December 16, 2002
Jan. 20
___Jeremiah 1
Called to a difficult task
___By Bill Roe
___This is the first of six lessons from the pen of the prophet Jeremiah. Today we look at his call to be the Lord's servant.
___Jeremiah served the Lord for more than 40 years and saw the decline and destruction of Judah. He served during the reigns of four kings, beginning about 627 B.C. and continuing after the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. and his deportation to Egypt.
___He is the author of the book named for him, as well as the book of Lamentations. He was a contemporary of three other biblical authors, Zephaniah, Nahum and Habakkuk. With the faithful assistance of Baruch, his scribe, his writings are a rich store of information that allows us to become intimately acquainted with him and the times in which he lived.
___The stinging criticisms of his prophecy did not endear him to the folks around him and those who reigned over the kingdoms. While his book is one of the most significant of the Old Testament, it also is one of the most difficult. There is no chronological order of events, but the material is arranged by topics, which may have been because scrolls containing the recorded material were passed from one to another rather than kept in order.
___The preface (1:1-3)
___The author begins by identifying himself as the son of a Jewish priest who lived in Anathoth, a village three miles from Jerusalem. Close enough to participate in the important events of Jerusalem, but able to look at the city without the prejudice of belonging. Even with that closeness, he was of the tribe of Benjamin, the Northern Kingdom.
___Jeremiah received the Lord's call while Josiah was king of Judah, continuing to the exile of Jerusalem and beyond. The phrase "to whom the word of the Lord came" is introduced here, and is used over and over throughout the book. The words spoken are from the Lord, not from the mind of the prophet.
___Jeremiah's call and
___consecration (1:4-10)
___In verses 4 and 5, God speaks to Jeremiah in three statements: "I formed you," "I knew you" and "I consecrated you."
___The word "formed" is used in craftsmanship, as a potter shaping a vessel. The word "knew" means not academic or head knowledge, but heart knowledge. "Consecrated" means being set apart for a special purpose.
___Use of the phrase "a prophet to the nations" indicates Jeremiah is to be God's spokesperson to his people.
___All Christians have a call from God upon their lives. Certainly not all are called to "full-time Christian service," but all are called to use the abilities given them to bear witness of God's saving grace. In Jesus' parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), everyone received a gift, and all had to account as stewards to the Lord for that gift at his return. We are to use the gifts he gives us for his glory.
___In verse 6, we have Jeremiah's response. His "Ah, Lord God!" is a sharp exclamation of awe and anguish. He feels himself incapable.
___His use of the word "youth" (or "child") is not to be pressed literally. Its usual connotation was a single person in the teens or early twenties. It was customary in those days for such to keep quiet in the assemblies. In these words we find his feelings of inferiority--inadequacy for the large task. But this is a good statement. For us to be used by the Lord most effectively, we must depend upon God's all-sufficiency.
___In verses 7-10, God responds to Jeremiah's statement. He tells him to go where he is sent and speak what he is told to speak (divine authority) and that he (God) will be with him where he is sent (divine presence). God then touches his mouth and says, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth."
___The touch of God's hand is the supreme qualification of any prophet in any generation. He is to proclaim God's word to the people. The next statement (v. 10) concerns the scope and nature of his work. It is immense! He holds the destiny of nations and kingdoms because his work is authorized by God.
___The concluding statements of this passage deal with outcome of his work. It will at first be destructive, as identified by "pluck up," "break down," "destroy," "overthrow." The last statement is the positive admonition to "build" and "plant." It is easier to tear down or destroy than it is to re-build and plant again after the destruction.
___Jeremiah not only is to be a prophet of judgment but a prophet of salvation. Jeremiah will not be a popular person.
___At the close of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:24-27), Jesus made it clear a solid rock foundation is necessary to weather the storms of life. We learn from Jeremiah to get rid of the non-essentials.
___The blossoming almond branch (1:11-12)
___The time between Jeremiah's call and God's question about what he sees is not known. We can assume it was soon after his call. The Lord asks him what he sees. He responds that he sees a rod (blossom) of an almond tree. The Lord commends him for his understanding. Sometimes called the awake-tree, the almond was the earliest tree to bloom--sometimes as early as January.
___Perhaps Jeremiah looks over the barren wintry land and wonders if God is dead. The proper translation of God's response to his question of Jeremiah is "I am continually awake to perform my word." God may have sensed Jeremiah had some doubt about his leadership and was just reminding him he would be faithful in fulfilling the promise made earlier to Jeremiah.
___A boiling pot (1:13-16)
___In reply to God's second question (v. 13), Jeremiah responds, I see a boiling pot facing away from the north." God then proceeds to explain that out of the North will come those to lay hold on Judah. It will not be just one nation, but all the kingdoms of the north. Not only would they take control of Jerusalem, but all of Judah would be conquered.
___The symbolism of the overflowing boiling pot is clear, and God makes it clear he is controlling all these events. The reason for this invasion is given by God in verse 16--they have forsaken him, offered sacrifices to other gods and worshipped the works of their own hands. They have removed God from the throne of their lives. They will be punished in God's timing.
___Divine charge through admonition and assurance (1:17-19)
___The record of Jeremiah's call experience closes with words of challenge and comfort. He is to gird up his loins, meaning "get ready for action."
___God instructs him in strong words to tell the people everything and leave nothing out. If he does not, God will chastise him. He draws several pictures of the strength and power he is giving to Jeremiah--a fortified city, a pillar of iron, walls of bronze. Jeremiah's message is to all--kings and princes of Judah, its priests and the people of the land. Jeremiah is not promised sympathy or success in this divine call, but suffering, strength and victory.
___The last verse (v. 19) of his call and charge is they will fight against you, but they will not overcome you. This would be scant encouragement if it were not for the last words of God in this passage, "I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord."
___Conclusions
___The call of Jeremiah by Jehovah God was an earth-shaking experience. It appeared to be much more bad news than good news. But the prophet could hang on the promise that God would not leave him and victory would come at God's determined time.
___With the benefit of looking back, we can read the book and learn of the many difficult times Jeremiah had to endure. Certainly the man God had called was a man of faith.
___He took the Creator of the universe at his word, and while his ministry seemed to have little effect on the people of Judah, they were warned again and again of the penalty for worshipping other gods and living in their own strength rather than receiving the strength of the Lord.
___Having experienced over 40 years in active ministry, I can assure every disciple of the Lord that all days will not be fair. There will be stormy days and times when it will seem that you have been deserted. But God is still on the throne, and the promise of Paul to the church in Rome in Romans 8:28 is still true.
___God kept his promises made to Jeremiah, and he will not fail us in our day, either. Sometimes we have to deliver the bad news before we can give the good news. The strength of the Lord will be with us in every trial of life as well as in every good day in life.
Questions for discussion
What is a prophet? Do we need prophets in our world today?
___
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