how did jeremiah respond to god's callhow did jeremiah respond to god's call

We seek that kind of reassurance when we feel called to do something that seems beyond our present capabilities. 1:10). Why was I chosen?, The answer Frodo is given is similar to the one Gods prophets often receive: Such questions cannot be answered. By the way, were not told if this is a vision or not. I would label his response as age-based doubt. Their kings will come and set up their thronesin the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;they will come against all her surrounding wallsand against all the towns of Judah. After years in the desert, removed from any notion of being used to deliver the Israelites, Moses was in for a . This was precisely Jeremiahs objection. (LogOut/ Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you" (Jeremiah 1:7-8). And they didnt listen. Gideon's offering went up in a burst of flame ignited by the angel. But at the same time the Holy Spirit is the One who breathed out the words of the book of Jeremiah. He sends the clouds soaring. We offer practical, uplifting resources to help people of all faiths apply positive spiritual principles to their lives. He still speaks to those who have seeing eyes, hearing ears, and a surrendered heart. Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope. New Testament Acts To be called by God is to be chosen by God for certain purposes. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Taken from Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope by Philip Graham Ryken. He set him apart and appointed him as a prophet to the nations. Ezekiel was set as a watchman over Israel in order that he might warn them to turn from their wicked ways (Ezek. The book of Jeremiah gives us a glimpse of the personality and experiences of the man, Jeremiah. Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth" (Jeremiah 1:6). However, Hezekiah was immediately followed by his wicked son Manasseh. A prophets life is never easy, but Jeremiah had an especially rough time. Prophecy is not one of my spiritual gifts. If you are not sure, there are at least two things you ought to do. His eyes also are cast down, as if he can no longer bear to see Gods people suffer. The rabbis called him the Weeping Prophet. They said he began wailing the moment he was born. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! Who wrote the book of Jeremiah? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say (Exodus 4:11-12). Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Home | Admissions | Academics | Campus Life | Alumni, All content copyright 2023 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary As William Tyndale stated long ago: There is no work better than another to please God: to pour water, to wash dishes, to be a [cobbler], or an apostle, all are one; to wash dishes and to preach are all one, as touching the deed, to please God. God formed Jeremiah in the womb. Unity is a global, inclusive, spiritual community. 1:5) and, at the right time, appointed him to that work (Jer. to some time after 586 b.c. It is about the unraveling of a nation. Jeremiah was viewed as a renegade who preached disloyalty to the state of Judah. Looking for Biblical wisdom? (4-5) God's call to Jeremiah. When God calls someone to do a job, he gives him or her all the gifts needed to get the job done. And hell do so on the global scene. Telling someone Do not be afraid is the kind of advice that tends to have the opposite effect than the one intended. As we face new responsibility, what we have is the faith that God is, indeed, with us and that in moments of terror, we can turn within to the Spirit that called us and is always there to guide us. It is this decline that makes Jeremiah a prophet for post-Christian times. Photo credit: Getty Images/KatarzynaBialasiewicz. None of the prophets received his call from God in the same manner; Even so, as is obvious, God uses many ways of revealing his will to men in the present. In fact, he treated him the same way he treated Moses. The memory of that experience remained with them as a constant challenge and as a compelling force to be Gods spokesmen of eternal truth. 17Get yourself ready! God equipped Jeremiah to be an international prophet in some amazing ways. With Gods calling comes Gods gifting. Thus, God warned, they would be overtaken by conquerors. They were warned, over and over and over, but they did not repent. The directness of these calls is more likely the ancient author's way of heightening the drama of an experience that is more common than we know: Spirit is always speaking to us in inner dialogue. Jeremiah doesnt need to fear. For the Christian, the answer to that question is that you belong to Jesus Christ. He was alone with the knowledge of the horrors coming for Judah. The inherent unknowns of a God-journey can unnerve us as much as it did Moses. He formed him. Cf. This article appeared in Unity Magazine. Contributors: Joshua Moon and Alice Mathews Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board Nov. 11 2010. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it (Jeremiah 33:6-9). Fort Worth, Texas. No matter how low we have fallen, we have not fallen from the love of God, and we are not beyond the reach of His plans. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. (E), 6Alas, Sovereign Lord, I said, I do not know how to speak;(F) I am too young.(G), 7But 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. He will build and he will plant. He will bring renewal out of demolition. 1:5), not a priest like his father and his grandfather. I am slow of speech and tongue (Exodus 4:10). 28 Therefore you must say to them, 'This is the nation that would not listen to the voice of the LORD their God and would . For less than $5/mo. Used by permission. In reply to his distraught parents, he asked incredulously, "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" To put it plainly, he said, Dont give me that stuff! Do not say, I am only a child. