When we read them, we do not just see God through Jeremiahs lens; God speaks to us directly. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Images/Rembrandt. A Divine Call Jeremiah's sufferings began with a divine call: The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." ( Jeremiah 1:4-5) 1901 NW Blue Parkway I made a personal commitment to you even before you were born. And what a beautiful thing for parents to say to their children: God knows you, God loves you, and God has entered into a personal relationship with you. This verse holds special comfort for mothers who have had miscarriages. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Unlike the others, however, Jonah rejects God's call. The more people tell you not to be afraid, the more you start to wonder what you ought to be afraid of! It shows how God calls a person and waits for the man or woman to rise up in their calling. " You may have known me before I was born, Lord, but I don't even know how to speak! 1:10). The Lord of life uses the natural processes he designed to plant human life in the womb. They lived and labored under the lengthened shadow of that initial experience with God until the end of their earthly ministry. Jeremiah also delivered many prophecies/oracles, including ones against other nations such as Egypt. J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1965), p. 70. Answering While God Calls (Jeremiah 8:20) on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Calvinism For example, when emissaries from surrounding nations came to Judah asking the nation to join a rebellion against Babylon, Jeremiah put a yoke on his neck and went about urging the nations to submit to the yoke of Babylon and live (Jeremiah 27:2-11). The prophet continued to oppose those who wanted to rebel against Babylonia and promised the people a bright and joyful future. And just as God transfers responsibility to Moses (''you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt" in Exodus 3:10), we are grasped by the responsibility for hearing and following the call of Spirit to a greater life. I am inclined to believe that the difference in the inspiration of the great prophets and that of genuine spiritual leaders of today is not in the manner of inspiration, but in the content of the revelation. Dec. 1, 2010. The Bible doesnt say exactly what happened to him, but it is known that he died there, possibly killed by the very people who brought him there, according toextrabiblical sources. Jeremiah knew what God wanted him to do. It is tilting toward us from the north.. Proud member 192 views, 0 likes, 2 loves, 13 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from First United Methodist Church of Allen: Roots and Fruits - Wk1 (Psalm. Twice in Luke we read that Mary kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:19 and 2:51). Looking for Biblical wisdom? Besides, I am just a teenager.. He knew him. After several years of preaching, Jeremiah's family turned against him and even plotted to kill him (Jeremiah 1:8, 11:21-23 . To set something apart is to sanctify it or to dedicate it to holy service. Now God builds and plants that same resurrection power into the life of every believer. This verse is not only Jeremiahs job description, it is also a helpful plot-summary of his book. We don't know when he perceived that he was to have a public ministry, but Jesus was still a child when he stayed behind in Jerusalem in the temple, dialoguing with his teachers. Salem Media Group. Jeremiah lived at a truly terrible time in history. By this, the Lord is signifying that he has put and will continue to put his words in Jeremiahs mouth. When Michelangelo painted him on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, he presented him in a posture of despair. Thats encouraging. It would be a mistake to think that our calling to our work must resemble Jeremiahs. Old Testament Narrative Old Testament Major Prophets But they also speak to us today, helping us to hear the summons of Spirit in our own lives and to answer that call of our own potential. There is no essential difference in the manner of their being inspired by God. His eyes also are cast down, as if he can no longer bear to see Gods people suffer. God equipped Jeremiah to be an international prophet in some amazing ways. Like Jeremiah, you were a dubious candidate at the beginning. Yet even after he received his divine call, he was still a dubious candidate: Ah, Sovereign Lord, he said, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child (Jeremiah 1:6). New Testament General Epistles The great prophets of the Old Testament had divine authority when they spoke for God because of their vital experiential knowledge of God. Just as the knight rode away from the castle, and just as the drawbridge was closing behind him, the king yelled down from the ramparts, Dont be afraid of the dragon! Dragon? Once the Lord uproots, tears down, destroys, and overthrows a nation, there is not much left. The Lord said to him [Moses], Who gave man his mouth? 4The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5Before I formed you in the womb(A) I knew[a](B) you,before you were born(C) I set you apart;(D)I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. When the Prophet Jeremiah was called to become a prophet, he made an excuse. 