JEREMIAH IS THE PREPARED PROPHET – YOUTH TO GOD’S MAN
{{Jeremiah 1:1-3 “The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 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. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.”}}
THE MAN
Jeremiah introduces himself by means of his parentage, his location, and his setting. He has come to be known as “the weeping prophet” through his other writing, The Lamentations, that wail over the great loss of Judah through their sin and overthrow. This prophet is a man of great feeling and humility, the very qualities God uses in the execution of His work. The book he wrote is the longest in the Old Testament, in fact, the longest in the bible. (33,002 words in the original language, followed by Genesis). God used Jeremiah for some of the most wonderful revelations in prophecy.
FROM THE HIGHS TO THE LOWS
This prophet lived in godly and godless times. Amon was the father of Josiah and the scriptures declare he was an evil king like his father Manasseh who was the worst of all the kings of Judah. Through the grace of God Amon’s son was such a godly man. Jeremiah lived in the reign of that son, Josiah, the best king apart from David. I hope there was a good communication between Josiah and Jeremiah, but there is one mention in the book of the Chronicles where Jeremiah made a lament for Josiah when he died – {{2Chronicles 35:25 “Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah, and all the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and they made them an ordinance in Israel; behold, they are also written in the Lamentations.”}}
What a blessing it was when the best king of Judah was a contemporary of one of the greatest prophets . . . but the nation remained godless and did not heed the preaching and reforms of Jeremiah and Josiah. In the judgement, each individual is personally accountable, but that judgement will be more severe when greater light was given, but that greater light was rejected. Where much has been given, much will be required.
A RIGHTEOUS FATHER BUT EVIL SONS
Josiah’s father and grandfather were very wicked as previously mentioned. Then the sons of Josiah, three of them mentioned, were all wicked. This might seem strange in the scheme of things – one righteous man in 4 generations. Jeremiah often preached that if the nation repented then God would spare them from the severe destruction that was coming from the Babylonians but the nation refused to listen.
Generational walk with God is a great hurt for some of us. We have children who do not walk with the Lord. It is a sadness for parents. We look to the Lord and plead with Him for our children.
When Josiah was king he brought in many godly reforms but the people only paid lip service to them and once he was dead, all evil broke out again. God gave Josiah to Judah as the final appeal. It was rejected. Where do we stand in our world? God raised up evangelists and decent people in world leadership but the people turned from them and all I see now for the world is destruction (the Tribulation that is fast approaching). I am not saying president Trump was godly but he led the nation well and held back some of the wickedness his successor brought in. Since his departure wickedness is grown exponentially. Queen Elizabeth was a godly monarch. We all fear what has come with the WEF member, King Charles. Billy Graham, and the follow on evangelists, have gone. Not the world has gone past that era and can only look forward to the coming destruction.
Jeremiah also knew evil under Josiah’s sons. Why is it that a godly man can produce evil sons? Is that anyone’s fault? Jeremiah certainly knew Josiah’s sons. Refer to chapter 36. Jeremiah was witness to that same decline, and near the end begged the people to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar.
ABORTIONISTS – GOD’S JUSTICE WILL HIT YOU FULLY AS MURDERERS
{{Jeremiah 1:4-5 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”}}
Known before conception. Is this fact or fantasy? The general community idea is that it is fantasy for it is considered that the things that are conceived have no connection at all with reality until born, especially in the first few months of pregnancy. That is why abortionists are so militant about termination because it is not considered that a conceived piece of matter in the uterus has any identity or form. In fact some think there is no need to call a foetus a human being until born.
One argument from abortionists is that the foetus is legally human after birth and not before. The unborn child has no rights. It can’t speak out for itself. Governments give the unborn no dignified rights and therefore they are expendable. In Psalm 31 when David said, “My times are in Your hands,” he was more speaking of his immediate circumstances when he was being hunted like a wild animal by Saul and his enemies, but he knew God was faithful to him. However David knew it went way beyond that to the past for he also wrote this - Psalm 139:7-12 Where can I go from Your Spirit or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me and Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me and the light around me will be night,” even the darkness is not dark to You and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.”}} Those verses teach that God’s presence is always with His own children. His Holy Spirit is with is in every circumstance and in every place. That is a whole study in itself.
Because God is always with us, then it is also true that we were known to God even before conception. That is quite a revolutionary thought. Consider what David wrote here. {{Psalm 139:13-16 “You formed my inward parts. You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance and in Your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”}}
Each one of you was known and consecrated to God before conception. God knew you before conception and right through to the present. In my simple way of thinking this leaves no room for abortion. Terms are used like “aborting the foetus”, “a termination”, “a termination of pregnancy” but never a term like “killing the early human being”. God is so clear on the matter that he has placed His involvement in conception many times in the bible, and very specifically in the cases of David and Jeremiah. You will note in verses 4 and 5 of the Jeremiah verses that God uses the pronoun “I” four times. He is closely involved.
WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US AS CHRISTIANS REGARDING THE MATTER OF ABORTION?
** We must reject the notion that the conceived foetus has no rights.
** We must reject the idea that the cellular beginning of human life is therefore disposable under the name of termination.
** The destruction of innocent life in the bible is murder unless authorised by God.
** The Christian position is considered to be an extremist view, illogical, and confrontational to feminists and abortionist murderers. Christians work on the declared authority and absolutes of God. Abortionists reject that stand for they are well and truly in Satan’s hand.
