Jeremiah 1

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Jeremiah 1

Chosen and Called

Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV) — 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.”

We are studying the book of Jeremiah. And Jeremiah is often referred to as the “weeping prophet” because of the sorrow over the persistent message of God’s judgment. People of Judah did not listen to God. But as we study the word of God, I want all of us to focus on the heart of God.

Background

Jeremiah 1:1–3 (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.

Verse 2-3

Jeremiah started his prophetic ministry from King Josiah, who was a good king, and all the way up to the captivity of Jerusalem.

Two Kingdoms

Let's see the big picture from where we started. Jeremiah was a prophet to the kingdom of Judah. There were two kingdoms in Israel. It all happened when Solomon did not heed the warning that God gave him.

Rehoboam - Judah

Jeroboam - Israel

[SLIDE]

Sins of two Kingdoms

Two kingdoms were established. The North Israel which is called the Kingdom of Israel and South Israel which was referred to as the Kingdom of Judah.

The kings from Judah were descendants of David. And later, we see Jesus through this lineage.

The kings from Israel were not from one king.

But there was a problem. Both kingdoms did not serve God well.

Israel’s Sin

Israel was more evil than Judah.

They built themselves idols and worshiped other gods.

They followed the gentiles

They did not heed any warning

Their original calling

Was to be holy and honor the Lord.

God made a promise to bless them too

Their fate

They faced punishments

They were later conquered by Assyria and met their end.

Jeremiah was a prophet after Israel was taken over by Assyrian Empire.

Judah’s Sin

They were sinful too.

But there were kings who honored the Lord and turned Judah to seek God.

Jeremiah was a prophet to this kingdom

And when Jeremiah was a prophet, he was a prophet to king Josiah.

Jeremiah 1:1–2 (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.

Josiah was a good king that honored the Lord. But Josiah’s father was a wicked man. He did not worship God. Instead, he ridiculed the name of God. He desecrated the holiness of God by doing wicked things.

In a sense, Jeremiah was like a doctor who was diagnosing the nation of Judah. Because sin, after all, is like cancer. It spreads like wildfire.

Illustration: Sin is like caner

If someone goes to the doctor and gets diagnosed with cancer, what happens?

Well, depending on which stage they are in, the treatment will be different.

Stage 1: heed warning quickly and eat healthy.

Stage 2: heed the warning and get a more regular check up. Must stop bad habits.

Stage 3: consider getting a chemo and live a different lifestyle

Stage 4: must get a chemo and hope for the best but the chance of living is slim

Jeremiah is, in a sense, a spiritual doctor for the nation of Judah. The nation of Judah was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer heading towards stage 4.

And God called Jeremiah. Read verse 2-3

Jeremiah 1:2–3 (CSB) — 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 It also came throughout the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

When was Jeremiah was called?

God first called him when Josiah was the king.

Israel was in stage 3 at that point but through the leadership of king Josiah, they were improving. But not after his sons become king.

Jehoiakim did not follow the footsteps of this ancestor David.

And Zedekiah, who was the last king of Judah, did not follow in righteousness.

The culture was wicked → Did not honor God.

Jeremiah Called

Jeremiah was called in his youth.

Jeremiah 1:4–5 (ESV) — 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.”

Jeremiah was called.

God “consecrated” Jeremiah → Set apart. What does that mean? God had a special purpose for Jeremiah.

Jeremiah did not EARN this because he was good.

God had a plan to use him to fulfill his plans.

To be a prophet to the nations → What does this mean?

God called you

The fact that you are here today and have the privilege of worshiping him means that he chose you to be his child.

We have been set apart. And we are part of his plan. And we have been set apart for his plan and set apart from anything that is contrary to his plans.

Jeremiah was hesitant

Let’s look at how Jeremiah responded:

Jeremiah 1:6 (ESV) — 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”

Jeremiah felt inadequate. What were his reasons?

Not able to speak well (similar to Moses)

inexperienced and young. We do not know for sure but people speculate that he was in his late teen or early 20’s. Most likely in his teenage years.

God Replies:

Let’s see how God responds:

Jeremiah 1:7–8 (ESV) — 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.”

Do not say I am only a youth

Because → its not you who is doing all this but its me.

I will equip you and be with you.

Do not be afraid. I am with you.

Read verse 9-10 and see what God says next:

Jeremiah 1:9–10 (ESV) — 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.”

When God calls, he takes responsibility.

When God calls, we can find reassurance.

Because in our weakness, we will see our strength.

He takes responsibility.

He will provide for us.

Don’t Underestimate Yourself

God has a plan for you. Don’t underestimate yourself.

Because when you do, you are not only underestimating yourself but you are underestimating God.

And God gives a token to Jeremiah

But though it is reassuring, its easy to forget that God is with us.

Just like our spiritual highs. People who came back from mission.

Teenserve and Ecuador → they will still remember that spiritual highs that they experienced...

Read verse 11-12:

Jeremiah 1:11–12 (ESV) — 11 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” 12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”

The word for almond tree is shaqed and the word for watch over is shoqed. God was using word play here. An almond tree, which is native to the terrains of Israel, was a pretty common tree.

Whenever Jeremiah saw the almond tree, he would have been reminded of God’s hand over him.

That he is watching. That God is using him for his glory.

We have been called as well

Some of you may have been called. Called to have a role as a prophet. A calling into ministry. Some of you know it and some of you maybe you are discovering that.

How does God call us? What are some indications that we are called into ministry?

He may speak to us just like he did with Jeremiah “Audible Voice”

And he also speaks to us through the bible.

And he gives a specific calling to those who are believers

HS is with the believers and HS places a special burden or this feeling of unease in your heart.

MINISTRY → For example, when you are in the church and you see something that is not right, you have this heart to want to fix it.

If God gives you passion to share the gospel and wants to share the gospel more to the lost and feel uneasy about not sharing, it may be a sign for a calling.

NOT ONLY YOUR SPECIFIC CALLING BUT EVERYONE IS CALLED.

And let us look at the command that God gives to Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 1:17–19 (ESV) — 17 But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, 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 they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”

To Stand Up

To Speak Up

To Bolster Up Courage

We have been called to change the culture

In school

With our friends

In our family

Do not be ashamed. Don’t be shy.

Gospel is the power to save us Romans 1:16 Paul tells us that he is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone who believes.

God will strengthen you. You just have to step into it.

Lastly, let's look at verse 19 to see how God reassures Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 1:19 (ESV) — 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”

The calling of Jeremiah is a reminder for us. God is with us. He has a special plan and purpose for each one of you. He chose you. You are special to God. And God wants to use you. Will you hold on to his hands and follow him?