Jeremiah 1

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Jeremiah 1:1-19 (KJV) 

1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that [were] in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: 

Jeremiah's father was a priest. This verse tells us who he is, who his father was, the position his father held, and the tribe he was a member of.

2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah under the reign of King Josiah in the 13 years of King Josiah's leadership.

3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. 

Jeremiah's message lasted for many years; his message continued throughout 11 years of the exile which lasted 70 years.

4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 

God spoke to Jerimiah.

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 

God had a plan for Jeremiah before he was ever placed in the womb and when he was born God himself sanctify or made Jeremiah suitable to carry out his word. God told Jerimiah I have set you apart to stand before the governments of the people.

I believe that God calls certain people from the womb to carry out His assignments to go against strong and powerful leaders. 

Jesus was placed in the womb to carry out an assignment. I believe that certain leaders are born just to carry out what God would have nations to hear. When you find a child like this, that child is set apart and is different.  John the Baptist was another person that was called from the womb to carry out an assignment to speak against many.  Samson and Samuel were also called to carry out the Will of God to lead in a capacity that required separation for God from birth.

6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child. 

God did not call Jeremiah because of his age. Jeremiah thought that his age had something to do with his calling. Jerimiah told God I'm too young and unable to speak. Perhaps Jerimiah never heard of a child his age speaking or he did not remember how God used the prophet, Samuel, as a child.

7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I [am] a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 

Jeremiah said that God told him, don't tell me that you are a child, because I am going to send you and wherever I tell you to go, go, and I will also tell you what to speak.

This is how we know God is sending us to carry his message. It has nothing to do with age it has altogether to do with saying exactly what God said to say.

8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I [am] with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 

God knew that some of the people that Jeremiah will come against will have hard faces, or was known to be people that others would be afraid to speak to, but God told Jerimiah don't let that scare him.

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 

God spoke to Jeremiah and gave him his specific assignment, then God touched the mouth of Jerimiah.  God use Jeremiah's mouth, God used Joshua's hands, and God used Moses' leadership to carry out his orders.

10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. 

God told Jeremiah I am going to use to dig up, pull down then destroy, throwdown then build-up, and plant. Jeremiah has his work cut out for him. Here is a list of things that God told Jerimiah to do: root out, pull down, destroy, throwdown, build, and plant.  Jeremiah was told to get the land ready and rebuild.  Whenever God tells us to destroy something it is because he wants something else in that place.

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. 

God asked Jeremiah a question, he asked Jeremiah what do you see?  Jerimiah answer the question. If God asked us a question answer request only.

12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. 

God told Jeremiah what he saw was correct. God told Jeremiah I will quickly do what I know to do.  When we learn how to answer God according to his questions, I believe that God can quickly say I can use you.

13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof [is] toward the north. 

God came back to Jeremiah and ask another question, he said Jeremiah what are you saying? Jeremiah answered and said something different. Jeremiah said, I see a pot that is boiling and something is spilling from the north side of the pot. Again Jeremiah answered God according to His question.

14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 

God proceeded to speak after Jeremiah's response, the meaning of what Jeremiah saw. God told Jeremiah that people from the north who are evil will come upon the children of Judah to do them much harm.

15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. 

God said I am going to control these evil people who are coming to come against Judah. Judah has not listen to me, and I will bring this evil upon them.

16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands. 

Because Judah has disobeyed me I will allow these evil people to control them. They continued to sin and now I will bring judgment.

17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 

God has now given Jeremiah his assignment.  God instructed Jerimiah to get up and prepare to go to work and save what I said and don't let anybody make him afraid and if you do I will make you ashamed.  The word of God says if we are ashamed of his word he will make us ashamed.

18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 

God told Jeremiah I am your support nobody will harm you. Not a king, not a prince nor a priest neither people; again nobody will come against you.  No matter how strong they think they are they will not harm you.

19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I [am] with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

God told Jeremiah they will fight against you, but they won't win because I the Lord God will fight for you and deliver you.