Jeremiah 1:1-13 - Sermon Bible Commentary

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Jeremiah 1:1-13

I. (Jeremiah 1:4). The two great blessings of electionand mediationare here distinctly taught. God did not speak to the nations directly, but mediationally. He created a minister who should be His mouthpiece. Observation itself teaches us that men are called and chosen of God to do special work in all departments of life. The difficult lesson for some of us to learn is, that we are called to obscurity,and yet this is as clearly a Divine appointment as is the choice of an Isaiah or a Jeremiah.

II. (Jeremiah 1:6-8). It is thus that fear and confidence make up our best life. We are sure that God has called us, yet we dread to set down our feet on the way which He has marked out with all the clearness of light. Fear well becomes our mortality, for what is our strength? and as for our days, their number is small. Beautiful is modesty in its own place, but never forget that there is something which closely imitates its loveliest features, and that its foul name is hypocrisy.

III. (Jeremiah 1:9-10). You made much of your own weakness; now what are you going to make of God's strength. You may obstinately persist in looking at your own small arm, or you may piously turn to the almightiness of God, and draw your power from eternity; and upon your choice will depend your whole after-life. (1) Observe the expression, "I will put My words in thy mouth." The minister of God is to speak the words of God. (2) The tenth verse sets forth, under a personal figure, the majesty and omnipotence of truth. It is not the mere man Jeremiah who is thus mighty, even to terribleness; he is but representative and ministerial, and if he tamper with his mission he will be dispossessed and humbled.

IV. (Jeremiah 1:11-13). The power of spiritual vision is preeminently the gift of God. The power of parables, making them or reading them, is a deep mystery of the unseen Kingdom. It is the gift of sight which distinguishes one man from another.

Parker, The Ark of God,p. 170.

References: Jeremiah 1:5. C. J. Vaughan, Old Testament Outlines,p. 243.Jeremiah 1:6. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 80.

Related Commentaries of Jeremiah 1:1

Jeremiah 1:1-13

1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordaineda thee a prophet unto the nations.

6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is towardb the north.