Jeremiah 1: A Prophet Called to Uproot and Plant
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
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.
It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
And the word of the Lord came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
Then the Lord said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.
Jeremiah, often referred to as "the weeping prophet" (Jeremiah 9:1), penned a book filled with sorrow, reflecting the profound unfaithfulness of God's people and the severe judgment that followed. While its somber tone might resonate deeply with those already experiencing hardship, within its pages lies a crucial message of hope and restoration amidst devastation. This chapter marks the beginning of Jeremiah's prophetic journey, unveiling his divine calling and the daunting task set before him.
The Prophet and His Times (Jeremiah 1:1-3)
Jeremiah was a priest, son of Hilkiah, from Anathoth in the land of Benjamin (Jeremiah 1:1), a town located a few miles northeast of Jerusalem. His ministry spanned a tumultuous period of over forty years, beginning in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign (Jeremiah 1:2), around 627 BC, and continuing through the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people to Babylon in 586 BC. He was called to deliver God's message of judgment to the southern kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen to the Assyrians in 722 BC. Josiah was the last of Judah's good kings, and Jeremiah witnessed the nation's slide into idolatry and moral decay following his death. This historical context is crucial for understanding the urgency and gravity of Jeremiah's prophecies.
A Reluctant Prophet (Jeremiah 1:4-7)
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, revealing God's preordained plan for his life. Even before Jeremiah was formed in the womb, God knew him and consecrated him as a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). This echoes God's sovereign choice and echoes the calling of other significant figures like Moses. Jeremiah, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task and feeling inadequate, protested, claiming he did not know how to speak, for he was only a youth (Jeremiah 1:6). However, God reassured him, commanding him not to 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 (Jeremiah 1:7). God's power is often displayed through human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and in Jeremiah's reluctance, we see God's strength about to be manifested.
Divine Empowerment and a Foretaste of Trials (Jeremiah 1:8-10)
The Lord then promised Jeremiah His unwavering presence and protection: Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord (Jeremiah 1:8). These words, though comforting, also foreshadowed the intense opposition Jeremiah would face. God fortified Jeremiah and commissioned him with a powerful, albeit difficult, mandate: 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 (Jeremiah 1:10). This commission was not merely to pronounce judgment but also to offer hope of future restoration. After the exile, God would bring them back to the land and rebuild His temple. Jeremiah's ministry was thus a blend of judgment and hope, destruction and restoration.
Visions of Judgment and Hope (Jeremiah 1:11-16)
To confirm His involvement and the essence of his message, God presented Jeremiah with two symbolic visions. First, Jeremiah saw a branch of an almond tree (Jeremiah 1:11). The Lord connected this vision to His promise to watch over His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). The Hebrew words for "almond tree" (shaqed) and "watching" (shoqed) sound alike, emphasizing God's diligence in fulfilling His prophetic word. The almond tree, known for its early blooming, symbolized God's promptness in bringing His word to pass.
The second vision was of a boiling pot, facing away from the north (Jeremiah 1:13). This was an unmistakable sign of the disaster that would come upon Judah from the north (Jeremiah 1:14), specifically the invading armies of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. While Babylon was geographically east of Judah, their armies would approach from the north, following established trade routes. This detail highlights the amazing accuracy of God’s Word. God would execute judgment upon Judah for their pervasive idolatry (Jeremiah 1:16).
Courage in the Face of Opposition (Jeremiah 1:17-19)
God's final charge to Jeremiah was a call to action: Stand up and tell them everything I command you (Jeremiah 1:17). There was no room for hesitation or compromise. God had already prepared Jeremiah for the inevitable opposition, promising to make him a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land (Jeremiah 1:18). This divine fortification would be essential for Jeremiah to withstand the pressures and persecutions he would encounter throughout his ministry. No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment (Isaiah 54:17) – a promise echoing the protection afforded to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 1 serves as a powerful introduction to the prophet's life and ministry, revealing God's sovereign calling, the prophet's initial reluctance, and the divine empowerment that sustained him. It sets the stage for the prophecies of judgment and hope that follow, reminding us of God's faithfulness to His word and His unwavering commitment to His people, even in the face of their unfaithfulness.
