Title: Jeremiah's calling and God's encouragement
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Jeremiah received a vocation at the age of 20 and lived as a single man, and he ministered for 50 years at the end of Judah, the period of the reign of wicked kings that is hard to find except King Josiah. Naturally, his message was not welcomed, and he The people rejected his prophecy. However, he preached the word of God without making any concessions, and in fact, his ministry was already predicted in the scene where he is called in today's text. He confessed that he was too short to bear the office of a prophet (v. 4). But God held him by saying, “I will be with you, and I will save you” (verse 8). He further reassured him by telling him that he would put the word of God in his mouth (verse 9). As a result, Jeremiah boldly proclaimed God's judgment to a sinful world, but his prophecies were rejected by the people. But God has promised that I will be with you in the end, but they will not prevail against you (verse 19).
On the other hand, in the text, the process of invitation and rejection of this calling, and the process of God's encouragement in responding to the calling, is explained in detail. This is to reveal the fact that the incident was Anyway, Jeremiah rejected God's call at first, but eventually obeyed, and he fearlessly preached God's word of judgment. The clearest passage of his mission is in verse 10, where
“Uprooting, destroying, ruining, and overturning” means that Jeremiah will proclaim God’s judgment against a sinful world. And when he says that he will build and sow, he will also prophesy of God's salvation and restoration. But, as you can see, he was forced to deliver more negative than positive messages, yet he delivered all these messages in absolute obedience.
beginning of the word
Jeremiah was a prophet who mourned the suffering of the chosen people of Israel enough to be known as the prophet of tears, and was heartbroken because of their sins. He acted as a prophet of God in the darkest and darkest period of the nation for about 40 years until Judah was completely destroyed by Babylon at the end of the southern kingdom of Judah. He was a prophet who continued to refuse to listen to God's voice and wept as he looked at the people of Judah, who were drowning in their sins, even though judgment was right before them. In fact, at first he rejected this when he was called to be a prophet of God's judgment. Myself
The reason why I was afraid to carry out the mission of a prophet by saying that I was a silver child was because the prophecy of God's judgment was so terrifying and painful. However, in the end, he obeyed God and delivered the message of God's judgment and salvation with a truly bitter and aching heart and a sad love for Israel. Here, we realize what a person who is called should be worthy of, and that God encourages those who obey their calling.
1. When God calls you, you must obey absolutely (verses 1-2).
“The word of the Lord came to me” God is a speaking God. That's why he comes with the word. We meet God in the Word. The Hebrew word for 'Word', davar ( ), includes not only words but also 'actions'. Jeremiah delivered the message not only through sermons, but also through symbolic actions. We, too, must be obedient not only by listening to the sermon, but also by our actions.
At first, Jeremiah tried to avoid God's call by saying, "I am a child." But God said to Jeremiah, who wanted to escape from his calling, “Do not say, ‘You are a child,’ to whomever I send you, you go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak” (verse 7).
That's right. When Jehovah God, the Creator of heaven and earth, speaks to us, all we have to do is obey these words. Even today, my lack of ability or lack of knowledge is not a problem in the sight of God who leads all things in the universe according to God's will. It is because if Almighty God is with us, even if we are like a stick, God's power and work can be revealed through me.
Therefore, the most important thing for believers is to come forward only in obedience to God's call to us. This is because when God gives us a mission, He gives us the power and strength to carry out that mission.
2. The worthy appearance of the one who is called must be absolutely trusted by listening to God's encouragement (vv. 6-8).
The time Jeremiah was called and was active was on the verge of the destruction of the southern kingdom of Judah. Although King Josiah struggled to restore the fortune of the nation during a brief religious reformation, the end of the southern kingdom of Judah was not far off. It was in this situation that Jeremiah had to proclaim the destruction of his country. Therefore, Jeremiah must have been in great emotional pain as he had to prophesy while looking at the crumbling country.
So, at first, he said he was a child and did not answer the call. “I am a child” How can a 20-year-old young man be a child? The Hebrew word for ‘ai’ is ‘naar’ ( ). Rather than literally teaching children, he is an inexperienced and ignorant young man who is not fit for the prophetic office. But God said that I have called you by name, and you are mine. And God told him not to be afraid, because he was with him.
“Do not be afraid,” he said. We must fear God. But you shouldn't be afraid of anything else. God said, “Do not be afraid, my servant Jacob” (Jeremiah 46:18). This is the word that God gave to Abraham and all the patriarchs who were called by God, and after that, through the history of Israel, it goes down to the Revelation of the New Testament. “The fear of man is a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be safe” (Proverbs 29:25). Fear not, for I am with you. After that, Jeremiah eventually began to fully trust the Word of God. He went wherever God told him to go. I completely trusted God to be with me.
The most precious blessing that believers receive is that God is with me. Both Moses and Joshua gained strength when they said that God was with them.
Let's look at Moses. Exodus 3:12 “I will certainly be with you, says God.” God said, “I will send you to Pharaoh, and you will bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt to me.” Then Moses said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” This is what God said, “I will be with you.” When Moses died, and Joshua succeeded him, God said, “Is not this what I commanded? Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, yea, I will uphold you with my righteous hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
3. Therefore, those who are called must speak the word of God boldly (verses 9-10).
God said to Jeremiah, “Whatever I command you, you shall speak.” Even if it was a prophecy about the destruction of his homeland Israel, he had to deliver these words. If I preached these words, I could be stoned, or I could be caught and go to jail. However, he had no choice but to preach these words no matter what happened to him because God had said it. This is the proper attitude of the called. Those who have been called must preach whatever God wants them to say regardless of the content. Even if it is something that my common sense does not understand, even if it can cause me to die, I have to convey the word. In fact, Jeremiah was threatened with death at times (11:21) and was also accused of being a patriot (37:4-15). But he spoke the word of God boldly and literally. And through Jeremiah, God carried out the work of God's judgment and salvation. How diligently are we preaching the gospel that the Lord wants us to preach today?
It is the application of the Word.
Please believe that the Lord wants us to preach God's will to the world today. And believe that He wants to use us for this work. God wants to use our lips today for the salvation of all people. He wants us to go out and preach the gospel of the kingdom. How actively do we obey God's call today? We must carry the gospel of the Lord wherever God wants us to go. No matter what tribulation and difficulties we may face as a result, we must go forth boldly, trusting that the Lord is with us, and preach the word of God that can kill or save lives. Please believe that we are called to this very work.