Jeremiah 25:3
“From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, Yahweh’s word has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; but you have not listened.”
What does Jeremiah 25:3 mean?
Jeremiah is describing a long stretch of faithful work that has gone largely unheeded. For more than two decades, he's been delivering God's messages to the people of Judah, showing up early and speaking earnestly, yet they've consistently refused to listen or change their ways. This wasn't a short-term frustration but a grinding, sustained experience of being ignored while trying to warn people toward a better path. The weight of this statement comes from Jeremiah's commitment despite rejection. He didn't stop speaking just because no one was responding. At the same time, there's real pain here: he's been obedient to his calling, but the people haven't received what he's offered. If you've ever tried to help someone who won't accept it, or poured energy into something that wasn't appreciated, you know something of what Jeremiah felt in that moment.