Jeremiah's Call
Book of Jeremiah
Chapter 1:1-19
If you have read
much of Jeremiah, you will know that Jeremiah is known as "The
Weeping Prophet". We will see that throughout his lifetime
Jeremiah witnessed one catastrophe after another along with
sufferings beyond measure, and all these things broke the heart of
Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was called
to be a prophet of God during the last forty years of the history of
Judah.
If we call that at
the end of the reign of King Solomon the nation of Israel was divided
into two nations one being called Israel, the northern nation and the
other called Judah.
The northern nation
had already fallen and no longer existed before the time of Jeremiah
and Judah, the southern nation will fall during the time of Jeremiah.
The last forty years
of the time of Judah was a terrible time to be a Jew. Assyria to the
north, Babylon to the west, and Egypt to the south and these three
were all seeking world domination and Judah lay in the middle.
Judah had fallen
away from the Lord and even rejected and denied Him and they were
unwilling to repent from their wickedness.
Jeremiah could not
have started ministry until the age of 30 and He served the Lord for
41 years until his forced exile into Egypt.
Jeremiah prophesied
of the wickedness of Judah and though he was ridiculed and abused,
God never left his side and Jeremiah remained faithful to his
calling.
This is the same for
each Christian today. God will never forsake those that love Him!
It is a tragic thing
to reject the Lord because He is the only one who could deliver Judah
from all these enemies.
In many ways we can
see America falling into this same trap! It seems that wickedness has
raised its filthy head and is beginning to rule in America and the
Church is just too lazy to take a stand on the Word of God.
When a people claim
to be followers of the Lord but allow this wicked world to come into
the Church even inviting this wickedness into the Church we will see
that God will certainly not be pleased.
We already know that
the Old Testament not only provides prophesies of the future but
contains the many examples we are to learn from.
The Apostle Paul by
the hand of the Holy Spirit writes of these things:
1Co 10:5 But with
many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in
the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these
things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil
things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 Neither be
ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat
down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
We should also
remember that even the words of Jeremiah were given to him by the
Holy Spirit.
Let's Begin
*****Jer 1:1 The
words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in
Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
Jer 1:2 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.
Jer 1:3 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.
The first thing we
see is that Jeremiah was the son of a priests in the line Aaron and
Jeremiah would have also been a priest if God had not called on him
to be a prophet answering only to God Himself.
Remember God's
prophets always told the truth and any prophecy they foretold had to
take place or they were a false prophet!
During the time of
Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Daniel, and Ezekiel also prophesied the Word of
God. We can see that God made sure these Jews got to hear the truth.
We should also know
that every nation and every society will experience difficult years
and we are no different having already been through the great
depression and many wars that challenged our nation and are now
seeing how pure wickedness affects us all.
The city of Ana
Thoth was in the land that was given to the tribe of Benjamin, but it
was located not more than 3 miles of Jerusalem.
Ana Thoth was a city
of priests assigned by Joshua, so Jeremiah was raised around the many
families of priests who lived there.
We also see that
these people were real familiar to the Word of God because God had
sent His prophets in the time of Josiah and in the time of Jehoiakim.
There is never a
time that God does reach out to His people, the only exception being
the 400 hundred years after the time of Malachi until the birth of
Jesus Christ where God allowed His will to take place without sending
His prophets. These Jews had all the information they needed to
prepare for the Messiah.
We have all the
information that we need today to prepare for the return of the
Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!
We know that end
Judah was carried away by Babylon and they would remain captives
until the end of 70 years as Jeremiah had prophesied until the time
of King Cyrus that Isaiah had prophesied.
Isa_44:28 That
saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure:
even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy
foundation shall be laid.
Isa_45:1 Thus saith
the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden,
to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to
open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be
shut;
*****Jer 1:4 Then
the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 1:5 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.
Is there anyone in
here that still thinks that a baby in the womb is not a real creation
of God. We should understand that God knows what our life will be
like before our seed has been planted in our mother’s womb.
It has already been
proven that babies before they are born can hear things outside their
mother’s womb.
Is there anyone that
does not believe that the same sovereign power that ordained Jeremiah
to be a prophet, and the Apostle Paul, and the many others into the
ministry of the Lord has not reveal the Lord Jesus Christ unto us so
we could be saved.
Gal 1:15 But when
it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me
by his grace,
Gal 1:16 To reveal
his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately
I conferred not with flesh and blood:
We are here today
because we have also been called by the "Grace of God" into
the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God did not call
Jeremiah just for Judah, God called Jeremiah to witness to all the
nations.
Some great things
are said here:
1) Before God forms
us, He already knows us.
2) Before we are
born, God can sanctify us, set apart for His use
3) Before we are
born, Gods knows everything about our lives
We see that God's
calling is very personal. God tries to get personal with us even when
we do not want a relationship with Him.
