God Calls Jeremiah

Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to him in the days of Judah’s kings, and it continued until Jerusalem was taken away captive.

When the LORD spoke to Jeremiah, he said he had known him before he was formed in the womb and had set him apart before he was born. He appointed Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah answered that he did not know how to speak, because he was young.

But the LORD told Jeremiah not to say he was young. He must go to those God sent him to and say what God commanded. He was not to be afraid, because the LORD would rescue him. Then the LORD touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said he had put his words there. Jeremiah was set over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, and also to build and plant.

Then the LORD showed Jeremiah two visions. First Jeremiah saw a branch of an almond tree, and the LORD said he was watching over his word to perform it. Next Jeremiah saw a boiling pot tipping away from the north. God said disaster would break out from the north on the people of the land.

The LORD said families from the kingdoms of the north would come and set their thrones at Jerusalem’s gates and against Judah’s cities. This would be God’s judgement because the people had forsaken him, burned incense to other gods, and worshipped what their own hands had made. Jeremiah was told to get ready, rise, and speak all that God commanded.

God said he had made Jeremiah like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, against Judah’s kings, princes, priests, and the people of the land. They would fight against him, but they would not overcome him, because the LORD would be with him to rescue him. What do you notice about the way God prepared Jeremiah for a hard task?