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JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE JEREMIAH Day 1 Jeremiah 1:1 Jeremiah 1:1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: 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. 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. 4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am 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. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, says the LORD. 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. 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. 11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what see thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. 12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. 13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What see thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. 14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, says the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set everyone 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. 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. 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. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defensed city, and an iron pillar, and brazen 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. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, says the LORD, to deliver thee. Today I begin the study of Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet. He was the last prophet to prophesy to the people of Judah before they went into captivity. Have you ever wondered about your life, what you were supposed to do, your career, your hobbies, life in general? Jeremiah was a priest from Anathoth of the tribe of Benjamin. Two tribes belonged to Judah – Judah and Benjamin. The other ten tribes were known as Israel. God called Jeremiah to prophesy to Judah. He prophesied during the reigns of Josiah, and his sons, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. God told Jeremiah he would put his words in his mouth, and speak only what God told him to speak. God told him evil was coming from the north. The nations to the north would come against Judah and got would pour out his judgment against Judah for all their transgressions against him. Jeremiah’s initial reaction was protest, calling himself a child. God told him not to call himself a child, because he was sending him to proclaim his word to his people. As Christians, we often believe we aren’t worthy to do what God asks us to do. We believe a person must be an eloquent speaker, charismatic, someone people will listen to, but that isn’t how God works in our lives. He decides who will do his work, his way, and ordains them to go. Jesus told his disciples not to worry about the words they would speak when sent out, because the Holy Spirit would give them the words in that moment and hour. Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. (KJV) When you listen to God, and not argue with him about what he called you to do, trusting God to give you the means, resources, and words, you will fulfill what God called you to do. Even if that calling means hardship and persecution. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for giving me the words to speak. Help me trust you, no matter what, knowing there are people being persecuted and killed for standing for their faith. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 20 October 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay