Who Is In Control?

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Sovereign Lord, it is in You alone that my contentment rests. I open myself to receive Your peace.

Read Jeremiah 1:1-19

^[1] The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. ^[2] The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, ^[3] and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. ^[4] The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ^[5] “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.” ^[6] “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” ^[7] But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ^[8] Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. ^[9] Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. ^[10] See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” ^[11] The word of the LORD came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. ^[12] The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” ^[13] The word of the LORD came to me again: “What do you see?” “I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.” ^[14] The LORD said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. ^[15] I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the LORD. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah. ^[16] I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made. ^[17] “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. ^[18] Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land-against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. ^[19] They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

Meditate

“‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?'” (Jer. 23:29). We need to be open to God’s challenging words as well as to his comforting words.

Think Further

How many sermons have been preached on verses 4-6! The combination of call and commission with human objection and God’s reassurance has been paralleled in many lives. It is salutary that such call narratives in the Old Testament are invariably linked with hostility and rejection (see Exod. 3; Amos 7:10-16), situations faced by countless Christians. Indeed, the clarity of the call provides encouragement to persevere in the face of opposition and discouragement. The joining of God’s authoritative word and God’s promised presence finds a ready parallel in Christ’s commissioning of his disciples. The specifics of Jeremiah’s situation can throw light on our obeying Christ’s call.

Jeremiah’s family (1) probably descended from David’s priest, Abiathar, banished to Anathoth before the Temple was built (1 Kings 2:22-27). The setting there could have shaped Jeremiah’s strong emphasis on the covenant, and his “deep feeling for Israel’s ancient traditions” (John A. Thompson). Jeremiah’s coming from outside the Jerusalem establishment (unlike Ezekiel) throws into stark relief his authority as God’s messenger “over nations and kingdoms” (10) and his ultimate rescue from the Jerusalem power structures (18,19).

The opening contrasts “the word of the Lord” with “the reign” of kings (2,3). “The word of the Lord is not a romantic or floating spiritual notion … [it] is borne by the prophet, but it impinges upon the royal reality … The kings, alleged managers of the historical process, stand helpless and exposed in face of that disposition of Yahweh” (Walter Brueggemann). Knowing God’s word involves living and making known his purposes for his people, the nations and all creation. That is what prevails, not “burning incense to other gods” or “worshiping what their hands [or mind] have made” (16) or even the potentially terrifying opposition of others (8,18,19).

Apply

In the light of the record of God’s commission to Jeremiah, reflect on what Christ’s commission has meant and still means to you.

Closing prayer

Lord, I lift up to You those facing fierce opposition because of their obedience to Your call. Empower and enable them to stand firm and faithful for You.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

Yesterday’s reading

View all readings

Tomorrow’s reading