Iron Pillar: Support to others

“Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land.” Jeremiah 1: 18

God promised to make Jeremiah an iron pillar. This was an indication that Jeremiah would be given inner strength to face the challenges while he fulfilled his calling to be a prophet. In the earlier post Iron Pillar: Inner Strength, I mentioned that this was a promise by God to make Jeremiah emotionally and physically strong in life-threatening situations and that he should stand “against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land” (1:18). With that strength Jeremiah went onto fulfil his mission of proclaiming the destruction of Jerusalem, which was wrought by the sins of the people. 

 

This image of inner strength represented by the iron pillar can also be extended further to indicate the call to be a support to others. Pillars do support big structures, even when they are hidden from the outside view. When we see skyscrapers, we rarely give attention to its pillars. These pillars are often hidden inside the walls or the ornamental designs made around it. Even if the pillars are visible, no one gives much thought to it (unless one is a structural engineer!). But these gigantic structures are built and stand tall solely on the support and strength lent by these pillars. If the pillars become weak, the whole building would collapse.

 

Jeremiah was made to be like an iron pillar: not only was he to be strong in midst of oppositions, but he was to be a support system to his fellow countrymen. Jeremiah used his inner strength to support and strengthen others. God himself told Jeremiah, “Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you” (7:16). But Jeremiah, moved by compassion, identifies himself with the people and prays, “Although our sins testify against us, O Lord, do something for the sake of your name” (14:7). Crying to God for salvation was the support Jeremiah gave to the people, who were trying to kill him. This reminds us of Moses who was interceding for the people of Israel, even though God said that he would simply destroy Israelites, and make Moses and his decedents a great nation (Exodus 32: 9-14). 

 

Jeremiah and Moses display their inner strength by forgiving the same people who rebel aginst their ministry, and by standing in the gap for them in the presence of God. Jeremiah lived like a pillar in this sense. Though he warned people of the oncoming destruction, he pleaded with God for forgiveness and asked for His mercy. He did not want his countrymen to be destroyed or exiled. Though the people might not have realised this nor appreciated this, but Jeremiah supported them like a pillar so that they would not be destroyed! 

 

We as Christians are called to be like pillars, that possess inner strength to support others around us. Living a Christian life is not easy! Standing like pillars in our family, community and society, we can get overlooked or might even go unappreciated at times, but remember our presence is essential. We can live a pleasing life when we forgive others, suffer for our neighbours, and walk an extra mile for someone in need with our inner strength, even though they are the very people who try to destroy us. The list can go on and on. This is exactly what Jesus meant when he said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16: 24). 

                                                             

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