Darlene Rose

Jeremiah 20:9 But if I say, “I will not remember Him
Or speak anymore in His name,”
Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
And I am weary of holding it in,
And I cannot endure it.

Lamentations 1:13 “From on high He sent fire into my bones, And it prevailed over them.

In Jeremiah’s day, they didn’t have diagnosis’ like arthritis or fibromyalgia, what most of us know today as pain producing, often described as fire in the bones or muscles.  Jeremiah attributed it to being weary of holding back the word of the Lord spoken to him.
I have noticed that arthritis, at least osteoarthritis, (osteo means bones), is often related to depression, anger and unforgiveness.

Proverbs 17:22 A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Bones are connected to each other by ligaments and between each bone is a joint with synovial fluid between them, preventing friction.  When bones dry up, that fluid dries up, and friction produces fire between them and around them.

Could Jeremiah have felt arthritis pain from his anger?  From holding back the word given him?

Jeremiah 20:7 Jeremiah said, O Lord, You have persuaded me and I was deceived;
You are stronger than I and You have prevailed.
I am a laughingstock all day long;
Everyone mocks me.

vs 8 For whenever I speak, I must shout out;
I shout violence and destruction,
Because the word of the Lord has become to me
A reprimand and a mockery and has brought me insult all day long.

It appears Jeremiah is angry because nobody listens to him.  He has to shout and scream and warn and all he gets is mocked and laughed at and ridiculed.   The word of God has become to him a reprimand and mockery and attracted insults.  That is anger towards God as well.

I was reviewing some older writings yesterday and came across one particular piece I wrote in December 2012.  It was about my anger needing to be released.  It felt like my writings were poisonous.  Nobody hears, nobody listens, they seem to mock and be scornful and I hated being a laughingstock.  I just wanted to be myself and enjoy life, I didn’t want to have this burning in me to get out what God gives me….

There it is, a burning within me to release; to release the word of God but also release forgiveness and release anger.  I let the sun go down on it.

Today I have arthritis pain.  It’s easy to take something for the pain.  I think I’ll just examine why it’s there.

And write another blog.