Jeremiah 1:4–10

Now we have Jeremiah's call in verse 4, where it says, "the word of the LORD came to me." There comes a time for every one of us when we have to move from the general to the particular. We come to value our own personal history with God Himself.

It is important to realize, deep in your own soul, that God has a message for each person, fitted to the service He has in mind. Each of us must deal with Him personally if He is to form us for that service.

Verses 4-10. "Now the word of the LORD came to me" (verse 4). The prophet is the writer, and he tells us how God called him to be a prophet. A Lord who is sovereign, all-knowing and all-powerful speaks to young Jeremiah. He tells him that He knew him already, and that his call came before he was born. God had chosen him and set him apart for the exact work he was now to take up... What comfort this sure knowledge must have been to the prophet in his hard ministry, in the persecutions he met and the suffering he went through! The Lord had called him, He knew all that would happen, and He had the power to hold him up. And He is the same Lord today, and Jeremiah's comfort is still the comfort of His trusting people.

The first time the Word of the Lord came to young Jeremiah, for he was but a child, was in the thirteenth year of King Josiah, or just a year after the eventful reformation accomplished by that good man.

It is clear that this partial repentance of the people did not suit the kind of work God had entrusted to Jeremiah. His work was truly inward, in the conscience. What drew out his expressions of grief was that Josiah's reformation had only an outward effect.

At first Jeremiah felt he was only a child. Later it must have been a great support to him to think that God knew him even before his birth, set him apart, and made him a prophet not only to Israel but also to the nations (Jer. 1:4,10)... Every servant of the Lord should have some sense of this, along with a settled conviction of the foreknowledge of God. This gives stability amid trials and testings.

The call of God to service is absolutely and exclusively a matter between God and His servant. Moses (Ex. 3:10), Samuel (1 Sam. 3:19-20), Isaiah (Isa. 6:8-9), Jeremiah (Jer. 1:5), Ezekiel (Ezek. 2:38), and John the Baptist (John 1:6) all bear clear witness to the same fact... God is the one who gives him his orders. God also gives him the message, and he must pass it on simply and plainly, adding nothing to it and taking nothing from it at all.

What was to continue was the Word of the Lord. Not Jeremiah himself so much, but what had been entrusted to him — the Word of the Lord. The Lord could do very well without any one of us, but He chooses not to do without us.

God simply spoke to him in his early youth declaring in a few precise statements why He chose to send him: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jer. 1:4-10). This is God's foreknowledge. For us it is connected with His election before the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1:4). The motives of this great plan are not revealed to us.

God knows us from the start of our life to the end of it. His verdict on us is that our own nature "is no help at all." We do well to start from that verdict. But the same God has spoken to us in the gospel about the forgiveness of sin. Because He knows everything, it is forgiveness of all sin. When God speaks to us of the righteousness of faith, He again knows everything, so that righteousness is "everlasting righteousness."

God does not choose His servants at random. Nor does He choose them because of the situation of the moment. Jeremiah and Paul served in situations that arose long after God chose them. Yet He chose them for those very situations.

With this in view, God shapes the person He will use and arranges everything in his later life. God uses all that he goes through to prepare and train him for the calling God has for him. This happens even while the man is still unconverted and knows nothing of that calling.

But to Jeremiah the Lord revealed more, "Before you were born I consecrated you." Like the apostle Paul, Jeremiah was set apart from his mother's womb (see Gal. 1:4, Acts 9:15; 22:14). Then God spoke further to him, "I appointed you a prophet to the nations," and finally, "I will send you."

"I appointed you," it is carefully added, "a prophet to the nations." Why to the nations? This special commission shows us something unusual about Jeremiah's service. We will see it confirmed again and again in this book. He was a Jew himself, and even a priest. The Jews in Jerusalem fill a huge place in his prophecy. Yet the nations hold a large place too.

These verses speak plainly of God Himself ordaining and appointing people to His service... God called and appointed Paul. Paul did not learn his ministry from the apostles who came before him. So how could they, or anyone else, ordain him? And why would he, or anyone else, need man's ordination and permission, when God, the highest authority, had already called him, appointed him, given him his gift, and taught him?

At first Jeremiah felt he was only a child. Later it must have been a great support to him to remember that God knew him before he was born, set him apart, and made him a prophet — not only to Israel, but to the nations... Every servant of the Lord should have some sense of this, and a settled conviction that God knows us beforehand. This gives stability in trials and testing.

Jeremiah expresses at once his fear. Like Moses (Exodus 4:10), he shows self-distrust. He was a child, not in the sense of a mere child, but a youth. The Greek Septuagint translates it, "I am too young." The Lord then encouraged him with the promise of His presence: "I am with you to deliver you."

Verses 6-8, 17, 18 show the great fearfulness of the prophet's spirit, which Jehovah had to strengthen in this way.

"Then I said, 'Ah, Lord GOD!... for I am only a youth.'" That is the right attitude in which to respond to God's call: a sense of complete inadequacy to answer it in oneself... There is nothing more to be dreaded in God's service than self-confidence. These are very testing matters. Some of us may have been ministering the word for many years. But if we rely on our past service or our own ability, we are bound to fail.

