Jeremiah 1:4-10 His Calling

Review

We have just started the Book of Jeremiah and based upon a couple of questions last week, I realised that there were a couple of areas that needed some more coverage.

Anathoth

Firstly, we see that Anathoth was Levitical town located about 5km north-east of Jerusalem. Although we do not know much about Jeremiah’s father, Hilkiah, we know that he was a decendent of Abiathar the high priest under David. Abiathar was removed from office by Solomon because he supported Adonijah’s attempt to take the throne. After being removed from office, Abiathar moved back to his home town of Anathoth.

Manasseh

We also need a little more background on King Josiah. Josiah’s Grandfather’s name was Manasseh. Manasseh was known as the most wicked of the kings of Judah. We see from the book of 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chron. 33 that Manasseh instituted worship to Baal and to Asherah, and that he set up a carved image of Asherah in the Temple of Adonai. 2 Kings 21:6 goes on to state:

2 Kings 21:6 TLV

He also made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in Adonai’s eyes to provoke Him.

Adonai brought judgement on Manasseh through the Assyrians, who took him away to Babylon in bronze chains. However, 2 Chron. 33:12-13

2 Chronicles 33:12–13 TLV

In his distress, he entreated Adonai his God and greatly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty, heard his plea and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Adonai, He is God.

And again in 2 Chron. 33:15

2 Chronicles 33:15 TLV

He also removed the foreign gods and idols from the House of Adonai, as well as all the altars that he had built on the mount of the House of Adonai and in Jerusalem and threw them outside the city.

Manasseh had started his reign at 12 years old and reigned for 55 years.

Amon

Josiah was six years hold when his father, Amon, began to reign. Amon was 22 years old, but he only reigned 2 years. 2 Chron. 33:22-23 simply states:

2 Chronicles 33:22–23 TLV

He did what was evil in the sight of Adonai just as his father Manasseh had done. Amon sacrificed to all the carved images that Manasseh his father had made, and worshipped them. He did not humble himself before Adonai as his father Manasseh had humbled himself. Instead Amon increased his guilt.

Amon was assassinated, but the conspirators were caught and executed, and Josiah, at the age of 8 began his 31 year reign in Jerusalem.

Josiah

Josiah, at the age of 16, 2 Chron. 34:3 states:

2 Chronicles 34:3 TLV

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek after the God of his father David. In the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, and the carved and molten images.

The Chronicler goes on to describe that Josiah went through the land of Israel and smashed in pieces all of the alters to Baal, ground to dust all of the Asherah poles and molten images, and spread the dust upon the graves of thoes who had sacrificed to these false gods. This was a national upheaval. For the first time in about 50 years, there was a righteous King in Judah.

Jeremiah’s Calling

So why is all of this important? Well, did you catch the year that Josiah started all of these national reforms? It was the 12th year of his reign, Josiah was 20 years old, and the very next year Adonai calls Jeremiah.

It is at this time, a time of national revival and renewal that the word of Adonai comes to Jeremiah and says: Jer. 1:4-10

Jeremiah 1:4–10 TLV

The word of Adonai came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I set you apart— I appointed you prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Alas, Adonai Elohim! Look, I don’t know how to speak! For I’m still a boy!” But Adonai answered me, “Do not say ‘I’m only a boy!’ For to everyone I send you, you will go, and all I command you, you will speak. Do not be afraid of them! For I am with you to deliver you.” It is a declaration of Adonai. Then Adonai stretched out His hand and touched my mouth and Adonai said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, today I have appointed you over nations and over kingdoms: to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

God’s Ownership

In Verse 5, Adonai makes three statements that demonstrate God’s ownership and dominion over Jeremiah. Adonai says:

I knew you - this means that God had his eye on Jeremiah, and that Jeremiah had God’s special attention;

I set you apart - this points to the selection by Adonai for a specific purpose, and it has a similiar meaning to being consecrated or sanctified;

I appointed you - Adonai is now ready to comission Jeremiah to do the work he was created for, and what is that work? The work for Jeremiah is to be a prophet or a voice to the nations.

