How has Jeremiah not “run away from being (the Lord’s) shepherd” and not “desired the day of sickness”?
Jeremiah continues his lament and in the face of being mocked and rejected by the people as a false prophet, he expresses his personal frustration. This frustration is largely due to the fact that the people are not completely wrong. The judgment Jeremiah has spoken of has indeed not come yet, and so Jeremiah has to simply live with their mocking. This outward pressure and his own inner turmoil make it clear that Jeremiah had a heavy burden to bear.
1 Yet, I have not run away from being your shepherd, nor have I desired the day of sickness.
Jeremiah protests that he has been the Lord’s faithful shepherd to the people by bringing them the Lord’s word, even when that word was one of judgment. And he has not desired the day of disaster.
He has taken no joy out of telling Judah that a terrible day of judgment is coming. He has felt a deep sense of sadness and distress for what awaits his own people. The final sentence of his lament is now addressed directly to the Lord, You know what came out of my lips; it was before your face.
We see here the very personal nature of Jeremiah’s relationship with the Lord and he protests his innocence by saying that the Lord has heard everything Jeremiah has said to the people. His whole ministry has taken place in full view of the Lord. The Lord knows that Jeremiah has been faithful.
16 Et moi, pour t'obéir, je n'ai pas refusé d'être pasteur; Je n'ai pas non plus désiré le jour du malheur, tu le sais; Ce qui est sorti de mes lèvres est présent devant toi.