He was a prophet set apart for the nations. The people of God were about to lose their position as His set-apart people, and all were merged into one common ruin and exposure to divine judgment. A serious charge for one of Jeremiah's tender feelings, so open to grief and pity! But he must deliver it.

This unusual commission brings out Jeremiah's timid spirit. Jehovah's answer is, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth.'" That was not the question at all. The question was who was sending him. If a king chooses a man by his own wisdom to be his servant and ambassador, what matters to others is not who the ambassador is, but what power sends him. Those who despise are not despising the man, but despising the authority that appointed him.

Jeremiah is still young, and this God-given mission frightens him. He protests meekly, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." Moses, when much older, made the same objection when the Lord sent him into Egypt (Ex. 4:10). Amos reminds us that he was not the son of a prophet nor a prophet himself, but a simple and poor shepherd. God, however, had taken him while he was tending the flock, and had said to him, "Go, prophesy to my people Israel" (Amos 7:14-15). Timothy also was young and timid, but the apostle still wanted him along (Acts 16:3).

Isn't it true that we make similar objections? Sometimes we feel too young or too ignorant to pray in the presence of others... The years go by. We still feel too young or not good enough, so we stay silent — until middle age arrives, and then old age!

There is no need to fear the face of man when one has seen the face of God. The weakest is as the mighty when he has the words of God on his lips. Let us remember this in these days, and not faint because of our feebleness. The Lord will let none of His words fall to the ground, though spoken by faltering lips.

This unusual commission brings out Jeremiah's timid spirit. "Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.'" The Lord's answer is, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth.'" This was not at all the question, but who was sending him. If a royal authority chooses a man by its own wisdom to be its servant and ambassador, it does not matter to others who the ambassador is. What matters is the power that sends him. Those who despise him are not despising the man. They are despising the authority that appointed him. Jeremiah was meant to feel that the Lord was calling him to this office.

Jeremiah expresses his fear at once. Like Moses (Exodus 4:10), he shows self-distrust. He was but a child, not in the sense of a mere child, but a youth. The Septuagint translates it, "I am too young."

"Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.'" That is the right attitude in which to respond to God's call — a sense of complete inadequacy to answer it in oneself... In God's service there is nothing more to fear than self-confidence. These are very testing matters. Some of us may have been ministering the word for many years. But if we rely on our past service or our own ability, we are bound to fail.

As for Jeremiah, the Lord deals with him in his time of weakness. He gives him words of encouragement and words of promise. First He gives him the definite order, "You shall go" (Jer. 1:7). He had spoken in the same way to Gideon, who thought he was the least in his father's house: "Go in this might of yours" (Judg. 6:14). God says further to Jeremiah, "Whatever I command you, you shall speak." Then, calming his mind still further, He says, "I am with you to deliver you."

There was a way in which he could have been put to shame before the people. The way to avoid it was simply to "speak to them everything that I command you." If we bring our own thoughts into ministry, we must not be surprised at failure. But if we minister God's own word in the power of the Spirit, He will stand by His own word.

Isn't it true that we make similar objections? Sometimes we feel too young or too ignorant to pray in the presence of others... The years go by and we still feel too young or perhaps too inadequate, and we remain silent until middle age and finally old age arrives!

Divine principles never alter... Men like the apostle Paul have no exact copies. They had their own particular place. But the features that marked them must mark us today too, in a smaller measure. Whatever the service is, small or great, the Lord commissions us for the work He gives us as fully as He commissioned Jeremiah.

In Jeremiah 1 God settles the prophet in his office. Jehovah had appointed him to it even before his birth, so that he should carry His word to the nations. But Jeremiah's fears show at once. The Lord encourages him by the assurance of His presence. He puts His words into his mouth... Verses 6-8, 17, 18 show how fearful the prophet's spirit was. Jehovah had to strengthen it in this way.

Jehovah's answer is, "Say not, I am a child." This was not at all the question, but who was sending him. If royal authority chooses a man by its own wisdom to be its servant and ambassador, it does not matter to others who the ambassador is. What matters is the power that sends him. Those who despise him are not despising the man, but the authority that appointed him. Jeremiah was meant to feel that Jehovah was calling him to this office.

Our minds go back to poor, trembling Jeremiah, who had to meet the haughty faces of the pretentious Jews... Do not be afraid of their faces! There is nothing to fear! The position is difficult. You cannot hold it except in dependence. But once you are in it, there is not one single enemy to dread. This is true liberty and confidence — standing in the gap for the Lord, an unusual service, but no less secure.

No need to fear the face of man when one has seen the face of God. The weakest is as the mighty when he has the words of God on his lips. Let us remember this in these days, and let us not faint because of our feebleness. The Lord will let none of His words fall to the ground, though spoken by faltering lips.

