INTRODUCTION. Jeremiah's prophecies are introduced in the usual way by naming the kings in whose reigns he prophesied. His initial call came in the thirteenth year of Josiah, at a time when the land was prospering materially. It was five years before the discovery of the Law Book in the Temple (2 Ki... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH LEARNS THAT HE WAS CHOSEN FROM BIRTH TO BE A PROPHET TO THE NATIONS (JEREMIAH 1:4). When the ‘word of YHWH' first came to Jeremiah God informed him that he had been chosen even before he was born in order that he might be appointed as a ‘prophet to the nations'. From the very beginning he... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH'S INITIAL CALL (JEREMIAH 1:4). YHWH's initial call assures Jeremiah that he had been chosen even before he was born, that he need not be afraid that he was still young and immature (around twenty), that He would be with him to deliver him, and that his mouth was ‘anointed' for his task of... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH SEEKS TO EXCUSE HIMSELF FROM HIS GOD-APPOINTED TASK ONLY TO BE SET RIGHT BY YHWH (JEREMIAH 1:7). Jeremiah diffidently sought to excuse himself from the task to which God was calling him, seeing himself as not mature enough for it, but YHWH pushed his fears to one side on the grounds that b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIGN OF THE BRANCH OF THE ALMOND TREE (JEREMIAH 1:11). The first sign was that of the branch of an almond tree, which was an indication and assurance that YHWH would be watching over His word, as spoken through Jeremiah, so as to perform it. The almond tree budded early and was thus a reminder... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH GIVES JEREMIAH TWO SIGNS, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE CERTAINTY OF YHWH'S WATCHFULNESS OVER HIS PURPOSES, AND THE SECOND A SIGN WHICH DEMONSTRATED THE JUDGMENTS THAT WERE TO COME FROM THE NORTH BECAUSE OF ISRAEL'S IDOLATRY AND UNFAITHFULNESS (JEREMIAH 1:11). YHWH now gave Jeremiah two signs of what He... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIGN OF THE BOILING CAULDRON (JEREMIAH 1:13). The second sign was that of a cauldron full of boiling liquid ready to be poured out on Judah from the north, a vivid picture of threatening judgment. Jeremiah 1:13 ‘And the word of YHWH came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I... [ Continue Reading ]