8Do not be afraid(H) of them, for I am with you(I) and will rescue(J) you, declares the Lord. The inherent unknowns of a God-journey can unnerve us as much as it did Moses. Jeremiah responded faithfully to Gods call to work, and God gave him the knowledge he needed to accomplish it (Jer. Known as the Weeping Prophet, Jeremiah was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah in the Old Testament, right before Judah ultimately fell to Babylon and was led away into captivity. And yet, we need to recognize that this kind of excuse is ultimately inexcusable. In some ineffable way, God has a personal knowledge of the individual that precedes conception. He was an evangelist God used to bring renewal to the Colombian church during the 1980s and 1990s. Because of the nation's refusal to listen and change, God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed by the Babylonians, making it an example of the fate of the unrepentant. Moses knew that he was to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptians, but he wanted to do it in his own way and on his own timing. When God calls someone to do a job, he gives him or her all the gifts needed to get the job done. Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say (Exodus 4:11-12). Used under license from Veer Jeremiah preached a lot of doom and punishment. Was it right for him to object to Gods call or not? Isaiahs experience was somewhat different from Jeremiahs. He lived in a time very much like our own, when people no longer think God matters for daily life. . Jeremiah was known for his dramatic object lessons. (K), 9Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched(L) my mouth and said to me, I have put my words in your mouth. Q.7) Describe and explain carefully the meaning of the two visions Jeremiah saw in 1:11-16. It's ironic then that Jeremiah responds back to the Lord here - " I don't know how to speak ". Then the word of the LORD came to me: Jeremiah had a personal encounter with . Later the Lord reaches out his hand and touches Jeremiahs mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). He served and suffered through the administrations of three kings: Josiah the reformer, Jehoiakim the despot, and Zedekiah the puppet. We offer practical, uplifting resources to help people of all faiths apply positive spiritual principles to their lives. With reference to Jeremiah chapter 1:4- 19, state Jeremiah's five responses to God's call Atika School Provides Christian Religious Education questions and answers for KCSE preparations. He sent dozens of messengers proclaiming repentance, but these messengers were killed, abused, and mocked. The Angel went on to say to her: "Do not be afraid, Mary. Isaiahs main problem was that he had a guilty conscience: Woe to me! I cried. (Luke 1:34). This is Gods plan for the kingdoms of this world (cf. And then the last two are positive build and plant. When Jehoiakim withheld tribute from the Babylonians, Jeremiah warned that Judah would be destroyed by Babylon. See 1:2-3. None of the prophets received his call from God in the same manner; Even so, as is obvious, God uses many ways of revealing his will to men in the present. An examination of the prophetic messages of the great prophets reveals that those truths which they learned about God in their call-experience provided the theme for every oracle that they ever uttered. I am not made for perilous quests, cried Frodo. It is about the unraveling of a nation. When did God choose him? God was quick to remind his people that although there would be consequences for their sin, He still had a plan. All rights reserved. Sigmund Mowinckel, The Spirit and the Word in the Pre-Exilic Reforming Prophets,, The Prophets Call A Dialogue With God: As Seen In Jeremiah, Southwestern Journal of Theology Vol. The modern spokesman for God will have authority only as he has a personal experience of Gods presence and of Gods power, and as he surrenders himself completely for the accomplishment of the divine will in the world in which we live. His face is turned to one side, like a man who has been battered by many blows. This article appeared in Unity Magazine. Cf. I don't know how to do this. However, his message was ultimately one of repentance and restoration. And with that, God has finished his commissioning of Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations. of In Jeremiah 1:6 we see how Jeremiah responds to Gods call to be a prophet to the nations. of Perhaps you are still trying to figure out what Gods plan is for you. With Gods calling comes Gods gifting. If you do not know what God is calling you to do, take an honest look at the gifts he has given you. See 1:10-19. For less than $5/mo. You might remember that in Jeremiah 1:5 God says that he knew Jeremiah before he was born. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. " " You knew me before I was a baby. Jeremiah spent forty years delivering Gods messages to Judah. Is it not I, the Lord? What happens when we mess up badly, like Judah, and end up in a terrible situation that is entirely of our own causing? 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. To paraphrase: Ahhh, wait a second, Lord, about this whole prophet-to-the-nations thing . Upon Judahs captivity, he penned the book of Lamentations, a highly poetic and devastatingly beautiful series of laments about the fall of Gods people. First, God assure Jeremiah that he will tell the prophet where to go and what to say. Southwestern Journal of Theology It might mean breaking through our reluctance to visit a sick friend or relative, making peace with a son or daughter, or entering into a program of self-improvement that ultimately blesses others. As is typical with Twelve Prophets, the Book of Jonah begins with a call from God to the prophet (Jon. To overthrow is to demolish, to bring to complete ruin. Concerning this truth, Skinner has stated that the ultimate secret of true prophetic inspiration is found in an immediate consciousness of having the mind of God.