What is the first
thing most all of us do? We offer up excuses which means we have told
God that He does not know what He is talking about.
If not for God's
"Grace" where would we be by now?
*****Jer 1:6 Then
said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
God calls humans to
take the Word of God to other humans. We should be thankful that God
has thought enough of us to trust us with His words of truth.
Everyone in the
Church can have a ministry.
We should be humbled
to know that God knows us before we are even born into this world.
Jeremiah was set
aside for a specific task, even though he would be a priest when he
reached the age of maturity.
Jeremiah was only a
child when he understood what God wanted from Him.
God created all the
nations and every human being, and He wants us all to know the truth
of His Creation so that we all can be saved.
God wants all of us
to be good soldiers in the army of God the qualifications begin by
being set apart for His use.
2Ti 2:4 No man that
warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may
please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
I never leave this
class room on Sunday thinking I have done what God ask me to do, or
said the words that God wanted me to say.
But I told God I
would not quit on Him.
There are young
people in our own church who God is dealing with and saying the same
thing that Jeremiah said.
"Lord, I am but
a child, how can I have the words to say to these people".
As Jeremiah grew up
it was easy for him to see the wickedness of His nation.
We better believe
that all the young people here in our church and others are seeing
the wickedness that is happening in our own nation and we must pray
that they will keep their Christian roots and join into the Army of
God,
Jeremiah knew that a
prophet of God must have the ability to speak in public and he felt
he could not do this. I can relate to this myself.
Most everyone called
of God have these same feelings.
Even Moses felt this
way.
Exo 3:11 And Moses
said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I
should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
God persuaded Moses
and God would persuade Jeremiah.
*****Jer 1:7 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.
I am beginning to
understand that God has given us the words we are to say, and God
takes full responsibility for the results of His Words!
I am never wrong
when I speak God's Words and Jeremiah would not be wrong when He
spoke the Words God had given to him.
We see that being a
child is never a good excuse for not obeying the calling of the Lord
and our young people must realize that this true.
We are all the
children of God without excuse and we have seen many babes in Christ
many of them fail because would not accept the calling of God.
God insisted that
Jeremiah be obedient to his calling.
This is what the
Lord expects of us all. He expects us to be true to the things He has
called on us to do!
In most cases when
we refuse the Lord then someone will get our blessing and we will be
reminded of this when we meet Jesus at the Bema Seat!
We must not make up
excuses to reject the Lord's calling. He already knows each one of us
better than we know our selves. We must understand that God will
provide everything we need to do what He has asked us to do!
We are all called to
be ambassadors for Christ which means we are citizens of Heaven sent
here to tell the world about Jesus Christ!
God has called all
of us to be witnesses of the perfect salvation that is offered as a
free gift to all those who call upon the name of Jesus.
This can be a
frightening thing to us just like it was to Jeremiah!
*****Jer 1:8 Be not
afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the
LORD.
The one sure thing
we must realize is that as the children of God we do not go anywhere
alone. Our Father in Heaven is always with us!
We could not be
members of Gethsemane if not for Preacher Sam who had faith knowing
what God had called him to do!
God met all the
needs of Jeremiah!
God promise to
protect Jeremiah.
God promised to be
with Jeremiah and He would not forsake us.
Sometimes we just do
not realize how wonderful it is for the Lord to say, I will never
forsake you.
Psa 37:28 For the
LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are
preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
It is because the
Lord will never forsake us that we are preserved throughout eternity!
All these thigs
begin when we serve the Lord while we are still upon this earth!
As Christians many
will look upon us with disdain, but the Lords says we must never be
afraid of their faces.
The Lord will give
us the things to say. He has already given us His Word, but the Lord
will give us the words at that moment what needs to be said, by the
Holy Spirit who lives within each Saint of God!
No matter how
inadequate we feel God will meet our needs. I can promise you, I know
about this one!
Even when Jeremiah
was a child the Lord began to instruct Him but also to make him
confident in what God was asking from Him!
Remember how we
always say the Apostle Paul did not have the New Testament to help
him build the church.
We can also say that
Jeremiah did not have much of the Old Testament when God call ed on
Him. In fact, about all he had was the Books of Moses.
We should be able to
see how important it is that we have the complete Word of God today
because God called on these great men of God to give us what God has
said and then He also given us these examples.
We must understand
the most important thing we can give the Lord is to be available when
He calls and a willing heart, open to the ways of the Lord!
God seeks a heart
that is surrendered to Him and this is a person that God can equip to
be a servant to those who do not know Him!
What did God say to
Moses:
Exo 4:11 And the
LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the
dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
Exo 4:12 Now
therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou
shalt say.
