A young man without qualifications is directed to speak to entire nations. Apart from Isaiah he remains the most popular Old Testament Prophet. Here’s what he had to say:
Jeremiah teaches us many things beyond the clear message that he delivers. But let’s start with that message first, since it is most important.
Jeremiah began his ministry about 75 years after Isaiah died. He will live to see Jerusalem fall in 586 BC, and was probably taken captive by Nebuchadnezzer to Babylon. Brace yourself for a clear accusation from the Lord against His people, because He will not pull any punches when speaking through Jeremiah. God says plainly through Jeremiah that the nation has sinned against him by worshiping idols, even while denying that they are doing it. He makes it known that He has tried everything to get the people to return to Him, but they have refused. Now, destruction is in order. God is going to punish the people with exile to another land.
You might wonder why God keeps saying the same thing through different people, almost 100 years apart. “Just do it, already”, right? Not so fast, woven into those years are godly kings who tried to turn things around. Hezekiah was one of them, and during his reign God sent Isaiah. After Hezekiah the people went right back to idol worship…until Josiah…and during his reign God sent Jeremiah. Every time the king was righteous, God sent a prophet to appeal to the people to repent and return.
Jeremiah is often known as the “weeping prophet” because he was a melancholy person. He is also believed to have been more of a peaceful, quiet, reserved man. (before God spoke through Him). He was not a warrior personality, or a “man’s man” kind of guy, but more effeminate.
That tells us something in itself. God can use any of us for His purposes regardless of whether or not we have the personality for it. You would think that God would choose someone brash and outspoken to address the nations; instead He chose someone almost timid. You can hear Jeremiah object to the job in the opening lines. It reminds me of how Moses objected to his calling.
I have a quick question for you… Has God ever called you to something that you immediately dismissed because you didn’t feel you had the right skills or temperament? Don’t limit the Lord! If He asks you to do something, then He will certainly give you the skills and mindset that you need to accomplish it. Jeremiah is one more example of that.
I notice a couple of things apart from the main message:
1. youth isn’t a hindrance to God. He uses young people. Skill, personality, etc. aren’t a hindrance either. God can make you into whatever type of person He needs you to be. To deny that is to deny God’s power outright.
2. Jeremiah was known and tasked before he was born. Aside from the obvious meaning as it relates to life before birth, this tells me that God wasn’t using “whatever was available” when He chose Jeremiah to be His prophet. Jeremiah was created with the personality and preferences that He had specifically. God never makes a mistake in how He creates. Having said that, I don’t think God creates birth defects, etc. But He isn’t limited by them.
3. Jeremiah predicts invasion from the north, that would be Assyria. The word in Hebrew for “Almond tree” sounds like the word “watching”. It’s a good idea to remember that God is always watching. If we are good we will be rewarded. If we aren’t, we will be punished…but no one is getting away with anything.
4. The people reject Jeremiah, and even abuse him. Just because you carry God’s message doesn’t mean your task will be easy or pleasant.
5. Seeing idol worship from God’s perspective is really insightful. What other nation has ever changed it’s Gods? Egypt worshipped the same gods for centuries….and here is Israel, having seen God work specifically on their behalf, rejecting Him. It’s really unheard of. What would cause someone to decide that a wooden object is more worthy of worship than God whom they have known? No wonder God is angry.
6. To make things even worse, Judah (Israel south) has seen Israel north fall in defeat by this time. They have seen the consequences of sin lived out right in front of them…but they can’t break away from their sins…because they claim they “love them too much”. Judah has been worshiping God,and bringing sacrifices, and spending time in prayer…but they haven’t been serious about it. So God has rejected them, even though they had an appearance of godliness.
You and I should note from this passage that God will not be fooled. He is watching us, and He knows if we are being fake. If we are, the right move is to confess and beg for forgiveness, because rejecting Him and looking for another god to serve will only make things worse.
There are no other gods, and there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. We serve God willingly and completely, or we spend eternity in hell…wishing that we had.
Faithfully,
PR