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Text: Jeremiah 1
Environment (vss 1-6)
- Jeremiah grows up in a time when the king of Judah, Josiah, embarked on an incredible renovation of the nation (2 Kings 23:1-27). In light of God’s frustration with Judah due to previous administrations, Josiah earns a reprieve from the LORD because of his pursuit of national repentance.
- Even as king Josiah’s works were prophesied in 1 Kings 13:2, Jeremiah’s life seemed to have a divine direction. Or maybe both men were part of the same plan? I don’t know how this worked. The fact that Jeremiah is a Levite in the line of priests and his vocation was picked for him long before his birth, maybe this is all that’s meant for Jeremiah.
- Jeremiah’s father was the high priest who found the law of Moses and delivered it to king Josiah.
- Jeremiah’s ministry in Jerusalem seems to span 42 years from king Josiah to king Zedekiah’s captivity in Babylon and Jerusalem’s destruction. Jeremiah may have lived until the captives began to return.
Equipping (vss 7-10)
- The LORD addresses Jeremiah first by telling him he is a part of something bigger than he is. Something that has been going on before he was even born.
- Jeremiah’s complaint is the same as nearly every prophet from Moses, Isaiah, David, Solomon, Amos, and Ezekiel. They all said they didn’t have the words to speak. The LORD agreed and gave them what to say.
- The requirement for any preacher first and foremost is to have been taught by God and given the words to say.
- The words of God are powerful to do what the LORD has now equipped Jeremiah to do.
- Don’t be afraid of their faces.
- Jeremiah was (and is) a prophet to the nations: root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build, and plant.
Examples (vss 11-16)
- Jeremiah’s examples of God’s attitude toward Jerusalem in two object lessons were the foundation for Jeremiah’s ministry
- The almond tree is ripe for harvest and God is ready to deal with Jerusalem.
- The seething pot was Jerusalem, and she will face a confederacy of opposition from the north.
- Zephaniah is a prophet raised in the early years of Jeremiah (Zephaniah 1:1-3, 3:8). His prophecies resemble Jeremiah’s warnings.
- Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
- The LORD had a determination in Josiah’s day to destroy Jerusalem, but Josiah’s national repentance in the form of tearing down altars stayed God’s hand of judgment. Josiah’s wisdom was this: the LORD was going to tear down the idolatry in Judah, but Josiah tore the altars down, so the LORD would have nothing to destroy. It’s a truth that applies in your life: get rid of the sin yourself before God has to get rid of it for you.
- But Jeremiah will live to see wicked kings restore idolatry to Judah and bring God’s angry attention back to Jerusalem.
Expectations (vss 17-19)
- Here are the expectations for the will of God among sinners bent on their sins.
- 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
- 1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
- From Abel in Genesis to the prophet Zachariah who is stoned right by the altar. The persecution has been much more pronounced from Jews toward Jewish Christians and then Gentiles who become Christians. Paul faced more opposition from Jews than anyone else. Jesus faced more opposition from Jews than anyone else. This was because of their self-righteous and entitled view of themselves.
- Prepare your mind for the opposition. Why? Jeremiah is sent to stand in front of the temple and preach to religious Jews about their sin. He is sent to Jews going in and out of the temple to tell them this temple will be thrown down because of their sin.
- Yes, Jeremiah grew up in good times, but that didn’t change the judgment that God determined on Jerusalem because of the sin of the kings and the people.
- He will be sent to religious rebel kings, one in particular named Zedekiah, who had Jeremiah arrested.
- The LORD promises his presence with Jeremiah in verse 19. The irony is that Jeremiah will be persecuted and harassed by people who believe God is with them; that they have “eternal security” in a sense, and are immune from the judgment of God.
