Jeremiah 1:11-19 His Commission
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We have just started the Book of Jeremiah. As we have mentioned, Jeremiah began his ministry in the days of King Josiah, during a time of great Spiritual Revival in the land of Judah.
Josiah
Josiah
Josiah, at the age of 16, 2 Chron. 34:3 states:
In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek after the God of his father David. In the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, and the carved and molten images.
All of this was done from Josiah’s heart without any knowledge of the Scriptures. It was not until the 18th year of Josiah’s reign that the Torah Scroll’s were found in the Temple.
The Chronicler puts it this way: 2 Chron. 34:8; 2 Chron. 34:14; 2 Chron. 34:19-21
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, after purging the land and the House, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the House of Adonai his God.
While they were bringing out the silver that had been brought into the House of Adonai, Hilkiah the kohen found a Torah scroll of Adonai given by Moses.
When the king heard the words of the Torah, he tore his clothes. The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go! Inquire of Adonai for me and for the remnant in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of Adonai that will be poured out upon us—because our fathers did not observe the word of Adonai to do according to all that is written in this scroll.”
Jeremiah’s First Visions
Jeremiah’s First Visions
We read last week that Jeremiah’s Calling occurred in the 13th year of Josiah. This was 1 year after Josiah had begun the cleansing of the land, and 5 years before the Torah Scroll was found, Adonai called Jeremiah and gave him the following visions: Jer. 1:11-16
Moreover, the word of Adonai came to me, saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see an almond branch.” Then Adonai said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” The word of Adonai came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a boiling pot that is tilting away from the north.” Then Adonai said to me: “From the north, disaster will be poured out on all the inhabitants of the land. Behold! I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north.” It is a declaration of Adonai. “So they will come and each will set up his throne at the entry of the gates of Jerusalem, against all her surrounding walls and against all the cities of Judah. I will pronounce My judgments on them for all their wickedness— they have forsaken Me, offering incense to other gods, worshipping the works of their hands.
The Almond Branch
The Almond Branch
Adonai starts by testing Jeremiah, to see how well he sees. Jeremiah is shown an Almond Branch. Not a very complex vision, but Adonai is gracious to start us out slowly. When Adonai asked what he saw, Jeremiah said, מַקֵּ֥ל שָׁקֵ֖ד אֲנִ֥י רֹאֶֽה׃. “I see an Almond Branch.” He does not get complicated, nor does he attempt to interpret what he saw. He simply answers Adonai’s question. I have been warned before, that when the Almighty God asks you a question, He is not looking for information!
Jeremiah’s straight-forward answer is accepted by Adonai, who then gives Jeremiah the interpretation. Adonai promises to watch or שֹׁקֵ֥ד over His word.
We should keep in mind, that Adonai is explicitly talking about keep His written word of judgement against the Children of Israel, as Moses foretold.
Disaster from the North
Disaster from the North
Adonai now gives Jeremiah his first predictive prophesy. Judgement is coming from the North. Last time we mentioned that although Babylon is almost directly East of Judah, any army that they would send would have to come along the fertile crescent. Therefore their attack would pour out over the country from the North of Israel.
Adonai claims direct responsibility for stirring up the kingdoms (or families) of the North to come and bring judgement upon His people. Adonai states that the form of judgement will be total conquest. Because a king would only set up his throne at the gates of a conquered city.
Now in vs. 16, Adonai gives the reason for this coming judgement:
For all their wickedness,
They have forsaken Me
Offered incense to other gods, and
Worshipped the work of their hands.
Idolatry; making god in our own image; worshiping what we have created; this is the primary sin, from which all other wickedness stems. Michael Brown puts it this way:
The core issue that has incurred Yahweh’s wrath is now introduced: idolatry. This is the root of his people’s wickedness, the reason for the exile and judgement. By its very nature it is the ultimate betrayal of the Lord, since following idols meant forsaking him, and when they abandoned the worship of the Creator, they replaced it with worship of idols, burning incense to them and bowing down before the works of their own hands. From the divine perspective, this is utter folly, a despicable outrage, an ungrateful, evil act.
