Why Are You Naked?
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Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests.
Jeremiah was a Levite and automatically born into the priestly office.
It is interesting to note that Jeremiah was in the land of Benjamin in the southern kingdom.
The Assyrians had already captured the northern kingdom but Judah was headed down the same road of destruction.
Note: We are not Jeremiah!
But we have things in common.
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
“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.”
I am not Jeremiah but:
God knew me before he formed me too!
Pause: I AM NOT A MISTAKE
The word knew (yāḏa‘) means far more than intellectual knowledge. It was used of the intimate relations experienced by a husband and wife (“lay,” Gen. 4:1) and conveyed the sense of a close personal relationship (“chosen,” Amos 3:2) and protection (“watches over,” Ps. 1:6).
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
“You only have I known
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
for all your iniquities.
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Pause: Created for a purpose
Formed: Form, fashion; create; be formed
then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.
Praise: glory, praise; song of praise; praiseworthy actions.
“Before you were born I consecrated you”
Consecrate: be holy, removed from common use; subject to special treatment
“I appointed you a prophet to the nations”
Appointed: give; hand down; set, place, lay, allow; surrender; turn into
Trust me! We are all appointed…
It is sometimes said that prophets are not foretellers but forthtellers. As far as the OT. is concerned, however, the prophets are forthtellers (declaring the truth about God) by being foretellers (predicting what God will do).
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
“To the nations”
Excuses! Excuses! Excuses!
Insecurities: uncertainty or anxiety about oneself; lack of confidence.
Inabilities: the state of being unable to do something
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”
Can anyone relate to Jeremiah...
Jeremiah blamed his inability to articulate on his youth.
He was claiming a lack of eloquence and speaking ability required for such a public ministry.
I am only a youth
Insecurities will cause you to miss opportunities
What is your perspective of yourself?
Jeremiah didn’t feel capable…
I am not Jeremiah but I can relate to how he was feeling…
Pause: Good News!
The good news is that I serve the same God of Jeremiah!
Remember God is Transcendent - He is the almighty creator
but He is immanent - He is a God that will dialogue…
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.
“But the Lord said to me”
Hymn
He speaks and the sound of his voice
Is so sweet, the birds hush their singing
And the melody that he gave to me
Within my heart is ringing
And he walks with me and he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
I am glad I serve a God who speaks to my insecurities
He affirms who I am
“Do not say, I am only a youth”
God is in control.... “I statements”
“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.”
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.
God has equipped us for the assignment He has for us!
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”
“I am with you”