Even Jesus could object to God's call. Jeremiahs sufferings began with a divine call: God did wonderful things for Jeremiah before he was even born. This was a captivity for the long haul. Jeremiah himself was exiled to Egypt, where he died. It shows how God calls a person and waits for the man or woman to rise up in their calling. Jeremiah 10:13 (NIV) "When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. Who Was Jeremiah - the "Weeping Prophet". Answering While God Calls (Jeremiah 8:20) on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM. It was destroyed and overthrown to the grave. The failure of many preachers to make a spiritual impact upon the society in which we live is due to the fact that they have assumed the prophetic office without having an express call from God. One must not dare to speak authoritatively for God unless he has stood in the council of the Lord and received a commission to speak to the needs of his generation. We often think of prophets as people who can tell the future. Judah was sent into captivity, the Promised Land stripped from them, and it was entirely their own fault. to some time after 586 b.c. A prophets life is never easy, but Jeremiah had an especially rough time. We are called in many different ways. Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth! Jeremiah wails in Jeremiah 15:10. Page 2 Section 1 continued Q.5) Give the reasons why God had intended to bring judgment upon his people. After Jerusalem was destroyed, the Babylonians released Jeremiah from prison and allowed him to live in the land under the protection of a governor. And hell do so on the global scene. When God calls someone to do a job, he gives him or her all the gifts needed to get the job done. God equipped Jeremiah to be an international prophet in some amazing ways. When God gives his servants a clear calling, he does not accept any excuses. (Luke 1:34). 18Today I have made you(AD) a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole landagainst the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. The spiritual problems we face at the dawn of the twenty-first century were the same problems that Jeremiah found depressing 2,500 years ago. Moses received his first sign when his staff turned into a serpent. The inherent unknowns of a God-journey can unnerve us as much as it did Moses. The Angel went on to say to her: "Do not be afraid, Mary. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you" (Jeremiah 1:7-8). It gives hope to parents who have lost children in infancy, and even for women who aborted their own babies. It is tilting toward us from the north.. 2. Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth" (Jeremiah 1:6). As you know, I am getting a C in rhetoric at the synagogue. Some of Zedekiahs princes had Jeremiah arrested, beaten, accused of treason, and thrown in jail (Jeremiah 37:1-15), from whence he was then thrown in a deep empty well (Jeremiah 38:1-6). This reminds us of Isaiahs experience when he saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple (Isaiah 6:1). What Do We Learn from Reading Jesus Genealogy? All rights reserved. For the Christian, the answer to that question is that you belong to Jesus Christ. Given the intimacy of Gods knowledge of Jeremiah, it is appropriate for Jeremiah to address him with the title Sovereign Lord (Jeremiah 1:6). The clue is found in Jeremiah's initial response. Or is this indeed a vision and we just werent told that it was? Well, I still feel like one!, Your email address will not be published. Besides, I am just a teenager.. God sent Jeremiah to a crumbling nation to warn of their impending demise a warning they didnt heed. Meanwhile, Assyria had been conquered by Babylon. I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful (Jeremiah 31:4). Second, God promises to deliver Jeremiah from all danger. "How shall this be" asked Mary, after Gabriel had announced that she would conceive a son, "since I have no husband?" (U)16I will pronounce my judgments(V) on my peoplebecause of their wickedness(W) in forsaking me,(X)in burning incense to other gods(Y)and in worshiping(Z) what their hands have made.(AA). 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. He was called as a prophet in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Josiah. 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. 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. Those who have been appointed to preach that Word have a spiritual authority over the nations. The false prophets tell everyone that God is with His people; Jeremiah tells everyone that God is on the enemy's side. If necessary, ask others to help you figure out what your gifts are. B. Stand up and say(AB) to them whatever I command you. New Testament Acts He began proclaiming God's messages and continued to do so through trial and peril. From another point of view, however, these are the words of God himself: The word of the Lord came to him (v. 2). Perhaps his grasp of Akkadian and Ugaritic was deficient. 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. [83]Rudolf Otto, The Idea of the Holy, Trans. