Why does Jeremiah ask why he came out of his mother’s womb to see toil and shame?

Jeremiah’s words become even more extreme and dark as he wishes that the one who announced his birth had rather killed him in his mother’s womb. Jeremiah is not thinking rationally. He is not contemplating whether such an act is ethical or even how it could have happened. He is simply overwhelmed by his despair and wishes that his life had never gone beyond the womb.¹ The word toil comes from the Hebrew root amal that means work or labour. It expresses the idea that even though work is a good part of the Lord’s creation, sin has turned much of it into toil and hardship (Genesis 3:17–19). Sorrow refers to the inward turmoil that comes with external hardship of turmoil. This is how Jeremiah assesses his life. He looks back to the day he was born Jeremiah 20:14) and sees it as cursed, and he looks forward to the days that remain (Jeremiah 20:18) and sees only shame. An entire life set apart for and dedicated to preaching a message of judgment that has not come to pass feels pointless and meaningless to Jeremiah.²

The whole passage, from Jeremiah 20:7–18 gives the reader a unique insight into Jeremiah’s inner conflicts. He was deeply hurt by the rejection and ridicule he faced from his own people because of the message he preached. But he was also driven by a deep conviction of his calling that would not allow him to stop preaching. He was compelled to tell the people he loved so much that they had betrayed the Lord and his covenant. It is not surprising that Jeremiah felt such powerful and conflicting emotions that were inevitably directed even at the Lord himself. Only one who walked intimately with the Lord would dare to speak as Jeremiah did. But despite such strong words, he continued his calling steadfastly to the end.³