There is never an
excuse that is good enough to cause God to change His mind, beyond a
total rejection!
When we know we are
inadequate to commit to the work God has given to us, then we also
know that we must give God the glory for any accomplishment that
comes by our work!
We must get one
thing straight in our minds that it is the Lord and not man who
controls the affairs of the world!
We must also
understand that God will give His message to those He calls!
*****Jer 1:9 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.
We are to listen
when God speaks.
We are to obey when
God commands.
We are to trust when
God promises.
When we get these
three things mastered then we are almost ready to serve the Lord!
These things cannot
be accomplished without a New Birth!
To be "Born
Again" is to be changed from our own unrighteousness into the
perfect righteousness of the Lord, one day at a time.
When we are adopted
into the family of God, our Heavenly Father will begin to teach us
about Holiness, and not just any holiness, but the holiness of His
Dear Son!
We must also
understand that every "Babe in Christ" needs sometime to be
discipled in the ways of the Lord. It can only happen as the Lord
touches their lips and gives them His Words!
What comes out of
our mouths must be of the Word of God!
Mat 10:19 But when
they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for
it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is
not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in
you.
When the Lord calls
us and equips us, then He will direct us in where we are to go.
*****Jer 1:10 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.
What Jeremiah's
calling?
Jeremiah was to tell
these people what God had planned for the future if there was no
repentance. Jeremiah was to be a Prophet called of God!
If the children of
Israel would repent God would plant them on their lands and they
could build onto their great nation.
If there was no
repentance then God would root out the evil and forsake His people
who had forsaken Him, God would pull down the magnificent structures
of David and Solomon, even the Temple and no one would be able to
escape these things. God would destroy their homeland.
We know that God did
all these things just has His Prophet had said!
Zec 1:6 But my
words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets,
did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said,
Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our
ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
But God never
forgets what He has already done!
Jer 31:28 And it
shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck
up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to
afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the
LORD.
Jer 31:29 In those
days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and
the children's teeth are set on edge.
Jer 31:30 But every
one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour
grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
There was a partial
fulfilling of these things when King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return
to their nation in the 70 years that Jeremiah had said but a greater
fulfilling in our day as Israel returns to the land God had given to
them as most every prophet foretold.
*****Jer 1:11
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.
Jer 1:12 Then said
the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to
perform it.
In Palestine, the
Almond tree is the first tree to bloom and the first tree to bear
fruit.
We should understand
from this vision that Jeremiah was the only prophet to see most of
his prophesy fulfilled before he died but this does not mean we are
to skip over this great book. It fact we would be foolish to do so!
2Ti_3:16 All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
This statement
includes the Book of Jeremiah.
These things mean
that we must always be aware of the things happening around us.
We must always
realize that God will absolutely do as He says if He does not see the
repentance that lovingly asks for!
When God says,
"behold I come quickly", He means what He says here also!
The blossoms of the
almond tree were a sure sign that Winter was over, and Spring had
begun.
We must understand
that when we see events take place that have been described by the
prophets it teaches us that God's will is taking place just as He
said. God will always be true to His Word!
In the Book of
Ezekiel, we see these words.
Eze 7:10 Behold the
day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath
blossomed, pride hath budded.
Eze 7:11 Violence
is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor
of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be
wailing for them.
Eze 7:12 The time
is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the
seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
Jeremiah would
preach the truth of repentance all his days but much like Noah, the
Word of God would be rejected, and God would od just as He said.
Over and over we see
in the Old Testament that God speaks by His priest and prophets and
the nation of Israel will reject the Word of God and most times it is
the sin of pride that has gotten in their veins.
We should not
understand that the Lord is waiting for certain things to take place
when He is actually watching them take place. Nothing catches the
Lord of guard.
He has known the
ending to the beginning all the way back to before He created our and
said, "let there be light".
There is not one
thing that can catch the Lord God Almighty off guard!
Psa 111:6 He hath
shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the
heritage of the heathen.
Psa 111:7 The works
of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
Psa 111:8 They
stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
God does not change!
The Old Testament is full of examples of what God has already done
and we are to learn from our mistakes also, because we know the God
will never change His ways.
Mat 5:18 For verily
I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle
shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
When the Lord Comes,
He will come quickly!
Again, the Lord
shows Jeremiah another vision.
*****Jer 1:13 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.
Jer 1:14 Then the
LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon
all the inhabitants of the land.
A seething pot would
be like a kettle full of rapidly boiling water.
The seething pot
shows us the terror and confusion that would fill the city of
Jerusalem when her enemies came and they would come from the North.
The word "seething"
found in the Strong’s Dictionary means: blow, breath, give up,
cause to lose [life], seething, snuff.
The word "pot"
also a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication a hook: -
caldron, fishhook, pan, ([wash-]) pot, thorn.
