Meet Jeremiah
The book of Jeremiah begins like this: “My name is Jeremiah. I am a priest, and my father Hilkiah and everyone else in my family are from Anathoth in the territory of the Benjamin tribe. This book contains the things that the LORD told me to say” (Jeremiah 1:1 CEV). Notice that Jeremiah, like Jesus, was both a prophet and a priest. Anathoth was 2 ½ miles northeast of Jerusalem.Meet Kings
The book of Jeremiah continues, saying, “The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. The LORD also spoke to Jeremiah while Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah and during the eleven years that Zedekiah son of Josiah was king of Judah. In the fifth month of his last year, the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives” (Jeremiah 1:2-3 NCV). Between Josiah and Jehoiakim, Jehoahaz reigned; and between Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, Jehoiachin reigned. Some think that Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin “are not mentioned, since they each reigned only three months” (TNIV Study Bible). In contrast, Josiah reigned 31 years; and Jehoiakim and Zedekiah each reigned 11 years. All five of these kings were evil, except Josiah. The phrase “the people of Jerusalem were taken as captives” refers to the Jews being taken away by the troops of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.A Death-Like Blow to Abortion
Jeremiah then says, “A message came to me from the Lord. He said, ‘Before I formed you in your mother's body I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart to serve me. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations’” (Jeremiah 1:4-5 NIRV). Our brother Robert R. Taylor made these observations on this passage: “Taught forcefully here is God’s place in the forming of a new life and that the fetus from conception onward is human—not a blob like tonsils or an appendix. Abortion receives a death-like blow here.” Likewise, it’s significant to note that the same Greek word (brephos) is used for a baby in the womb (in Luke 1:41) as for a baby after it is born (in Luke 2:12). A baby is a baby whether born or unborn.Youth is No Excuse!
Next, Jeremiah says, “Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak” (Jeremiah 1:6-7 ESV). Similarly, God’s word to young Timothy was, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12 ESV). An ancient Egyptian tomb bears this inscription: “We live in a decadent age. Young people no longer respect their parents. They are rude and impatient. They inhabit taverns and have no self-control.” But Scripture shows that youth can do better. No Fear
Jeremiah then records that God told him “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:8 ESV). This reminds me of what is said in the famous Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4 ESV). In the book of Matthew, we find Jesus telling us not to fear, and promising us of His presence: “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. […] And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 10:28; 28:20 ESV).Negative Preaching and Positive Preaching
Lastly, Jeremiah writes, “The LORD reached out his hand, then he touched my mouth and said, ‘I am giving you the words to say, and I am sending you with authority to speak to the nations for me. You will tell them of doom and destruction, and of rising and rebuilding again’” (Jeremiah 1:9-10 CEV). Like Jeremiah, God has given Christians His word, told them to preach it, and told them that some preaching is negative and some is positive: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim. 3:16-4:2 ESV). |
Home