"I am with you" is said to him twice (vv. 8 and 19). Every servant of the Lord should have some sense of this, and a settled conviction of God's foreknowledge. This gives stability in the middle of trials and testings. The Lord said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you"... The faithful servant may have to meet great difficulties and fierce foes. But he is encouraged like Jeremiah, whom God again tells twice not to fear (vv. 8 and 17). God would strengthen him against all opposition (v. 18), and however strong it might be, none would prevail against him. The greater the foe, the greater faith's victory becomes.

Paul heard this same voice at Corinth — the voice that had encouraged Jeremiah and Gideon. He came to that city "in weakness and in fear and much trembling" (1 Cor. 2:3). The voice spoke to him in a vision at night: "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you" (Acts 18:9-10).

Divine principles never change. We call these servants outstanding because their service was public. Yet every service for God is outstanding, even though much of it may be unseen by men... Whether the service is small or great, the Lord commissions us for it as fully as He commissioned Jeremiah.

Jeremiah expresses his fear at once. Like Moses (Exodus 4:10), he shows self-distrust. He was a child, not in the sense of a small child, but a youth. The Septuagint translates it, "I am too young." After that the Lord encouraged him by the promise of His presence, "I am with you to deliver you." Then He touched his mouth and said, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth." He was the mouthpiece of the LORD.

In the Old Testament a touch expresses God giving power to people. So it is with Isaiah (Isa. 6:7), with Jeremiah (Jer. 1:9), and with Daniel (Dan. 10:10, 16, 18). In Job's case the touch means bringing personal trial on him (Job 1:11; Job 2:5).

Isaiah's lips were cleansed, Jeremiah's were opened. Isaiah's touch was one of cleansing. Jeremiah's touch was one of power, as verse 10 shows. The LORD put His positive words into Jeremiah's mouth; He definitely put His own words there.

Jeremiah was not to speak on the basis of what he had in himself. God put out His hand and touched the young man's mouth, saying, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth." God would reveal things to him, and he must pass them on to others faithfully.

All Jeremiah's words, as a prophet, were absolutely God's words; that is what it means to be as God's mouth.

This man was a prophet, and he was to speak on behalf of God. That is why we venture to call verse 9 his consecration. Consecration means the "filling of the hands". In other words, it is God's own equipment for carrying on His service, and we each need to be equipped like that.

Deuteronomy speaks of a coming "Prophet", and the very words used there are applied to Jeremiah, though they point clearly and first of all to the Lord. It says, "I will raise up for them a prophet like you (Moses) from among their brothers, and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him" (Deut. 18:18). Of Jeremiah we read, "The LORD said to me, Behold, I have put my words in your mouth" (Jer. 1:9)… It is easy to understand, then, why Jeremiah had such a leading place in the mind of an Israelite. It also explains why, when our blessed Saviour was here, some thought He was "Jeremiah, or one of the prophets" (Matt. 16:14).

It is marvellous grace on God's part that He should put His words into our mouths. But it is also a challenging matter… We may be sure of this. If God has put His Word into our lips, and we speak it, there will be results for His glory and for the blessing of the saints. God has said it "shall not return to me empty."

One may have a good knowledge of the Scriptures and yet not have a specific word from the Lord… To speak for the sake of speaking can bring a destructive element in among the saints of God… Waiting until you are sure of a definite word from the Lord brings an atmosphere of power and blessing.

This unusual commission brings out Jeremiah's timid spirit. "Then Jeremiah said, Ah, Lord Jehovah! I cannot speak, for I am a child." Jehovah's answer is, "Do not say, I am a child." This was not the question at all — but who was sending him. If royal authority chooses a man in its own wisdom to be its servant and ambassador, it makes no difference to others who the ambassador is. What matters is the power that sends him. Those who despise him are not despising the man, but the authority that appointed him.

The meaning of this commission is that Jeremiah was chosen to be the announcer of the troubles and judgment that were coming upon all nations. God would surely carry out every threat that Jeremiah pronounced upon them. So He speaks of the prophet as if he were the one pulling down and planting and building and destroying, according to the prophecies that God gave him to speak.

Isaiah's lips were cleansed, Jeremiah's were opened. Isaiah's touch was one of cleansing. Jeremiah's touch was one of power, as verse 10 shows. Jehovah put His own positive words into Jeremiah's mouth; He definitely put them there. That is important. We might get help from a concordance. We might get help from written ministry. But that is not necessarily the Word of God put into one's mouth.

Verse 10 shows that the word of the Lord in Jeremiah's mouth was to have a twofold effect... We need to avoid a ministry that only tears down. In his letter to the Galatian believers Paul spoke very sharply about Judaism. He was on the line of pulling down. But his aim was to build them up in the liberty of Christianity.

Now who are they over whom the Lord has watched, to pluck up, to break down, to afflict, and to destroy? Are they not the same people He here promises to watch over, to build, and to plant? And can there be any question that it is of the literal Israel that both are said?

Man — Jeremiah himself — would not have arranged his path this way. His was a timid spirit. He would have been glad to go off alone to a shelter in the wilderness, and there weep his life away for the daughter of his people. But God chose this man of tender feeling to carry His terrible announcements. He made the one who prayed for Judah with the deepest feeling learn that nothing could stop the ruin.