[84]Skinner, p. 195. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3951_1_84').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3951_1_84', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); The concept of God which the prophets received in their call was an in ward and spiritual criterion by which they tested the truthfulness of their message. Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth" (Jeremiah 1:6). In any case, Jeremiah had his doubts about whether he could do the job. To put it plainly, he said, Dont give me that stuff! Do not say, I am only a child. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you (Jeremiah 1:7). Harry Freedman (ed. Get Unity news, prayers, and resources straight to your inbox. conveys God's response to what they had done and their situation. In other words, God's call generally focuses less on us, our particular sins or strengths, and more on a big God and a big job. Jeremiah was born to a priestly family in Anathoth, about three miles from Jerusalem. 4. When prophets speak in his name they are mightier than kings. 223-24. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3951_1_83').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3951_1_83', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); This experience was the beginning of a moral and spiritual fellowship which was maintained by the surrender of the prophets will to the purpose of God and by a progressive purification of the inner life. Even a child which Jeremiah claimed to be and probably was can do that! to some time after 586 b.c. Public life is increasingly dominated by pagan ideas and rituals. "They'll never believe me!" Their kings will come and set up their thronesin the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;they will come against all her surrounding wallsand against all the towns of Judah. Jeremiahs calling is not for everyone. Ezekiel was a man of God called into service for His Lord. A study of Jeremiahs call, when contrasted with that of the other great prophets, reveals that God used a variety of ways in extending a call. Its a threefold response. We read in Jeremiah 1:4-6: Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! With each answered call, we grow in Spirit. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. Judah was sent into captivity, the Promised Land stripped from them, and it was entirely their own fault. For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty (Isaiah 6:5Jeremiah 1:5). To destroy is another word for knocking things down. This is also Gods plan for salvation in Jesus Christ. He was a preachers son, for his father Hilkiah was a priest. It was not always easy for Jeremiah to speak Gods words. Its ironic then that Jeremiah responds back to the Lord here I dont knowhow to speak. Jeremiah responded faithfully to God's call to work, and God gave him the knowledge he needed to accomplish it (Jer. It comes in meditation as we gain new insights into the call. Explore what the Bible says about God's calling and your work. The book of Jeremiah is Gods words and Jeremiahs words. Perhaps God was extraordinarily direct with Jeremiah because Jeremiah was so deeply reluctant to accept Gods call. And hell do so on the global scene. This is known as the doctrine of divine election. Two to one, his words to the nations will be words of judgment. He labored as Gods prophet for forty years or more, from 627 b.c. I knew you. What a beautiful thing for God to say to his children! Every Christian has a calling. The way of a call is not always easy; it may require frequent recommitment. Jeremiah had forgotten that God is not limited by human weakness. Well, I still feel like one!, Your email address will not be published. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:3-4). This "call" can come to us in a whisper, a nudge, or a barely perceptible thought. The people turned against him and didnt believe him. Once when I was interviewed by a pastoral search committee, I was asked if I was easily intimidated. Used by permission. 53 likes, 11 comments - Jasmine Herrera (@waterpreneur.jaz) on Instagram: "I'm curious When you attend a wedding, are you held accountable for that marriage . Jeremiah 12:14-17). New Testament Gospels A person is a human being, created in the image of God, living in relationship to God. The reason Jeremiah has authority over nations and kingdoms (Jeremiah 1:10) is that he is not speaking on his own behalf. Meanwhile, Assyria had been conquered by Babylon. 1:17). He was able to converse in the fields of politics, economics, comparative religion, geography, theology, botany, zoology, anthropology, military strategy, architecture, industry, agriculture, fine arts, and poetry.4. . White, The Indomitable Prophet: A Biographical Commentary on Jeremiah (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1992), pp. God replied: "For to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever . When a person is aware of that call and surrenders to it, he or she starts living out God's purpose for him or her (see Jeremiah 1:4-5; Isaiah 49:1; Galatians 1:15 ). 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