Jeremiah Is Called by God

1:1 The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied. He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. 1:2 The Lord began to speak to him in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah. 1:3 The Lord also spoke to him when Jehoiakim son of Josiah ruled over Judah, and he continued to speak to him until the fifth month of the eleventh year that Zedekiah son of Josiah ruled over Judah. That was when the people of Jerusalem were taken into exile. Jeremiah’s Call and Commission 1:4 The Lord said to me, 1:5 “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.” 1:6 I answered, “Oh, Lord God, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.” 1:7 The Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 1:8 Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,” says the Lord. 1:9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I will most assuredly give you the words you are to speak for me. 1:10 Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.” Visions Confirming Jeremiah’s Call and Commission 1:11 Later the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 1:12 Then the Lord said, “You have observed correctly. This means I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.” 1:13 The Lord again asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a pot of boiling water; it is tipped toward us from the north.” 1:14 Then the Lord said, “This means destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land. 1:15 For I will soon summon all the peoples of the kingdoms of the north,” says the Lord. “They will come and their kings will set up their thrones near the entrances of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all the walls surrounding it, and all the towns in Judah. 1:16 In this way I will pass sentence on the people of Jerusalem and Judah because of all their wickedness. For they rejected me and offered sacrifices to other gods, worshiping what they made with their own hands.” 1:17 “But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them. 1:18 I, the Lord, hereby promise to make you as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land. 1:19 They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord. The Lord Recalls Israel’s Earlier Faithfulness

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God chose Jeremiah before he was born and sent him to speak his word. Jeremiah felt too young and unable to do it, but the Lord promised to be with him, give him the right words, and protect him. The visions showed that judgment was coming on Judah because of its idolatry, but God also said Jeremiah’s message would include both tearing down and rebuilding.

This passage begins Jeremiah’s ministry. It shows that God called him, not Jeremiah himself. The Lord says he formed Jeremiah, set him apart, and appointed him as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah objects because he feels too young and not able to speak well. The Lord does not excuse him from obedience. Instead, he tells Jeremiah to go where he is sent and say what he is given. God promises to be with him and to protect him.

The touching of Jeremiah’s mouth shows that the message comes from God. Jeremiah is not free to invent his own words. He must speak the Lord’s word.

The two visions make the warning clear. The almond branch shows that God is watching to carry out what he has said. The boiling pot from the north points to coming destruction. Judah’s sin was not small. The people rejected the Lord and worshiped idols, the work of their own hands.

The final verses give both warning and strength. Jeremiah will face strong opposition from rulers, priests, and the people. But God will make him strong, like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. People will attack him, but they will not defeat him, because the Lord will be with him to rescue him.

• God calls servants by his own purpose, not because they are naturally strong or impressive.
• Jeremiah’s authority came from God’s word, not from his own ideas.
• God’s presence is the basis for fearless obedience.
• Judgment was coming on Judah because of idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness.
• God’s message through Jeremiah includes both tearing down and later rebuilding.
• God promised to protect Jeremiah even though many people would oppose him.

• Warning: Do not fear the people to whom God sends you.
• Warning: Judah’s idolatry brought real judgment.
• Command: Go wherever God sends you and say whatever he tells you.
• Command: Get ready and do not be terrified.
• Promise: God will be with Jeremiah.
• Promise: God will give Jeremiah the words he should speak.
• Promise: God will rescue Jeremiah from those who attack him.

God was speaking through Jeremiah at a time of covenant judgment. Judah had broken faith with the Lord, so exile and disaster were coming. Yet God also promised that Jeremiah’s ministry would not end only in tearing down. His word would also point toward rebuilding and restoration.

Readers should take God’s call, God’s word, and God’s warnings seriously. This passage calls for obedience, courage, and trust in the Lord’s presence. It also warns against idolatry and self-reliance. At the same time, it should not be used as a simple promise that every believer will have Jeremiah’s exact kind of prophetic calling.

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