Jeremiah’s Commission
Jeremiah’s Commission
After calling Jeremiah, and giving him 2 visions that will form the foundation of his ministry, Adonai now commissions him to go and declare the word to the people of Judah. Jer. 1:17-19
Now, you, gird up your loins! Get up and tell them everything that I order you! Do not be terrified by them, or else I will terrify you before them. Look, today I have set you up as a fortified city— an iron pillar and bronze walls— against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes against its kohanim, and against the people of the land. Though they will fight against you, they will not win, for I am with you, to deliver you.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
“Gird up your loins.” This is a very common phrase that means “Get Ready”, or “Get your boots on”. Adonai gives Jeremiah an interesting option. He says, “Don’t be afraid of them, or else I will terrify you myself. Do what I set before you, or else you will have Me to fear!”
God encourages Jeremiah that He has established him as a unbreakable city, and declares that his ministry will be targeted at:
The whole land
The kings of Judah
The kohanim
The people of the land
And finally Adonai encourages Jeremiah that even though the people will fight against him, Adonai will be with him to deliver him!
Application
Application
How do we apply this passage to our lives?
Pray for Repentance
Pray for Repentance
I know that we are praying for revival. We are praying that the nation of Australia repents and returns to Adonai. I am also praying for the leadership of this nation, that they will fear Adonai and return to worshiping Him alone.
But, I believe one of the lessons that we can learn, is from the promise that Adonai made to King Josiah. 2 Chron. 34:23-28
She said to them, “Thus says Adonai, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, “Thus says Adonai, ‘Behold, I am bringing disaster on this place and on its inhabitants—all the curses that are written in the book that they have read before the king of Judah. For they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods in order to provoke Me with all the works of their hands. Therefore, My wrath will be poured out upon this place and it will not be quenched.’ ” But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of Adonai, thus you will say to him, “Thus says Adonai the God of Israel, ‘Regarding the words which you have heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against the inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes, and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ says Adonai. ‘Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you will be buried in your grave in shalom. Your eyes will not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitants.’ ” So they brought her word back to the king.
The same can be said for Australia. If our leaders will humble themselves before God, mourn and weep over the sins of this nation, then the Lord will be gracious to us, and forgive us, heal our land and give us one more generation of peace.
But if not, if there is no repentance, and no humility in our leaders, nor in the people of in this nation, then the same judgement that came upon Judah will come upon us. Adonai is no respecter of persons, He will watch over His word to perform it.
Sin of Idolatry
Sin of Idolatry
Adonai told Jeremiah that judgement was coming for the sin of idolatry. The same is true here in Australia today. How many people know that this month has been called “Pride Month”? I recently heard it called “Romans 1 Month”. Romans 1 does accurately describe our culture here in Australia. But many people do not realise why or how the wrath of God is poured out in Rom. 1:18-23
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. In unrighteousness they suppress the truth, because what can be known about God is plain to them—for God has shown it to them. His invisible attributes—His eternal power and His divine nature—have been clearly seen ever since the creation of the world, being understood through the things that have been made. So people are without excuse— for even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. Instead, their thinking became futile, and their senseless hearts were made dark. Claiming to be wise, they became fools. They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image in the form of mortal man and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.
The reasons for the judgement are the same, as what was expressed to Jeremiah.
Ungodliness and unrighteousness
Forsaken the truth of God
Did not glorify God
Worshipped the work of their hands
It is for these reasons that Adonai gives a culture over to the evil desires of their hearts to do what is dishonorable with their bodies. Our country of Australia has traded the truth of God for a lie, we have set up man as god, and we have abandoned the trust in the Almighty.
Therefore the Lord God Almighty has given us over to our own sinful desires, to do the things that are shameful, against nature and depraved.
Our Commission
Our Commission
We looked today at the commission of Jeremiah, and I have mentioned before that not all of us are called to be Prophets. But all of us will be called to stand and some point in time. Yeshua commissioned us to be His witnesses, Matt. 28:18-20
And Yeshua came up to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
But you will receive power when the Ruach ha-Kodesh has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and through all Judah, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
We are all called to share the Good News in our circles of influence, just as Rav. Sha’ul said to the congregation in Colossae: Col. 4:2-6
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, keep praying for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the message, to proclaim the mystery of Messiah—for which I am in prison. Pray that I may make the mystery clear, as I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer everyone.
So also we ought to:
Devote ourselves to prayer
Conduct ourselves with wisdom
Make the most of every opportunity
Speak with grace and truth
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