BRIEF POINTS FROM JEREMIAH 001

Read Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah is one of the most neglected Old Testament Major Prophets. Most believers rarely read it and most preachers rarely preach from it. Viewed by some as a weird guy, he was called and wrote one of the largest books in the Old Testament.  As we begin our brief studies there are two things that should be clear to us: First, it was written under stress, being faced with a community is in crisis. Second, into this situation is a man called of God to be his vice of judgment to his own. Not a popular place to be. However, to some degree all believers find themselves in such circumstances in the age of secularism.

As you read Jeremiah 1 we are confronted with the man and his call from God. There are 4 aspects to the call of Jeremiah:

1. Hearing God (1:1-8). We begin by noticing that the interchange is one-to-one. “The word of the Lord came to me saying...” (1:4). The call of God is intensely personal. Each call is unique. Like many of us when we hear the call of God, we make excuses. It makes us realize our inabilities. How to handle our view of inability? Petersen notes three things about this:[1] First, It is not wrong to admit your own inadequacy. Second, be honest with God. Third, do not fear the will of God.  God often calls the weak (cf. 1:26-31). God tells Jeremiah that He knew, sanctified, and ordained him for his office.
2. Touch of God (1:9-10). God assures him of his call and his empowerment for service (1:9-10). The touch of God was a common element in the call of God in the Old Testament (cf. Gen. 32:25; Isa. 6:1-7; Daniel 8:18). The touch of God is the transfer of power of enablement. Whom God calls, God enables. The touch was an act of purposeful and deliberateness of empowerment. The touch makes the difference between success and failure. “Human inadequacy and inexperience provide the occasion for divine enablement” notes Thompson.[2] Whom God calls he enables (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7). The prophets believe in God’s word to accomplish to do what He says He will do (cf. Isaiah 55:10-11).
3. Seeing the Vision (1:11-16).  God gives Jeremiah the visions of the almond rod and boiling pot. Vision gives clarity to the mission. First, is the almond rod. This first vision’s meaning is prompted by a play on words. The Hebrew word for almond tree is shaque which triggers the word shoque (watching), which is seen as confirmation of God’s faithfulness to His Word. Jensen points out:

The connection of the vision and the application may be seen in the fact that the almond tree, blossoming around January, was the first tree to awaken from the long winter’s night, its blossoms appearing before the leaves. The symbol of awakeness befitted God’s Word, for though His people had settled into a dark, cold sleep of spiritual dearth, His Word was ever awake, watched over by Him, bringing about it daily unalterable fulfillment of sovereign design.[3]

“I am watching over My word to perform it” (1:12). This is a note of assurance even in the midst of crisis. Second, the boiling pot (or cauldron used for cooking or washing) gives the message of the prophet. The Hebrew text signifies winds were kicking up causing the fire to overheat the pot and it was boiling over. The boiling pot indicates the political crisis of the time that was among the nations. A great evil from the north was to overflow against Jerusalem. This refers to the Babylonians that would come against the nation (cf. Jer. 25:9, 39).[4] This invasion is judgment upon the nation for they had forsaken God in two ways: (1) Worshipped false Gods for they have “offered sacrifices to other gods.” (2) Idolatry for they “worshiped the works of their own hands” (1:16).  These display their unfaithfulness, which God had warned would bring judgment (Lev. 26:14-39; Deut. 28:15-68). Jeremiah’s main message was that of judgment. 

4. Doing it (1:17-19). Jeremiah was to just do it. He was to give the message to the people. It is clear to accomplish this task that Jeremiah has to gird his loins (1:17, cf. 1 Peter 1:13). He is to speak God’s word. When one does the will of God and speaks for God some of the strongest opposition comes not from without, but from within. One must not fear his audience (cf. Gen. 15:1; Acts 27:24). God promises to protect him against his own people (1:18-19). One must preach the Word no matter what (2 Tim. 4:2).

What was special about Jeremiah? Nothing! God uses ordinary people to preach His word resulting in extraordinary accomplishments. Jeremiah is to trust in Him and obey His will in spite of his fears, inexperience, and inadequacies.

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[1]  William J. Petersen, JEREMIAH: THE PROPHET WHO WOULDN’T QUIT, [Victor Books,

[2]  J.A. Thompson, NICOT: JEREMIAH, [Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1980], 148.

[3]  Irving L. Jensen, JEREMIAH: PROPHET OF JUDGMENT, [Moody Press, Chicago, 1966], 20-21.

[4]  While some think it refers to a Scythian invasion, the strong evidence is the invasion of Israel by the Babylonians. See R.K. Harrison, INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT, [Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1969], 803-808 for a study of the views.