How does Jeremiah 35:1 demonstrate God's communication through prophets to His people?

Verse Focus: Jeremiah 35:1

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:”

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Immediate Observations

• “The word… came” – communication is initiated by God, not by Jeremiah.

• “to Jeremiah” – God selects and appoints a prophet as His mouthpiece.

• “from the LORD” – the source is divine, giving the message unqualified authority.

• “in the days of Jehoiakim” – the revelation is anchored in real history, showing God speaks into specific moments of national life.

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What It Reveals about God’s Method of Speaking

• Divine Initiative

– God consistently reaches out first (cf. Genesis 3:9; John 1:1).

• Prophetic Mediation

– God chooses human agents (Jeremiah 1:4-10; 2 Peter 1:21).

• Authoritative Word

– What the prophet receives is “the LORD’s” word, carrying binding authority (Isaiah 55:11).

• Historical Context

– God’s messages address current leaders and circumstances, proving relevance (2 Kings 22:11-13).

• Continuity of Revelation

– Jeremiah belongs to the unbroken line of prophets through whom God spoke (Hebrews 1:1).

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The Prophet-People Chain

1. God speaks.

2. The prophet hears.

3. The prophet relays.

4. The people are called to respond.

Scriptural echoes:

• “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

• “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)

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Why It Matters Today

• Reliability: The same God who spoke then speaks with identical truthfulness now through Scripture.

• Accountability: As Judah was answerable to the word through Jeremiah, believers are accountable to the written prophetic word.

• Encouragement: God’s willingness to communicate shows His ongoing involvement with His people (Psalm 19:7-11).