Topical Bible: Jeremiah: The Prophet: Call of

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Jeremiah, one of the major prophets of the Old Testament, was called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah during a tumultuous period in their history. The call of Jeremiah is a significant event that marks the beginning of his prophetic ministry, which is characterized by themes of judgment, repentance, and restoration.

Divine Appointment

The call of Jeremiah is recorded in the first chapter of the Book of Jeremiah. It is a profound moment where God reveals His sovereign choice and purpose for Jeremiah's life. The narrative begins with a personal encounter between God and Jeremiah, emphasizing the divine initiative in the prophet's calling. The Lord declares to Jeremiah:

"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." (Jeremiah 1:5)

This verse highlights the preordained nature of Jeremiah's mission. God had chosen and consecrated Jeremiah for his prophetic role even before his birth, underscoring the belief in God's omniscience and sovereign will.

Jeremiah's Reluctance and God's Assurance

Jeremiah's initial response to God's call is one of hesitation and self-doubt. He expresses his inadequacy by saying:

"Ah, Lord GOD, I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!" (Jeremiah 1:6)

Jeremiah's protest reflects a common theme among biblical figures who are called by God; they often feel unworthy or ill-equipped for the task. However, God reassures Jeremiah, promising His presence and protection:

"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. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 1:7-8)

God's assurance to Jeremiah is twofold: He will provide the words Jeremiah needs, and He will be with him to deliver him from any danger. This divine promise is a recurring theme in the Scriptures, where God equips and empowers those He calls.

Symbolic Actions and Empowerment

To further affirm Jeremiah's calling, the Lord performs a symbolic act:

Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth." (Jeremiah 1:9)

This act of touching Jeremiah's mouth signifies the divine impartation of God's words to the prophet. It is a powerful symbol of the authority and authenticity of Jeremiah's message, as he speaks not on his own behalf but as a mouthpiece for God.

Commission and Vision

God commissions Jeremiah with a daunting task, outlining the scope and nature of his prophetic ministry:

"See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant." (Jeremiah 1:10)

This commission encapsulates the dual aspects of Jeremiah's mission: to pronounce judgment and to proclaim hope. The imagery of uprooting and tearing down, alongside building and planting, reflects the transformative power of God's word through Jeremiah.

In a subsequent vision, God further confirms Jeremiah's call by showing him an almond branch and a boiling pot, symbolizing the imminent fulfillment of God's word and the coming judgment from the north (Jeremiah 1:11-14).

Conclusion

The call of Jeremiah is a foundational moment that sets the stage for his prophetic ministry. It underscores the themes of divine sovereignty, human inadequacy, and divine empowerment. Jeremiah's life and message continue to resonate as a testament to the faithfulness of God in calling and equipping His servants for His purposes.

Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 1:4-19
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Prophet --His Youth and his Call.
... of his earliest consciousness as a prophet but formed by Jeremiah only after years
of experience revealed all that had been involved in his call; or that it is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/lecture iii the prophethis youth.htm

Jeremiah's Call to do a Hard Task
... I have appointed you to be a prophet to the nations." But I((Jeremiah) said: "O ... For
I am about to call all the kingdoms of the north, and they shall come ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/jeremiahs call to do a.htm

The Man and the Book.
... to Jeremiah in the days of Josiah, son of Amon, King of Judah, in the thirteenth
year of his reign. This covers only the narrative of the Prophet's call in Ch. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/lecture i the man and.htm

Jeremiah and Lamentations.
... The book of Jeremiah is composed principally of sketches of biography, history and
prophecy, but the events and ... I. The Prophet's Call and Assurance, Ch.1. II. ...
/.../chapter xvi jeremiah and lamentations.htm

The Poet.
... for estimating the range and character of Jeremiah's activities as a prophet, we
must ... such important passages as those which recount his call, or represent ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/lecture ii the poet.htm

What Jeremiah and Zephaniah Have, by the Prophetic Spirit, Spoken ...
... put down those predictions about Christ by the prophet Zephaniah, who prophesied
with Jeremiah. ... a tongue, and to His offspring, that they may call upon the ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 33 what jeremiah and zephaniah.htm

Jeremiah
... A member of the Levitical priesthood, Jeremiah had been trained ... ordained from birth
to be "a prophet unto the nations;" and when the divine call came, he ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 34 jeremiah.htm

Jeremiah
... striking peculiarities of the book of Jeremiah that much ... the narrative portion,
sometimes the prophet speaks himself ... in the account of his call (i.), sometimes ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/jeremiah.htm

The Return of the Exiles
... Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I ... number of the
years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 45 the return of.htm

False Civilization
... They never became what we call civilized: though they had a civilization of ... one of
the sons of the Rechabim spoken of by Jeremiah the prophet'"who when ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon vi false civilization.htm