Jeremiah 1:1-19
Called Before Birth
1These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
2The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,
3and through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
4The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
7But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.
8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”
11And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.
12“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”
13Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” “I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.”
14Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land.
15For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.
16I will pronounce My judgments against them for all their wickedness, because they have forsaken Me, and they have burned incense to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.
17Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.
18Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
19They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Jeremiah is introduced as a priest from Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the LORD comes to him in the days of Josiah and continues through the reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, until Jerusalem goes into exile. His calling is rooted in a real place and a difficult stretch of history.
The LORD says He knew Jeremiah before forming him in the womb, set him apart, and appointed him as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah protests that he is only a child and does not know how to speak. God does not answer by praising Jeremiah's natural ability; He tells him to go where he is sent and say what he is commanded.
The LORD touches Jeremiah's mouth and puts His words there. He appoints him over nations and kingdoms to uproot, tear down, destroy, overthrow, build, and plant. The calling includes both painful judgment and the possibility of restoration.
Jeremiah sees an almond branch and a boiling pot tilted from the north. The LORD is watching over His word, and disaster will pour out from the north because Judah has forsaken Him. God promises to make Jeremiah a fortified city and a bronze wall. Kings and priests will fight him, but they will not overcome him because the LORD is with him.
Questions
1 When did Jeremiah's ministry take place?
AnswerIt began during Josiah's reign and continued through the reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, until Jerusalem went into exile.
2 What objection did Jeremiah raise?
AnswerHe said he was only a child and did not know how to speak.
3 What did the LORD put in Jeremiah's mouth?
AnswerHe put His words in Jeremiah's mouth and sent him to speak to nations and kingdoms.
4 What did God promise Jeremiah?
AnswerHe promised to make him strong and to remain with him when leaders fought against him.
What This Means for Us
Jeremiah's calling begins with God's knowledge and God's word, not the prophet's confidence. His youth is neither ignored nor allowed to become the final explanation for why he cannot obey.
Take the next faithful responsibility seriously, even when you feel unprepared. Do not pretend to speak for God beyond what He has said, but do not hide behind insecurity when obedience is clear.
Prayer
Lord, you know us before we can explain ourselves. Give us humility about our limits, courage to obey your word, and strength to stand faithfully when obedience is unpopular. Amen.