Jeremiah is called to stand between a loyalty to and compassion for his own people, and the indignation of how they have offended Adonai and His holiness.

Jeremiah’s Complaint

Jeremiah responds in a very similar way to Moses, and states, “I don’t know how to speak!” Now, where Moses claims to have had a studder, Jeremiah complains that he is too young, only a youth. We are not exactly certain just how old Jeremiah was at this time, but he would have been younger than 20 because at 20 men could join the army and were no longer considered young.

Adonai’s Response

Adonai responds to both of Jeremiah’s complaints in verses 7 - 9. Adonai answers Jeremiah’s last complaint first. Adonai states that Jeremiah’s age is not relevant, only his obedience is necessary. Jeremiah is not called to speak his own words, but the words of the Lord God Almighty. Therefore, even though Jeremiah does not have the words, Adonai will give Jeremiah everything he is to say.

One of Moses’ objections, was the the people would not listen or believe him. To Jeremiah, Adonai encourages him not to fear the people, because He is with him and will deliver him.

I want you to notice how personal this encounter with Adonai was for Jeremiah. This is an intimate conversation, and the Lord reaches out and touches Jeremiah’s mouth, and in verse 10 describes the extent of how he plans on using Jeremiah. While the majority of his ministry will be to tear down and overthrow, just like King Josiah was currently doing, there is also the hope that something new will be built afterwards.

Application

How do we apply this passage to our lives?

Formed in the Womb

The first point that can be applied to our time is the first part of Jer. 1:5 ““Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I set you apart— I appointed you prophet to the nations.”” From this passage, and many others like it, we can see that Adonai considers life to begin in the womb, prior to birth. We see that Adonai takes personal responsibility for forming us in the womb. This is very similar to the Psalm of David, Ps. 139:13-18

Psalm 139:13–18 TLV

For You have created my conscience. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am awesomely, wonderfully made! Wonderful are Your works— and my soul knows that very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was unformed, and in Your book were written the days that were formed— when not one of them had come to be. How precious are Your thoughts, O God! How great is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand! When I awake, I am still with You.

Adonai sees us, He knows us, and has plans for us, even while we are being formed within the womb of our mother.

All have a Calling

We see from the calling of Jeremiah, and from the Psalm of David, that God had a plan for both of these men. Does this mean that we are all called to be a prophet or a king? No, but later on in Jer. 29:11 we see that Adonai calls out the the entire nation of Judah:

Jeremiah 29:11 TLV

For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope.

God has a plan and a purpose for all of us. One of the greatest joys as a parent is to help our children to hear the Lord and discover what He has planned for them. So while there may be specific callings for each of us, God has called all of us to a good future and a hope.

Some of us are called young, like Jeremiah. Others, like Moses, are in the 80s before Adonai makes clear what He has planned for them. But in all cases, the Lord has promiced the following: Heb. 13:5-6

Hebrews 13:5–6 TLV

Keep your lifestyle free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. For God Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” so that with confidence we say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What will man do to me?”

Stand Firm

Some of us will be called to speak before crowds, others will share with our circle of friends, but the time is now here that all of us need to stand firmly on the Word of God.

In fact standing for Truth, for Life and for the only Way to God is getting harder and harder. The world wants to say that every path leads to god, and that your truth can be different than my truth, and that there is not a proper way to live our lives. However Yeshua completely rejects all of these things when he stated John 14:6:

John 14:6 TLV

Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.

So how do we stand? Let’s read Eph. 6:10-18

Ephesians 6:10–18 TLV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist when the times are evil, and after you have done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm then! Buckle the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. Strap up your feet in readiness with the Good News of shalom. Above all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Ruach on every occasion, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, keep alert with perseverance and supplication for all the kedoshim.

The Lord tells us, just as He told Jeremiah, “Don’t be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.”