Founding a Prophetic Ministry

I. Introduction

Jer 1:11-19.

Continuation of last study.

Structure: Approximate Chiasm focusing on the prophetic visions of vs 11 and 13.

A: (vs 7) … you shall go… speak

B: (vs 7) What I command you, you shall speak.

C: (vs 8) Do not be afraid of them

D: (vs 8) I am with you

E: (vs 10) I have set you this day.

B’: (vs 17) say to them everything that I command you.

C’ (vs 17) Do not be dismayed by them.

E’ (vs 18) I make you this day

D’ (vs 19) I am with you

A’: (2:1) Go and proclaim…

The pattern is either in imperfect chiasm or an imperfect parallelism. Inclusio in either case.

It directs our attention to vs 11-16.

II. Body

First Vision (vs 11-12)

As with vs 4, this is Jesus speaking. “The Word of God… said”

“almond” H: šāqēd sounds very much like “watching” H: šāqad.

Play on words. God likes puns!

Almond known as the “watching tree.”

Blooms first (Jan)

Harvests last (Oct-Nov)

Gives a sense of the fullness of an agricultural year.

God is announcing now what might take a long time to accomplish, but the presence of the flower promises the presence of the fruit.

Judgment will follow in God’s time.

“The rod of an Almond Tree.” Allusion to the incident of Aaron’s staff in Num 17:1-11.

The people were rejecting the prophetic ministry of Aaron and Moses. They were doing and would continue to do this in Jeremiah’s time.

God watched over his Word given through Aaron and Moses, and He will do so for Jeremiah’s ministry as well.

Second Vision and indictment (vs 13-16)

Also the words of Jesus.

This begins the prophecies of judgment which will dominate Jeremiah’s ministry.

Isaiah is known for the Salvation of the Lord.

Ezekiel is known for the Glory of the Lord.

Daniel is known for the Kingdom of the Lord.

Jeremiah is the prophet of the Judgment of the Lord.

“Boiling” lit H: nāpaḥ, blown upon. The pot is boiling because the fire under it is being stoked by heaven’s wind.

“facing away from the north.”

Jeremiah is seeing it from the south, and it is leaning over in his direction.

Destruction will come from the north, but is not named as Babylon until Ch. 20.

Assyria is still the power to the north in 627 BC.

Nabopolassar will rebel against Assyria and fight for and gain his independence starting in 625, so Babylon was not really on the mind of Judeans at this time.

The pride of Hezekiah was not hedged by fear of reprisal in his time (2 Kings 2:11-19).

The Scythians residing to the North of Assyria participated in raids with the Assyrians in Israel and Judah. From Holman Bible Dictionary:

SCYTHIANS (Sĭʹ thē ənz) Nomadic, Indo-European people, speaking an Iranian dialect, who migrated from central Asia into southern Russia between 800 and 600 b.c. They were skilled horsemen who excelled in barbaric attack and plunder. Archaeologists have discovered abundant evidence of Scythian artistry in metalwork. Their forces, in pursuit of the Cimmerians, drove south through or around the Caucasus Mountains to the borders of Assyria. A Scytho-Assyrian alliance was formed about 680 to 670 b.c

According to the Greek historian Herodotus, a Scythian attack forced the Medes to withdraw from an assault against Nineveh (apparently 626–620 B.C.). Later, the Scythians advanced southward along the Palestinian coast to the Egyptian border (611 B.C.), where the Egyptian Pharaoh bought them off. They were eventually driven back northward into southern Russia by the Medes.

Scythian power was dominant in the area northwest of the Black Sea until about 350 B.C. Eventually, new invaders, the Sarmatians, having confined them to the Crimean area, destroyed the Scythian remnants after A.D. 100.

When Babylon did invade, they followed the Mesopotamian trade routes along the Tigris and Euphrates until they got to Assyria and then came south, entering Israel’s territory through Dan.

Setting up their throne at the entrance (vs 15). Fulfilled in Jer 39:3.

Vs 16 sets out the principle complaint of God’s indictment against Judah: Idolatry.

Jer 19:4.

Jer 25:6-7.

Rom 1:23.

Vs 17-19: God will defend Jeremiah.

Dress yourself: Tuck in your robe.

2 King 4:29 .

2 Kings 9:1.

Luke 12:35.

Arise: Get up and do something.

Gen 4:8.

Gen 13:7.

Isa 32:9.

Say what I command you.

Do Not be Afraid.

H: ḥātat. Shattered if referring to an object. Afraid if referring to emotions.

Don’t be afraid, or I will shatter you. Not really a peaceful statement.

The real meaning of “fear” is an object of reverence.

I make you this day…

Direct contra-example of what He will do to Jerusalem (vs 14).

I am against them (vs 15-16)

You’ll be against them (vs 18-19)

I’ll be with you. (vs 19)

Where We See Jesus.

Obviously, it’s his voice throughout.

His commission here is marked by the inclusio elements.

These same elements occur in the resurrection and great commission as recorded in Matt 28.

Go: Matt 28:19.

Command: Matt 28:7, 20.

Do not be afraid: Matt 28:5, 10.

I am with you Matt 28:7, 10, 20.

this day. Matt 28:1, 20. End of the age.

III. Conclusion/Application

As Christ commissioned Jeremiah to a ministry of speaking against his culture, He has commissioned us.

As Christ promised Jeremiah opposition by government and even empty religion, so He has promised us.

As Christ promised to protect and accompany Jeremiah, so He will protect and accompany us.

As Jeremiah faced his work with a spine of steel and eyes of tears. We ought to do the same.