Key Text: The Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak (Jeremiah 1:7)
NATIONS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH. After King Solomon died, Israel was divided into two nations: the northern ten tribes retained the name Israel and made Samaria their capital city, the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin adopted the name Judah and kept Jerusalem as their capital city. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) was more wicked than Judah, so God sent the people into exile using the Assyrians. Sadly, Judah did not learn from Israel’s experience and followed the same path of idolatry and sin which culminated in Judah’s own exile to Babylon years later. The prophet Jeremiah lived in the final years of the Southern Kingdom (Judah), and was called to prepare the people for the exile.
JEREMIAH THE WEEPING PROPHET OVER JERUSALEM. Jeremiah’s call to prophetic ministry came about five years prior to the reign of Josiah v 1-2. We recall that during Josiah’s reign, the book of Law was found while the temple was being repaired which led to a resurgence of spiritual commitment as the people began to observe the Law, particularly the celebration of Passover for the first time in many years. God knew Jerehiah before his conception. While Jeremiah (the son of Hilkiah) was being formed in his mother’s womb, God set him apart for prophetic ministry to Judah v 5.
GOD PROVIDES THE MESSAGE. Jeremiah’s initial response to God’s call was not unlike Moses’ who claimed to be “slow of speech”, or Isaiah’s who protested he was a “man of unclean lips”, or Amos who noted he was a farmer, not a trained prophet. Jeremiah claimed he could not speak because of his youthfulness v 6 and even though God rebuked him for his excuse v 7, He promised to be with him wherever he is sent. Jeremiah only had to rely on God’s strength and message v 8. We also recall that when God called Isaiah, an angel was sent with a live coal to touch Isaiah’s lips. For Jeremiah, God himself touched his lips, declaring that he had put His words in Jerehiah’s mouth.
THE PURPOSE FOR JEREMIAH’S CALL. Through the words that God would give, Jeremiah was to root out, pull down, destroy, and through down. These four terms convey the idea that Jeremiah’s message would be on judgment and hope. To build and plant are worlds of judgment; but God assures mercy with restoration to follow it, God’s commission for Jeremiah.
SELF-DECEIVED PEOPLE. Jeremiah stood in the outer court of the temple on a feast day and declared God’s impending judgment upon the people for their sin. Contained in this message was an interesting analogy: God said He would make Jerusalem to be like Shiloh–the center of worship for all Israel, the first resting place of the ark of the covenant in the Land, and home to the tabernacle that was designed by God according to Joshua 18. Just as God allowed Shiloh to be destroyed because of sin, He would bring the same calamity upon Jerusalem if the people did not repent. The people regarded Jeremiah’s words as false prophecy and blasphemy–both crimes punishable by death under the Law. Jeremiah was taken to the New Gate, the place where trials were held. There the false prophets and leaders of those opposed to the Lord’s prophet presented their case against Jeremiah, arguing that his prophecy against the city deserved a death sentence.
Jeremiah responded to his accusers directly, courageously, and without compromising his message. He began by identifying the source and authority of his declaration: the Lord v 12. If they were going to dispute his message, that dispute would be with God Himself. The prophet held firmly to his calling: Repent of your ways or face disaster v 13, a good reminder to God’s people even today. AMEN!
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