Should Jeremiah Be Happy?

The captain of the guard called for Jeremiah and said, “The LORD your God has brought this disaster on this land, just as he said he would. For these people have sinned against the LORD and disobeyed him. That is why it happened. But I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don’t want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you—go wherever you like. If you decide to stay, then return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. He has been appointed governor of Judah by the king of Babylon. Stay there with the people he rules. But it’s up to you; go wherever you like.” Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, gave Jeremiah some food and money and let him go. So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land. [Jeremiah 40.2-6] 

I got a great sense of melancholy as I read today's One Year Chronological Bible reading. 

Jeremiah had been prophesying constantly about the destruction of Jerusalem. Jeremiah was faithful to deliver the warning messages God gave him and now he was seeing it fulfilled with his own eyes. He had been mocked and imprisoned and some had even tried to kill him. The cost upon Jeremiah's life for being faithful to God was great. But every word Jeremiah prophesied came true.

Should Jeremiah be happy? Even though Nebuchadnezzar had him sought out, released from prison and cared for, Jeremiah wrote Lamentations...

Father, Jeremiah is certainly a good example to all today who have any sense of prophecy about them. He was not jubilant that what he said came to pass, but instead, broken-hearted for the condition of his homeland. You delivered Jeremiah, but he did not gloat in it. As history repeats itself, may we, like Jeremiah, be found on Your side decrying idolatry and the subsequent immorality resultant to it ...and, may we, like Jeremiah demonstrate Your true remorse for the judgment people bring upon themselves. May we be found faithful to the Good News of Jesus Christ even though people insist on evil... So be it.