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses." Jeremiah 10:13 (MSG) "He thunders, and rain pours down. The discouragement of his ministry is evident from the verbs God uses to describe it: See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant (Jeremiah 1:10). I would label his response as age-based doubt. 4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew[ a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.". If God has done all that for you, will you go wherever he tells you to go, and say whatever he wants you to say, even if it turns out to be a dangerous commission? 1:5), not a priest like his father and his grandfather. God does not spell things out, but it is easy to tell that Jeremiahs job will be dangerous. Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project, 10 Key Points About Work in the Bible Every Christian Should Know, Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership, Learning From the Psalms How to Pray Through Your Work, Introduction to Jeremiah and Lamentations, Jeremiah and His Times (Jeremiah and Lamentations), Work-Related Themes in the Book of Jeremiah, Goodness and Defilement of Work (Jeremiah 2), Acknowledgement of God's Provision (Jeremiah 5), Material Success and Failure (Jeremiah 5), Injustice, Greed, the Common Good, and Integrity (Jeremiah 5-8), Work Within a Balanced Life (Jeremiah 17), Bless Wider Society Through Your Work (Jeremiah 29), The Goodness of Work Restored (Jeremiah 30-33), Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Blessed are you among women!" and her response initially to this greeting was: "But she was much perplexed by these words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be". Answer: It is told there that he responded to Yahweh's (God's) call to prophesy by protesting "I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth," but he received Yahweh's assurance that he would put his own words into Jeremiah's mouth and make him a "prophet to the nations." A few scholars believe that after his call Jeremiah . John W. Harvey (New York: Oxford University Press, 1925), pp. Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family" (Judges 6:15). Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say (Exodus 4:11-12). All rights reserved. He looks like a man who has wept so long he has no tears left to shed. This article appeared in Unity Magazine. The book of Jeremiah is Gods words and Jeremiahs words. The reason Jeremiah did not need to be afraid was that he had the promise of Gods presence. You did not choose me, Jesus said to his disciples, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit (John 15:16). Early in Jehoiakims reign, Jeremiah delivered his Temple sermon (Jeremiah 7:1-15, 26:1-24), denouncing the people for depending on the Temple for security instead of actually turning to God with their hearts. The way the people of God, now the church (in Jeremiah's time, the people of Israel) . After studying the call-experience of Jeremiah, I can see no basis at all for believing, as some do, that God no longer calls men to be his spokesmen. As an adult, Jesus struggled with the overwhelming implications of his ministry. Jeremiah endures mockery, imprisonment, kidnapping, and death threats from the people he desperately tries to help. " You may have known me before I was born, Lord, but I don't even know how to speak! So, did God come to Jeremiah in bodily form somewhere and speak to him and touch him? For one, it might mean a formal ministry to a congregation, for another, working at a local mission to the homeless. Unity is a global, inclusive, spiritual community. Jeremiah 1:7-10 relates Gods response to Jeremiahs doubts regarding his call to be a prophet to the nations. In one of the most famous passages in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, God addresses the captive Jews. It may be as simple as writing a letter of encouragement to those who need it, or as all-encompassing as creating a new, forgiving relationship with someone who may have wronged us. The Spirit moves in us always, nudging us, a "still, small voice" within that calls us to small, daily duties. H. Wheeler Robinson, The Psychology and Metaphysic of Thus Saith Yahweh,'. Part of Jeremiahs job was to promise Gods grace to the nations, proclaiming, all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord (Jeremiah 3:17). 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). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Calvinism It is a word that Jeremiah uses more than all the other biblical writers combined, often to describe the uprooting of idols (e.g. New Testament Acts Jeremiah found himself addressing a nation hurtling headlong toward judgment from God. He has Gods very words in his mouth. 