SNBS Jeremiah 1

The world of Jeremiah - tumultuous. Assyrians, Egyptians then Babylonians, Medes, Persians all jockeying for power. Nabopolassar and his son/general Nebuchadnezzar.

Judah had been under Assyrian domination since Ahaz. Was independent-ish under Josiah. Assyria was overextended in their resources for their expanding kingdom so couldnt really push back as Josiah reclaimed some of the northern kingdom. But Josiah’s death meant the Egyptians gained control, Jehoahaz became king, then alliances shifted.

Jeremiah was raised in Judah under Assyrian control. He heard the call of God in 627, probably a late teenager. This was the same year Assyrian dominance in the region was upset. Jeremiah was consumed with one unshakable conviction and message: Continued disobedience to God’s laws would be the doom of Judah.

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. 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.” 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.” 13 The word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14 Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. 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.”

Jeremiah was given a very hard message. He faithfully proclaimed it. What was his secret? v.4, 11, 13 the word of the Lord came to me. He had a word from God and that certainty was all he needed to remain steadfast to the call. He saw and questioned many difficult and painful things in his life, but never this call.

He was chosen, set apart and appointed ‘before birth’. God used the word ‘formed’. Same as Genesis 2:7 when God formed man from the dust of the earth. The word ‘knew’ involves choosing a relationship with. God had Jeremiah in mind before he was born. He saw the faithful prophet he would be. What do you think He sees of you that hasnt happened yet?

Jeremiah was a prophet to the nations. Not to travel to every nation but in the validity of the message for all nations. And maybe because many nations would be his audience because of the turnover in the region.

God was firm in the call. Dont say I’m just a youth. Dont be afraid of them. You will go. Whatever I command you will speak. The unique message of Jeremiah was in his criticism AND constructive alternatives. V.10 was a foreshadowing to this. Do we view God as being critical or constructive?

But this wasnt a one way conversation. What do you see? An almond branch. Because the almond is an early bloomer, it was used to remind the Jews God was watching. That is to say the words of the earlier prophets were not forgotten. Also God was completely aware of the wickedness of the other nations. They, too, would be judged.

A boiling pot. Poured out from the north. Judah knew the Assyrian rule was ending and scoffed at the warning of Jeremiah. What they didnt anticipate was the rise of the Babylonians. Even though they were to the east of Judah, they would have avoided the Arabian desert, coming up and over following the fertile crescent on the way to bring God’s judgement.

What brought about this judgement? When Israel accepted the terms of the covenant at Mount Sinai during the Exodus the people agreed to worship no other gods. So God was watching over His word and would carry out judgement at the hand of those the Jew hated so much.

v17-19 Get ready. I have made you a force!