Jeremiah Preview
Jeremiah means “Jehovah throws” or “Jehovah establishes, appoints, or sends.” Jeremiah was the author of this book (and likely the author of Lamentations). Baruch (a scribe) was tasked with compiling and copying Jeremiah’s dictations and writings. In compiling this book, it was grouped more by theme than chronologically. Thematically, we see first the preparation of Jeremiah, followed by the proclamations to Judah, then proclamations to the nations and ending with the fall of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah was both a prophet and priest whose time was spent giving prophecies mainly to Judah in the last days of the divided kingdom prior to Babylon’s invasion(ca. 627-586 B.C. and beyond). During this time, Judah was in spiritual rebellion including practicing idol worship. Known as the “weeping prophet,” Jeremiah had to endure many challenges such as being threatened, tried for his life, put in stocks, forced to flee a king, publically humiliated by a false prophet, and thrown into a pit due to his predictions of judgment by the invading Babylonians.
As noted by John MacArthur, this book gives us a unique glimpse into the life of a prophet in that he recounts more of his own life than any other prophet, telling of his ministry, the reactions of his audiences, testings and his personal feelings. This book is really long–52 chapters in all! As you read, take great notes. Highlight repeated words and phrases. Try to make connections to other passages throughout the Bible. Above all else, ask God to speak to you through His Word each and every day that we read these words.
Read Jeremiah 1
1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
The Call of Jeremiah
4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraidof them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”
“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”
14 The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.
“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
and against all the towns of Judah.
16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people
because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
and in worshiping what their hands have made.17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Go Deeper
In this chapter, the Lord is preparing Jeremiah for his calling as a prophet. His journey as a prophet is going to be an arduous 40 year period of giving prophecies to people that don’t want to hear it and retaliate against Jeremiah. This was going to take an extreme endurance that can’t come from man alone, but from God’s strength! For this reason, part of this preparation will be building Jeremiah up and more importantly setting the foundation of leaning on God’s strength and not his own. Fortunately, what God speaks into Jeremiah in many ways extends to us as well. Let us take time to focus on some of these truths!
We are cared for intimately and on God’s mind even when He is not on ours. This is very evident (v. 4), but this is found in other areas of scripture as well. Luke 12 states, “ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” What a blessing it is to know that He cares for us that deeply!
His power triumphs over our perceived shortcomings. In verse 6, Jeremiah states that he is too young to deliver God’s message. In a similar way Moses claimed He couldn’t speak for the Lord in Exodus 4:10 for speech issues. In each situation, God still uses them despite this! What wonderful news that God will provide what we need to take action on God’s commands.
God will protect us and be with us! In verses 18-19, this doesn’t mean that Jeremiah did not suffer, because he did suffer. However, God helped Jeremiah complete his task and supported him and cared for him. Likewise, we won’t be protected from suffering, but He will be our comfort and He has secured for us our eternity with Him. How much more true is it that He is with us always since we have been gifted the Holy Spirit!
May we each day remind ourselves of God’s truths so that we can likewise benefit from walking and abiding with God!
Questions
- What perceived shortcomings do you use as excuses to not do the will of God?
- In what areas of your life do you need to depend upon God’s strength more and not your own?
- What promises in the Bible sustain you daily? Consider making a list of God’s promises to look at and memorize.
Watch This
Check out this video overview of Jeremiah from The Bible Project!
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7 thoughts on “Jeremiah Introduction + 1”
The parallels of the culture Jeremiah was called to minister to and the state of our present day are striking. God specified in v16 the evil that brought about his judgement, the people had deserted him and worshipped other gods. They placed their trust in the created and not the Creator ignoring the commandment to “have no other gods before me” thus invoking God’s judgement. This was not a single “slip up” but a continual mindset of repeated rebellion. They no longer lived as God’s special, set apart people, but blended and merged with the pagan culture around them. God in his kindness would call, set apart and appoint Jeremiah as his spokesman to warn the people of what’s to come. It’s a hard call that none of us would probably choose, but God promises to be with him and take care of him. Wherever we find ourselves today, may we like Jeremiah stand for truth and share the gospel to a world that desperately needs to hear it. In the words of the hymn penned by
Franny J. Crosby may we faithfully, “rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is, merciful, Jesus will save.”
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Thank you! Yes!
Looking forward to spending the next 52 days with Jeremiah!
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,“
Wow! It is a primal human desire to be known. Thank you God for knowing me!
Jeremiah was a wow man. 4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Wow, he knew he was going to endure so much turmoil, hardship and anguish BUT GOD 9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah did it willingly. WOW! His trust and belief in what God said and told him to do was wow. He was called to be obedient and he was. He was told to speak what was told of Him, stand for truth and let God do the rest. The world around him hated him but God was pleased. He followed through and that is what God is looking for in us, obedience without compromise.
God thank You for Your Word. God when I read about Jeremiah’s and others that let go and let You be God I am in awe. My selfish nature says “Oh, no not me” He was like I am too young and You, God said nope. Thank You for putting Your words in my mouth God. Thank You for seeing people through Your love goggles and speaking those words that are from You. I would like to be able to take no thought how or what I should speak but that I would be given what I should speak by Your Holy Spirit. 1Co 2:13 KJV – 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. God help me, show me, guide me in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!
Seeing the connection between Jeremiah and what we experience today is eye-opening. As God reminded Jeremiah in verse 4, He CHOSE him, He set him apart, He appointed him. By definition, appointing someone means to choose for a particular job. Just as God reminded Jeremiah, He reminds us daily that we were chosen by Him (just as JP shared on Sunday).
I’ve used my struggles with anger and control as shortcomings in being used by God, but that wasn’t His plan. Instead He used my journey to overcome those things through Regeneration as a catalyst to help others see Him. This is a daily reminder for me just how much I am loved by my Heavenly Father.
Jeremiah is a beautiful example of how God uses those of us who think we aren’t the right person.
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