Read & explore together
Jeremiah’s Prayer for Deliverance
This prayer moves from honouring Yahweh’s exalted place to asking for personal rescue. It names the danger of forsaking God, answers challenging voices, and ends with a sobering request about persecutors.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
Jeremiah 17:12–18 is itself a prayer to Yahweh. Within these verses, Yahweh is described as Israel’s hope, the spring of living waters, and a refuge in the day of evil. The prayer contains praise, confession of dependence, hostile words from others, and a severe appeal for judgement.
Jeremiah 17:12–18Main takeaway
This prayer shows Jeremiah bringing worship, dependence, opposition, and a hard request for justice directly to Yahweh.
Explore the prayer
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A glorious throne and our sanctuaryThe prayer opens with God’s greatness rather than Jeremiah’s trouble. He speaks of “a glorious throne” that is “set on high from the beginning”.
Explanation
The prayer opens with God’s greatness rather than Jeremiah’s trouble. He speaks of “a glorious throne” that is “set on high from the beginning”. He also says this is “the place of our sanctuary”. The language presents Yahweh’s place as exalted, ancient, and holy before the personal requests begin.
02Hope of Israel and the spring of living watersYahweh is called “the hope of Israel”. The verse then warns that those who forsake him will be disappointed.
Explanation
Yahweh is called “the hope of Israel”. The verse then warns that those who forsake him will be disappointed. Those who depart will be “written in the earth”, because they have forsaken Yahweh. The final image, “the spring of living waters”, describes Yahweh as the true source of life and help.
03Heal me, save me, for you are my praiseJeremiah turns plainly to his own need. He asks Yahweh to heal him and save him, saying that if Yahweh does this, the healing and salvation will truly stand.
Explanation
Jeremiah turns plainly to his own need. He asks Yahweh to heal him and save him, saying that if Yahweh does this, the healing and salvation will truly stand. His words, “you are my praise”, join dependence with honour, showing that his appeal is directed to the one he openly praises.
04I have not hurried away, and you are my refugeOthers challenge him with, “Where is Yahweh’s word?” Jeremiah answers in prayer, not argument.
Explanation
Others challenge him with, “Where is Yahweh’s word?” Jeremiah answers in prayer, not argument. He says he has not hurried away from being a shepherd after Yahweh, has not desired the woeful day, and that Yahweh knows what came from his lips. He then asks not to be terrified and calls Yahweh his refuge, before pleading that persecutors, not he, be disappointed and dismayed.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What titles and images for Yahweh shape the prayer?
Look for the exact phrases that describe Yahweh, including “the hope of Israel”, “the spring of living waters”, and “my refuge”.
02How does Jeremiah express dependence in verse 14?
Notice that he asks for healing and saving, then says that if Yahweh does it, the result is certain.
03How does Jeremiah respond to the challenge, “Where is Yahweh’s word?”
He answers before God by speaking about his own conduct, what he has not desired, and what Yahweh knows about his lips.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 17:12–18
12A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.
13Yahweh, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be disappointed. Those who depart from me will be written in the earth, because they have forsaken Yahweh, the spring of living waters.
14Heal me, O Yahweh, and I will be healed. Save me, and I will be saved; for you are my praise.
15Behold, they ask me, “Where is Yahweh’s word? Let it be fulfilled now.”
16As for me, I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you. I haven’t desired the woeful day. You know. That which came out of my lips was before your face.
17Don’t be a terror to me. You are my refuge in the day of evil.
18Let them be disappointed who persecute me, but don’t let me be disappointed. Let them be dismayed, but don’t let me be dismayed. Bring on them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.