Prophecies About Judah and Its Fall (Jeremiah 2:1-45:5)
Judah’s Sin and Faithlessness (Jeremiah 2:1-3:5)
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
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.
It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
And the word of the Lord came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
Then the Lord said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.
Jeremiah, often referred to as "the weeping prophet" (Jeremiah 9:1), penned a book filled with sorrow, reflecting the profound unfaithfulness of God's people and the severe judgment that followed. While its somber tone might resonate deeply with those already experiencing hardship, within its pages lies a crucial message of hope and restoration amidst devastation. This chapter marks the beginning of Jeremiah's prophetic journey, unveiling his divine calling and the daunting task set before him.
The Prophet and His Times (Jeremiah 1:1-3)
Jeremiah was a priest, son of Hilkiah, from Anathoth in the land of Benjamin (Jeremiah 1:1), a town located a few miles northeast of Jerusalem. His ministry spanned a tumultuous period of over forty years, beginning in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign (Jeremiah 1:2), around 627 BC, and continuing through the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people to Babylon in 586 BC. He was called to deliver God's message of judgment to the southern kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen to the Assyrians in 722 BC. Josiah was the last of Judah's good kings, and Jeremiah witnessed the nation's slide into idolatry and moral decay following his death. This historical context is crucial for understanding the urgency and gravity of Jeremiah's prophecies.
A Reluctant Prophet (Jeremiah 1:4-7)
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, revealing God's preordained plan for his life. Even before Jeremiah was formed in the womb, God knew him and consecrated him as a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). This echoes God's sovereign choice and echoes the calling of other significant figures like Moses. Jeremiah, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task and feeling inadequate, protested, claiming he did not know how to speak, for he was only a youth (Jeremiah 1:6). However, God reassured him, commanding him not to 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 (Jeremiah 1:7). God's power is often displayed through human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and in Jeremiah's reluctance, we see God's strength about to be manifested.
Divine Empowerment and a Foretaste of Trials (Jeremiah 1:8-10)
The Lord then promised Jeremiah His unwavering presence and protection: Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord (Jeremiah 1:8). These words, though comforting, also foreshadowed the intense opposition Jeremiah would face. God fortified Jeremiah and commissioned him with a powerful, albeit difficult, mandate: 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 (Jeremiah 1:10). This commission was not merely to pronounce judgment but also to offer hope of future restoration. After the exile, God would bring them back to the land and rebuild His temple. Jeremiah's ministry was thus a blend of judgment and hope, destruction and restoration.
Visions of Judgment and Hope (Jeremiah 1:11-16)
To confirm His involvement and the essence of his message, God presented Jeremiah with two symbolic visions. First, Jeremiah saw a branch of an almond tree (Jeremiah 1:11). The Lord connected this vision to His promise to watch over His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). The Hebrew words for "almond tree" (shaqed) and "watching" (shoqed) sound alike, emphasizing God's diligence in fulfilling His prophetic word. The almond tree, known for its early blooming, symbolized God's promptness in bringing His word to pass.
The second vision was of a boiling pot, facing away from the north (Jeremiah 1:13). This was an unmistakable sign of the disaster that would come upon Judah from the north (Jeremiah 1:14), specifically the invading armies of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. While Babylon was geographically east of Judah, their armies would approach from the north, following established trade routes. This detail highlights the amazing accuracy of God’s Word. God would execute judgment upon Judah for their pervasive idolatry (Jeremiah 1:16).
Courage in the Face of Opposition (Jeremiah 1:17-19)
God's final charge to Jeremiah was a call to action: Stand up and tell them everything I command you (Jeremiah 1:17). There was no room for hesitation or compromise. God had already prepared Jeremiah for the inevitable opposition, promising to make him a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land (Jeremiah 1:18). This divine fortification would be essential for Jeremiah to withstand the pressures and persecutions he would encounter throughout his ministry. No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment (Isaiah 54:17) – a promise echoing the protection afforded to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 1 serves as a powerful introduction to the prophet's life and ministry, revealing God's sovereign calling, the prophet's initial reluctance, and the divine empowerment that sustained him. It sets the stage for the prophecies of judgment and hope that follow, reminding us of God's faithfulness to His word and His unwavering commitment to His people, even in the face of their unfaithfulness.