That word North mean
not only direction but also means gloomy and unknown.
We will see that in
reality these words speak of a siege of Jerusalem.
The patience of God
was wearing thin for Jerusalem and the nation of Judah and these
things speak of a time when these Jews would see terror and confusion
like they had never seen.
We need to
understand that when we speak of the Word of God, then we must see it
clearly ourselves. Another reason God says for us to study the
Scriptures.
When we understand
what God is saying "good or bad" we must not be ashamed to
tell it to others!
God will always use
things in His own creation to teach us these Bible truths!
In the New Testament
Jesus Christ used parables to teach and each parable would teach a
Heavenly truth.
Nowhere in all the
Scriptures will we see that God uses fables to teach His truth!
We may also notice
that just before these visions Jeremiah had confessed his ignorance
and inability to do what God was calling him to do!
A good thought is,
it is not the gift of sight, used here on Jeremiah that distinguishes
one man from another, it is the gift hearing where we can say, "we
hear a voice that those who are lost cannot hear!
Rom_10:14 How then
shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall
they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher?
This is God's way
during the Church Age!
Jeremiah was not to
show these people of Judah great and powerful things; his job was to
preach the words God had given to him through the Holy Spirit!
It should be obvious
that those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ will see the wrath of
God!
Sin has a penalty.
Sin has
consequences.
When we live in
wickedness, we condemn our ourselves to the "judgement of God"
We will die and be
forever separated from a Holy God who tried His best to save this
entire world and is still trying to convince those who do not know
Him to seek Him, so they can also know Him!
Jas 1:14 But every
man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death.
Jas 1:16 Do not
err, my beloved brethren.
For those who are
lost and reject the Word of God, there is an evil that is surely
coming to them!
These things are all
true because it is Jehovah that sits on His Throne in Heaven and He
is His Own Counselor!
*****Jer 1:15 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.
Jer 1:16 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.
We should understand
that when the Lord takes His time to teach us heavenly things, it is
good that we follow His teachings!
Preaching God's
Judgment would be a very hard thing to do for Jeremiah. He loved his
nation, but he loved his Heavenly Father much more!
We are wrong when we
do not share the bad news to non-believers, but we are even more
wrong when we do not share God's "Good News" of the "Saving
Grace" of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah had one
task, he was to preach only the words gave to him!
Not philosophies.
Not psychologies.
Not ideas.
Not theologies.
Not according to
their own beliefs.
*****Jer 1:17 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.
God warns us of our
own backsliding.
God warns us of
quitting on Him.
God warns us of
turning away from His Word!
Whatever mission God
has chosen for us, we must complete that mission!
God explains to each
of us that our mission is to deliver His Words!
God explains to us
that we must go to where we are sent!
God is responsible
for the outcome!
God will avenge
those who are persecuted for doing what He has said to do!
If we twist the Word
of God into some other meaning, then we should fear the wrath of God.
If we are faithful
to do what God asks us to do, then we have no reason to fear the
wrath of God. It is just that simple!
When we gird up the
loins of our mind it is saying we are prepared to get into the battle
with the truth of God our only weapon and our faith is our armament,
our shield!
God warns us against
backsliding and turning away from our task. Remember when we turn and
run there is no armor on our backside but the armor we wear cannot be
penetrated from the front!
To gird up our loins
is to be prepared to enter this battle with evil and to not look
back!
Heb 10:35 Cast not
away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of
reward.
Heb 10:36 For ye
have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye
might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a
little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38 Now the
just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we
are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul.
We are on the
winning side and we must never forget this is true also!
*****Jer 1:18 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.
Jer 1:19 And they
shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee;
for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
We know from reading
the Book of Jeremiah that he was known as the weeping prophet but
here we can also know that Jeremiah was given a strength that no
power on earth could overcome!
Jeremiah was
invincible until the task God had chosen for him was complete.
Jeremiah would outlive every insult that he received!
Notice that if all
those in the land turn against Jeremiah he would triumph over them.
Notice if was a king
with all the power of a king, Jeremiah would triumph.
Notice if it was all
the priests , Jeremiah would triumph.
Then God said, they
will certainly fight against Jeremiah, but they would not be able to
overcome Jeremiah.
Why should we ever
worry when we do what God tells us to do!
Isa 43:2 When thou
passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the
fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon
thee.
We already know that
the Lord is no respecter of persons and what he did for Jeremiah, He
will do for you!
God did not say
Jeremiah would not suffer and He did.
God just told
Jeremiah that He was on the winning side!
If we read the Book
of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, on toward the back of the Book it
plainly states that all those who love the Lord are on the winning
side.
Never allow this
world to teach you differently!
Amen
Let's Pray!