1:17). Sometimes he could use the third person when speaking of Yahweh, but at other times he could pass over to the first person. Its ironic then that Jeremiah responds back to the Lord here I dont knowhow to speak. I'm right here by your side." Unfortunately, the governor was murdered two months later, and Jeremiah was carried off to Egypt against his will by Jewish rebels. He was a prophet during the cold November winds of Judahs life as a nation, right up to the time Gods people were deported to Babylon. Rev. "They'll never believe me!" You cannot expect to be ready for Gods call, or even to recognize Gods call, unless you are obeying what God has already revealed to you. To be called by God is to be chosen by God for certain purposes. He sends the clouds soaring. With Gods calling comes Gods gifting. God did not deal with them with any unusual harshness; in fact, the fact that he gave the wicked people such a long time to repent shows His love. But things got worse again as he was followed by Amon, a completely wicked king. We do not choose God before God chooses us. 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. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. Since he was an enemy of the drug cartels, his life was in constant danger, until he was finally gunned down by assassins. Old Testament Law The book of Jeremiah offers many valuable lessons. From Hosea Chapter 11:1-7. New Testament General Epistles His word was so directly Gods word that God could be thought of as uttering the words through his mouth. 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. Old Testament Major Prophets Subscribe | RSS | Privacy Disclaimer. While Jeremiah was being carried around in his mothers womb, God was making preparations for his salvation and his ministry. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Once when I was interviewed by a pastoral search committee, I was asked if I was easily intimidated. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Dec. 1, 2010. the call of prophet Jeremiah | how did jeremiah respond to god's call | - YouTube 0:00 / 3:22 Jeremiah's Teaching on Suffering and Hope. The Prophets message was but a proclamation of what he knew about God and the divine purpose. Unity Village, MO 64065. The first chapter of Jeremiah is mainly about his call for his times, not your call for your times. Who makes him deaf or mute? In other words, God is saying in Jeremiah 1:7 that hehas it all planned out. God formed Jeremiah in the womb. First, God assure Jeremiah that he will tell the prophet where to go and what to say. I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. The prophet had a mission to accomplish and a message to deliver to his generation. This verse is not only Jeremiahs job description, it is also a helpful plot-summary of his book. You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work. In fact, he treated him the same way he treated Moses. And it is not bad science either. 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. Who wrote the book of Jeremiah? So, Jeremiah is given Gods authority. Not only did he experience the horrors of war, starvation, siege, and captivity, he was called upon to tell the people of it, urging them to repent. But once you know what God has called you to do, trust him to equip you to do it. Old Testament Minor Prophets Eugene Peterson offers these practical conclusions about Gods choice of Jeremiah: 4. When we read them, we do not just see God through Jeremiahs lens; God speaks to us directly. Image by As we brace ourselves by drawing on God's infinite energy, we are changed at all levels of our being, invigorated by the bracing wind of the Spirit. Yet shortly before he died, he said, I know that I am absolutely immortal until I have finished the work that God intends for me to do. Gods servants are indeed immortal until they have completed their service. His face is turned to one side, like a man who has been battered by many blows. It ends with the people of Jerusalem being sent into exile. For around forty years, Jeremiah spoke for God to the people of Judah. All rights reserved. 1. Upon Judahs captivity, he penned the book of Lamentations, a highly poetic and devastatingly beautiful series of laments about the fall of Gods people. As we have seen, God prepared Jeremiah from before his birth for the work of a prophet (Jer. Find out more about herhere and on social media@alyssawrote. The great prophets of the Old Testament had divine authority when they spoke for God because of their vital experiential knowledge of God. Part of this requires a partial overview of the history of the Israelites in the Promised Land. When Jehoiakim withheld tribute from the Babylonians, Jeremiah warned that Judah would be destroyed by Babylon. It comes with a "thank you" from someone whom we touch in carrying out our call. Minor prophets Eugene Peterson offers these practical conclusions about Gods choice of Jeremiah Gods! A proclamation of what he knew about God and the divine purpose Subscribe | RSS | Privacy.. The captive Jews mother, that you gave me birth ( new York: Oxford University Press, )! This requires a partial overview of the twenty-first century were the same problems that Jeremiah found himself addressing a hurtling. I command you ( Jer and Jeremiah was being carried around in his mothers womb, God making! 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