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JEREMIAH
INTRODUCTION
The prophet Jeremiah spoke to the kingdom of Judah for forty years—from the end of the Assyrian period until Judah was destroyed by Babylon. The book mixes sermons, prophetic oracles, and biographical narratives of Jeremiah’s experiences during the last years of the Judean kingdom. We are given an intimate look into the prophet’s own heart as he brings God’s message to his fellow Judeans, who reject him and even conspire to kill him.
The book begins and ends with historical references to the event Jeremiah was best known for predicting: the fall of Jerusalem. The four main parts generally consist (in order) of oracles, narratives (two sections), and then oracles. Significantly, each of these four parts ends with a reference to Jeremiah’s words being written in a book or scroll. A long poetic oracle is inserted in the middle narrative of the book. So Jeremiah’s prophecies appear at the beginning, middle and end of the book, highlighting their importance. The middle oracle, promising a new covenant designed to change the human heart, is shown to be the most important of all. God will do more than simply punish evil—he will overcome it with good.
The book of Jeremiah carries us back and forth in place and time as we turn its pages, yet its themes are consistent. The message of judgment for wrongdoing is followed by the restorative power of forgiveness and new life: to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.
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Jeremiah 1 (ESV)
1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.
The Call of Jeremiah
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for 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 whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
REFLECTION:
After the death of King Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel split into two opposing nations, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah was born in Anathoth about five kilometers north of Jerusalem in the southern kingdom. He preached as a prophet and served during the reign of the last five kings of Judah. Jeremiah was appointed by God to be the “prophet to the nations.” This was originally a glorious call, but it caused him to suffer persecution and humiliation throughout his life. During that period, the kingdom of Judah was very corrupt in politics, morality, and spirituality. Although Jeremiah continued to prophesy for forty years and urged the people and leaders to repent and leave their sins, no one listened to him. In fact, God has His beautiful will in every Christian. God knows you just as he knows Jeremiah. Before you were formed in your mother’s womb, before you were born into the world, God already knew you, cared about you, and planned your life for you. When you feel discouraged and desperate, He always cares about you, regards you as a precious treasure, and has made a life-long plan for you. God did not promise Jeremiah that he would not encounter hardships and difficulties, but promised to “save” him out of trouble and be with him. God did not save Jeremiah from imprisonment, exile, and humiliation. In the same way, God did not save us from the storms of life, but He will accompany us, protect us, save us, and walk with us. Let us not be in fear. In the end, God will redress for all the injustices we encounter, and all our obedience to God in adversity will be praised and rewarded by God. Our life will be more abundant when we are guided and shaped by God’s hand.
PRAYER:
Count God’s blessings, thank Him for all the guidance and edification in your life. Thank God for saving you from past difficulties time and time again, even beyond your expectation. Ask God to continue to walk with you, and in the years to come will have more guidance and training for you, help you to be more mature, and not afraid of future life storms.
HYMN:
I Will Walk The Way Of The Cross – youtu.be/PlkxYDvyQ84
