Jer. 1:1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one aof the priests who were in bAnathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of cJosiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in dthe thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of eJehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and funtil the end of the eleventh year of gZedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, huntil the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.
Jer. 1:4 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer. 1:5 i“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born jI consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet kto the nations.”
Jer. 1:6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, lI do not know how to speak, mfor I am only a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and nwhatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 oDo not be afraid of them,
pfor I am with you to deliver you,
declares the LORD.”
Jer. 1:9 qThen the LORD put out his hand and rtouched my mouth. And the LORD said to me,
“Behold, I have put smy words in your mouth.
10 See, I have set you this day kover nations and over kingdoms,
tto pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
Jer. 1:11 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, u“Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond* branch.” 12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
Jer. 1:13 The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see va boiling pot, facing away wfrom the north.” 14 Then the LORD said to me, w“Out of the north disaster* shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, xI am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, yand they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And zI will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil ain forsaking me. bThey have made offerings to other gods and cworshiped the works of their own hands. 17 But you, ddress yourself for work;* arise, and esay to them everything that I command you. fDo not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day ga fortified city, han iron pillar, and ibronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 iThey will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for jI am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”
1:4-5 Jeremiah is made by God:
for a relationship (v5a)
for a purpose (v5b)
What is striking here is that God knows.
1:7-8 Jeremiah's rightful response:
willing to go where God sends him
willing to speak what God commands him to
What is striking here is that God is with him.
1:11-12 An encouraging reminder:
The Lord's word is certain
He is aware and concerned to act on His plans
What is striking here is that God is actively at work, watching over His plans.
1:13-16 Judgement of God on Israel:
Disaster will come from the north
Judgment on Israel for forsaking God
1. They made offerings to other gods
2. They worshipped their own creations
1:17-19 God's instructions for Jeremiah:
Prepare for work
Without being dismayed
What is striking here is that God equips us for the work He calls us to.
Some quick thoughts for myself and perhaps for you:
1. What drives me to do things we are not ready for e.g. our careers, relationships while we say we are not ready to serve and stay away from ministry opportunities?
2. In the temporal things we are often engaged in, we find ourselves working and preparing very hard. How are we preparing and working in things of eternal consequence?
