Read & explore together
A Prayer for Mercy
This prayer speaks from pain, confession and hope. It asks hard questions about rejection and healing, admits sin, pleads for mercy, and ends by saying that only Yahweh can truly help.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In these verses, the speaker addresses Yahweh directly in prayer. The words move from lament over injury and lack of healing, to confession of sin, to an appeal based on Yahweh’s name, throne and covenant, and finally to trust that Yahweh alone gives rain and made all things.
Jeremiah 14:19–22Main takeaway
This prayer teaches that people may bring grief, confession and hope to Yahweh, because he alone is the true source of help.
Explore the prayer
01A cry about rejection and no healingThe prayer begins with urgent questions: has Yahweh utterly rejected Judah and loathed Zion?
Explanation
The prayer begins with urgent questions: has Yahweh utterly rejected Judah and loathed Zion? The speaker describes being struck and says there is no healing. They had hoped for peace and healing, but instead found no good and only dismay. This is honest lament, not a calm report. It brings distress straight to God.
02Confession without excusesNext, the prayer openly acknowledges guilt. The speaker says, “We acknowledge... our wickedness” and also “the iniquity of our fathers.”
Explanation
Next, the prayer openly acknowledges guilt. The speaker says, “We acknowledge... our wickedness” and also “the iniquity of our fathers.” The key point is clear in the final line: “we have sinned against you.” The prayer does not pretend innocence. Mercy is sought alongside a plain confession of sin.
03A plea based on God’s name and covenantThe prayer then asks Yahweh not to abhor them and not to disgrace the throne of his glory.
Explanation
The prayer then asks Yahweh not to abhor them and not to disgrace the throne of his glory. The appeal is “for your name’s sake,” which points to God’s own honour. It also asks him to remember and not break his covenant. The request for mercy is tied to who God is and what he has said.
04Only Yahweh can give what is neededThe prayer ends by comparing Yahweh with “the vanities of the nations.” Those false things cannot cause rain, and the sky itself cannot act apart from God.
Explanation
The prayer ends by comparing Yahweh with “the vanities of the nations.” Those false things cannot cause rain, and the sky itself cannot act apart from God. The conclusion is trust: “we will wait for you.” The reason given is that Yahweh has made all these things, so he alone is the true source of help.
Questions to explore
01What does the speaker say they hoped for, and what actually came instead?
Look closely at the contrast between “peace” and “no good”, and between “healing” and “dismay”, to see how the lament is expressed.
02How does this prayer speak about sin?
Notice that the prayer uses words like “wickedness”, “iniquity” and “we have sinned against you”, showing open confession rather than denial.
03Why does the prayer end with waiting for Yahweh?
The final verse answers by saying that idols cannot cause rain, while Yahweh is their God and has made all these things.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 14:19–22
19Have you utterly rejected Judah? Has your soul loathed Zion? Why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold, dismay!
20We acknowledge, Yahweh, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you.
21Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake. Do not disgrace the throne of your glory. Remember, and don’t break your covenant with us.
22Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? Or can the sky give showers? Aren’t you he, Yahweh our God? Therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things.