** Abortion doctors in abortion clinics are mass murderers and I believe included in the list in Revelation 9 v 21. I have a separate message on SermonCentral on “Murders” from Revelation 9:20.
** The Lord Jesus Christ was conceived through the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb. That incarnation began with conception. That is the place where all life begins and God tags it right at the very start. So must we. He was personally announced in the womb before born.
** In verse 5 we read “formed”, “consecrated”, “appointed”. That was all ordained for Jeremiah even before he was formed. So it is the case for us as well. We are dealing with an eternal God here.
I knew of a young lady put out of church fellowship and shunned almost forever for becoming pregnant. That was in the 1960s. This is another issue dealing with morality, very rigid in those days, but the conceived child was sort of considered as evil as the mother and usually removed or adopted out. Today many of these have secret abortions. One moral issue is compounded by another, but a far more serious one.
We live in an age when all God’s absolutes are being turned on their heads. Murder of unborn children; sexual licentiousness; adoption of homosexuality as correct and wholesome; we are made in the image of God yet that image is ruined by drugs and many countries have drugs legalised. Even many Christians are into drugs – called recreational, but they alter the mind and allow the evil forces to gain control. Our minds must be under the control of the Holy Spirit, not opened up by drugs or alcohol to dark satanic forces. We are known by God. Honour God in all manner of holy living.
GOD’S SPECIAL CALL OF JEREMIAH
{{Jeremiah 1:6-8 Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD. Behold, I do not know how to speak because I am a youth,” but the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.”}}
{{Jeremiah 1:9-10 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”}}
Jeremiah had a long ministry. He was called as a youth and especially appointed. He was the man for his time, but that is not surprising for he was God’s man for God’s time. That is the case with all the servants of the Lord. Each one is appointed for his own time. I often think how I would like to have lived in the past in ministry when I look at the opportunities, but that is not good thinking. We are anointed by God for our own time.
The verses we have been considering form the call of Jeremiah. The three great major prophets (just excluding Daniel here) all had a call directly from God to ministry. It was momentous and definite and unforgettable. Isaiah had his call in the year of King Uzziah’s death and it is recorded this way - {{Isaiah 6:6-8 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs, Isa 6:7 and he touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” Isa 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”}} The prophet realised his own sin and his shortcomings for the momentous task ahead.
Ezekiel had his experience in chapter 1 and 2 of his written prophecy. Chapter 1 was so overwhelming in the vision of God on His throne that he fell down. Then we have this – {{Ezekiel 2:1-4 Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” Ezek 2:2 As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet and I heard Him speaking to me. Ezek 2:3 Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me, they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day, Ezek 2:4 and I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’”}}
Jeremiah’s call is the one before us, {{Jeremiah 1:9-10 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”}}
All three men were charged with a solemn responsibility. When the heavy duty and call of the Lord is on a life, how does one react? Well those who are genuinely called, realise their insignificance in the sight of God. That is humility, and humility leads to dependence. Dependence on God is the only way, and is both totally necessary and mandatory. I feel so many in ministry think they are their own man for the job. That is so wrong. Pride rules some pulpits I fear. God can not use such men.
We know our inadequacies and these defeat us. We can use our weakness as a prop. Jeremiah was a young man and the task was daunting. He felt his youth was not good enough and his words would be all mixed up and inadequate. Like Moses, he tried to excuse himself but we have to realise it is not the Mayor or a prime Minister who is appointing us to some civic or community position. Those positions come with prestige and pride. It is the living God who appoints us; who said to Jeremiah, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” It is hard to learn dependence on God because the human soul is so proud and rebellious.
Living for Christ in this sinful world is daunting especially for teens and young people where public image is so important. The Lord never sends where He has not planned, or asks unless He has gone before. Note in the passage – I am with you and He has put His words in our mouths – God will provide the very words. How many sit down and laboriously draft and redraft and redraft some message straining to “polish” some sermon as if it is to be some masterpiece to show the importance of the minister or pastor? Just hand it to the Lord for the words. This is His equipment. IF He has called, then He equips.
Jeremiah was appointed to the task affecting nations and kingdoms but we are also appointed with authority in society and families. Jeremiah had that authority in verse 10 to pull/pluck up, to break down, to destroy, to overthrow, to build and to plant. In our lives and in our church life and in our family life and in our society’s life we have the same authority as God directs you.
Only one thing is required. It is authority and there is only one authority. It is God NOT you, as some think of themselves. God’s authority is known through humility and dependence. Man’s arrogance is known through his own pride.
May we count for much in our service for the King of Kings.
As we close this message I will add a quote from something I found once on the Internet but I lost the source:
[[Jeremiah was God’s mouthpiece to preach the message of judgment and restoration.
God made a decisive call on Jeremiah’s life, and he responded in great faith. He followed the Lord in a very dangerous environment with a very offensive message. He was able to keep the faith, because God remained faithful to him to prepare, equip, and protect him. Keeping the faith is first and foremost about maintaining uncompromising loyalty to God alone.
Perhaps you can relate to Jeremiah’s sense of inadequacy, or you feel guilty for falling short of expectations. God encouraged Jeremiah to look beyond his personal capacity to His abundant resources. The Lord has given us everything we need to serve Him faithfully. Prayerfully consider this verse today: {{2Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”}} We will not be perfect, but we can be faithful!]]
May we all be humbled before the God of all true calling and sufficiency.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