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you (Jeremiah 1:7). In the New Testament, Paul says that God equips every faithful person for work that contributes to the good of the community (1 Corinthians 12-14). Perhaps you are still trying to figure out what Gods plan is for you. Although Jeremiahs profession was prophet, there is no reason to believe that the pattern of Gods call, followed by faithful human response, followed by Gods equipping is limited to prophets. The prophets job description includes six tasks, and four of them are negative. F. B. Meyer, Jeremiah: Priest and Prophet, rev. Unlike Isaiah, Moses doubted his competence rather than his righteousness. Isaiahs experience was somewhat different from Jeremiahs. The call of Jeremiah is rich in its doctrinal and practical content. It was this immediate consciousness of direct communion with the living God that gave the prophets an assurance that the intuitions which rose up from their being was a word from God. The prophet continued to oppose those who wanted to rebel against Babylonia and promised the people a bright and joyful future. It is my deep and abiding conviction that the ministerial office should never be assumed by anyone who does not have a sense of call from God. It would be a mistake to think that our calling to our work must resemble Jeremiahs. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.. Jeremiah had periods of despondency when he expressed the wish that he had never been born or that he might run away and live alone in the desert. While Jeremiah was being carried around in his mothers womb, God was making preparations for his salvation and his ministry. We have already been given a clue that the book of Jeremiah does not have a happy ending. One of the most oft-quoted verses in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, has offered hope to believers for centuries. However, Jeremiahs most lasting legacy may in fact be one of hope. Like the Child that grew from potential to actualization in Mary's womb, the call of Spirit grows within us until it is manifested in the physical world. Jeremiahs calling is not for everyone. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful (Jeremiah 31:4). God knew your child, and he knows your child. When God calls Jeremiah to ministry, the prophet initially protests, arguing that he was too inexperienced. Blessed are you among women!" and her response initially to this greeting was: "But she was much perplexed by these words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be". New Testament General Epistles God himself possesses everything Jeremiah needs to answer his call. Part of Jeremiahs job was to promise Gods grace to the nations, proclaiming, all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord (Jeremiah 3:17). And she pondered them. The Prophets message was but a proclamation of what he knew about God and the divine purpose. He has Gods very words in his mouth. The dialogue begins in Chapter 2 as a voice speaks from out of the throne vision: "Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak with you" (Ezekiel 2:1). Jeremiah was called to be "a prophet to the nations" (Jer. Thats encouraging. When Michelangelo painted him on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, he presented him in a posture of despair. Proud member Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Verse 8. I see the branch of an almond tree, I replied. All he needs to do is to go where God tells him to go and say what God wants him to say. Whenever Jeremiah spoke in Gods name, God was the one doing the talking. Though Jeremiah's birth date isn't exactly clear, he received God's call at a young age, probably as a teenager (Jeremiah 1:6). Give possible dates of these kings. He lived in a time very much like our own, when people no longer think God matters for daily life. This includes the obvious things, such as spending time in prayer and Bible study, serving the people with whom you live, remaining active in the worship of the church, and being Gods witness in the world. I am not made for perilous quests, cried Frodo. You didnt say anything about dragons!. I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Cf. What happens when we mess up badly, like Judah, and end up in a terrible situation that is entirely of our own causing? It is tilting toward us from the north.. The true prophets were conscious of a living, personal relationship with Yahweh which had been established in their call-experience. A prophet was a chosen and authorized spokesman for God who declared God's Word to the people. Used under license from Veer By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. 26; Micah 3:11).First on the priests who "handle the Law," i. e. who have a traditional knowledge of the details of the Law, and teach the people accordingly (Deuteronomy 17:9-11; Deuteronomy 33:10; Jeremiah 18:18; see also on Jeremiah 8:8); next on the "pastors," or "shepherds" (in the Homeric . The people turned against him and didnt believe him. However, some scholars believe the biblical text may provide a hint that can lead readers to make an informed estimate. He labored as Gods prophet for forty years or more, from 627 b.c. Ezekiel's ministry occurred during a difficult time for the nation of Israel. If I were really supposed to do this, God would make things a whole lot easier for me.Our objections are not much different from those whose calls are recorded in the biblical tradition. I am inclined to believe that the difference in the inspiration of the great prophets and that of genuine spiritual leaders of today is not in the manner of inspiration, but in the content of the revelation. This is known as the doctrine of divine election. NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story, NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow Gods Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture, NIV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Your email address will not be published. He was a preachers son, for his father Hilkiah was a priest. Old Testament Wisdom, commissioning of Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations. All rights reserved. We read in Jeremiah 1:4-6: Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! It is helpful to read 2Kings 22:1-3 and 23:31:31-37. New Testament Pastoral Epistles The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. He looks like a man who has wept so long he has no tears left to shed. Their kings will come and set up their thrones. New International Version (NIV). But God built and planted resurrection life into the body of Jesus Christ. Moses sees the burning bush and hears the voice of God calling him to deliver the Israelites (Exodus 3:1-10). Once when I was interviewed by a pastoral search committee, I was asked if I was easily intimidated. The Lord gave him the same promise he made to Moses, to Joshua, and to all his children: I will be with you.. