be all the above. Simply put however, this is the author, showing he was no exception to pain and suffering like the rest of us. 

And then the last part of the text is that he has hope. Fellow Christian, even non-Christian, suffering at times is unavoidable. We all go through it to various degrees. But for Christians, we have hope in Christ. He also suffered, he died, and was resurrected, for our sins.