Jeremiah - Chapter 1 - A Neo-Babylonian Prophet

This transcription is about the calling of Jeremiah as a prophet. It provides background information about the historical events happening during his time, such as the fall of Assyria and the rise of Babylon. Jeremiah is reminded that he was set apart by God even before he was born and that he is called to be a prophet to the nations. The passage emphasizes the importance of listening to and obeying God's calling. It also highlights the sovereignty and presence of God in Jeremiah's life and encourages the reader to trust in God's equipping and protection. Thank you for taking time out of your busy, busy, busy schedule to tune in with me today. If, by chance, you want to contact me, you can do that at theab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Today we're looking at chapter 1 of Jeremiah with his calling from the Lord. Thankfully, Jeremiah starts with explaining when and where the Lord placed him in the story of the Bible. Chapter 1, verses 1 through 3 say, The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth, in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, son of Ammon, king of Judah, 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. In these verses, we find that Jeremiah is from a priestly family, which should make him a Levite. His city was Anathoth, because priests did not have tribal land, but cities throughout the land of Israel and Judah, and his area of ministry was Benjamin, which was a part of Judah. King Josiah was the last good king of Israel, and his reign happened around 641 to 609 B.C. Now there were some world events that happened during this time which greatly affected the nation of Israel. In 633 B.C. the Assyrian king died, Assyria was the main world power of the area, and they were the ones who wiped out the northern ten tribes of Israel in 722 B.C. They tried to do the same to Judah, but at that time King Hezekiah, another good king of Judah, was reigning, and because Assyria defied the name of the Lord, and because Hezekiah humbled himself before the Lord, and because he sought the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord spared Judah at that time. However, by the end of his reign, word also came through the prophet Isaiah, that because King Hezekiah showed the men from Babylon all his treasures, that Babylon would come and destroy Judah, Jerusalem, and exile the king's descendants to Babylon, 2 Kings chapter 20 verses 12-21. Now that the Assyrian king had died, there were inner struggles within that nation. In 612 B.C. the capital of Assyria, Nineveh, fell mainly to Babylon with the Scythians and Medes' help. Assyria was crumbling and Babylon was growing. It was this time that Jeremiah received his call from the Lord, and then he was alive to see the destruction of Judah, Jerusalem, and the Temple. That process came through two main kings of Judah, Jehoiakim, also called Eliakim, and Zedekiah, also called Mataniah. But there were also two other short-lived kings. Before Jehoiakim, there was Jehoahaz, also called Shalom, who reigned for three months, 2 Kings chapter 23 verse 31. And between the two main kings was Jehoiakim, also known as Jeconiah or Caniah, and he also reigned for three months, 2 Kings chapter 24 verse 8. One other note, during this time, there were three times that Babylon came to Judah and took exiles, the third being when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, and Jeremiah prophesied and witnessed these events. Jeremiah wrote about his calling, and in chapter 1, verses 4 through 8, it says, The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 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. Ah, sovereign Lord, I said, I do not know how to speak, I am only a child. But the Lord said to me, Do not say, I am only a child. You must go to everyone I send you to, and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you, and will rescue you, declares the Lord. Now let's look at his calling for a minute. We do not know how the word of the Lord came to him. Did he speak audibly, did he have a vision, was it in a dream, did the Lord speak as in his head, but instead of it being third person like we talk to ourselves, was it first person? We don't know that, but we do know that Jeremiah realized it was the Lord. And ladies, when the Lord wants to get our attention, we usually know it too. The question is, will we listen? The Lord reminded Jeremiah that even before he was born, the Lord set him apart. This is where the sovereignty of God comes in. When we are created and born, we were made for a purpose. And one of the main purposes is to bring glory to the Lord. But like many of us, it takes a while to figure out how and what we are to do. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, one thing you know is that you are set apart to be like Christ. Believers in the Lord Jesus are different than the world, and we see that as we look at Jeremiah. For Jeremiah, he was appointed by the Lord to be a prophet to the nations. This makes me think of Paul the Apostle in the New Testament who said in Galatians chapter 1 verses 15 and 16a, But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles. Ladies, if you are a believer in Jesus, the Lord has set you apart. He has called you by his grace. He was pleased to reveal his Son in you, so that you will do what? For me, it's been a journey, and right now, this year, I am to do this podcast in chronological order. Sometimes, I think it's more for me than for my listeners because I've learned so much about the word of God. I also believe that it is in preparation for the next thing that I am to do, and I don't have a clue of what that is, yet, but I am learning to trust him more and more in his calling on my life. For Jeremiah, he cried, he was too young, and I cried, but I'm too old. But one thing we see in this passage, the Lord does not like excuses. When he tells us to do something, it works in our favor, ladies, if we do it. Another thing about Jeremiah's calling is that when the Lord tells him to not be afraid, there is usually reasons to be afraid, but the reason he can head forward is because the Lord will be with him, and the Lord will rescue him when necessary. In the New Testament, before Jesus ascended into heaven, he said in Matthew chapter 28 verses 18 through 20, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age. We can have confidence because the Lord does have authority over heaven and earth, the Lord Jesus is sovereign, he's the boss, and as Christians, the Holy Spirit indwells us, and he is always with us. Also ladies, keep in mind that if the Lord has called you, he has and will equip you for whatever he has called you to do. Verses 9 and 10 of Jeremiah chapter 1 say, Then the Lord reached out his hand, and touched my mouth, and said to me, Now I have put my words in your mouth, see, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms, to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant. Before something new can grow, the old must be pulled up and thrown away. In verses 11 and 12, Jeremiah sees a vision of a branch from an almond tree. For those of us who live in the Midwest, it's like watching for the tulips, daffodils, and crocus at springtime. When we see them pop out of the ground, we know that spring is coming, even if it is still winter. In like manner, the almond tree is the first to bud, to show that the change is coming. Verses 13 through 16 is a vision of a boiling pot from the north being poured out, and this represents Babylon from the north coming and disaster will be poured out on Judah and Jerusalem. Verse 16 tells us why it is coming, I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods, and in worshipping what their hands have made. If you remember, King Josiah was the last good king of Judah, and during his reign, he renewed the temple, the law of the Lord was found, and his heart was revived. He took down all the idols, and all the people who led in idol worship. He reinstated the Passover, and had the people renew their commitment to the covenant of the Lord. Also for those who have listened in order this year, we learn that Zephaniah was also a prophet during this time, and he too prophesied about the judgment of Judah. Then Dr. Betz, my Old Testament professor said in his lecture of Jeremiah, it is odd that they are going through a time of reformation, and yet this message of judgment is coming from Zephaniah, and I think what it is, is the reformation is really the heart and leadership of Josiah, and yet the people have not turned fully back to the Lord. It becomes very evident, because when Josiah dies, they turn away from the Lord quickly. Then at the end of chapter 1, the Lord tells Jeremiah, get yourself ready, stand up, and say to them whatever I command you. Then the Lord reminded him again to not be terrified by them, but then he adds, or I will terrify you before them. This makes me think of Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. It also makes me think of 1 John chapter 4 verse 4, you dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. The nations were judged because they did not fear the Lord, but Jeremiah did, and when the Lord is on our side, the sovereign Lord of the whole universe, what can man do against us? The Lord told Jeremiah that they will fight against him, but not overcome him, because the Lord is with him and will rescue him. The Lord had repeated that, so that means it is important. Ladies, what is the Lord calling you to do? If you have heard his voice today, please don't harden your heart like the people of Judah, instead let's be like Jeremiah and hear and obey. Until next time, and thanks so very much for listening.