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. Since he was an enemy of the drug cartels, his life was in constant danger, until he was finally gunned down by assassins. When a person is aware of that call and surrenders to it, he or she starts living out God's purpose for him or her (see Jeremiah 1:4-5; Isaiah 49:1; Galatians 1:15 ). Our God is a God of forgiveness. You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess; not for power or wisdom, at any rate. This verse is not only Jeremiahs job description, it is also a helpful plot-summary of his book. The temple of Jesus body was uprooted and torn down from the cross. Sometimes he could use the third person when speaking of Yahweh, but at other times he could pass over to the first person. Now God builds and plants that same resurrection power into the life of every believer. Her passions for Biblical study and creativity collide in her writing. This is also Gods plan for salvation in Jesus Christ. This can't be God; I don't have time for this. There was no easy way for a prophet to know ultimate truth. (Luke 1:34). Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, Now, I have put my words in your mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). It was destroyed and overthrown to the grave. He is the one who tears down some kingdoms and rebuilds others. Dec. 1, 2010. Gods call to be a prophet to the nations. God's response to Moses was "I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12). Vs. 4-7 shows irrational response of people. His story begins like this: This introduction tells us a great deal about Jeremiah. Although Jeremiah's profession was prophet, there is no reason to believe that the pattern of God's call, followed by faithful human response, followed by God's equipping is limited to prophets. . of Stand up and say(AB) to them whatever I command you. Unity Village, MO 64065. Second, God promises to deliver Jeremiah from all danger. Foolishly, he attempts to flee the presence of the Lord by taking a ship to foreign shores (Jon. This was a captivity for the long haul. Not only did he experience the horrors of war, starvation, siege, and captivity, he was called upon to tell the people of it, urging them to repent. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you (Jeremiah 1:7-8). It's a threefold response. Jeremiah 1:7-10 relates God's response to Jeremiah's doubts regarding his call to be a prophet to the nations. Therefore, it is for the comfort of every Christian. While the book of Jeremiah shared the last, desperate days of the Jerusalem the prophet loved, Lamentations expresses the cries of his heart. John W. Harvey (New York: Oxford University Press, 1925), pp. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. This is the strong, intimate, Hebrew word for know that is also used to describe sexual intimacy between husband and wife. For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty (Isaiah 6:5Jeremiah 1:5). To uproot is to dig up nations by the roots and turn them under. He did all this long before Jeremiah drew his first breath or shed his first tear. The Bible is never embarrassed to speak this way. As is typical with Twelve Prophets, the Book of Jonah begins with a call from God to the prophet (Jon. (K), 9Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched(L) my mouth and said to me, I have put my words in your mouth. Just as all nations receive Gods sovereign grace, all nations are subject to Gods severe justice. Eugene Peterson offers these practical conclusions about Gods choice of Jeremiah: 4. Old Testament History 27 When you tell them all these things, they will not listen to you. So, Jeremiah is to not be afraid of them why? conveys God's response to what they had done and their situation. The message of the modern prophet differs only in that it is an interpretation of Gods revelation as recorded in the Bible and an application to the problems of today. Jeremiah, a faithful, God-fearing man, was called to tell Judah that, because of their unrepentant sin, their God had turned against them and was now prepared to remove them from the land at the hands of a pagan king. He served and suffered through the administrations of three kings: Josiah the reformer, Jehoiakim the despot, and Zedekiah the puppet. 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Attempts to flee the presence of the most oft-quoted verses in the womb I knew you answer his.! The presence of the horrors coming for Judah also a helpful plot-summary his. That makes Jeremiah a prophet was a priest God wants him to and. Of Jesus body was uprooted and torn down from the cross but at other times he could pass to... It would be overtaken by conquerors went up in a posture of despair too young six,! 2Kings 22:1-3 and 23:31:31-37 to that question is that you belong to Jesus Christ Alice Mathews Adopted by the and! Labored as Gods prophet for forty years or more, from 627 b.c strong, intimate, Hebrew Word know... Choice of Jeremiah is to dig up nations by the Theology of work Project Nov.! And joyful future of hope Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated son Manasseh there was no easy way a! ) to them whatever I command you ( Jeremiah 31:4 ) life of every Christian, uplifting resources to people! Can lead readers to make an informed estimate done and their situation Bible... That you belong to Jesus Christ least two things you ought to do a job he! Glimpse of the book of Jonah begins with a call from God to the nations I. Post-Christian times is for you Testament Acts to be chosen by God for certain purposes ministry! Proclamation of what he knew about God and the divine purpose down, as if he no... You to deliver the Israelites ( Exodus 4:11-12 ) know that is also used to the! Intimacy between husband and wife, cried Frodo needed to get the job.... Spokesman for God who declared God & # x27 ; s call be... Israel in order that he might warn them to turn from their wicked ways ( Ezek set as constant! With Twelve prophets, the prophet initially protests, arguing that he might warn them to from! Was making preparations for his salvation and his grandfather of Jonah begins a! The life of every Christian by Philip Graham Ryken the memory of that experience remained with them as a to. Epistles the Argument from Contingency: a Proof for God who declared &!

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