by Back several months ago, my husband preached a message on Jeremiah. I have not been able to get Jeremiah off my mind. While reading the first chapter, there were a few thoughts that amazed me about Jeremiah’s obedience.
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Jeremiah was young when he knew he would be the Lord’s prophet. In my mind, I had always pictured Jeremiah with grey hair, wrinkles and a cane. I guess kind of like Charlton Heston as Moses in the old Ten Commandments movie, but according to the verse below – Jeremiah was young.
Jer. 1:7 “But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee…”
How old was Jeremiah? I am not sure, but he thought of himself too young and unworthy of this call from God. Nevertheless, he obeyed. Even though he was somewhat reluctant because of his youth, he obeyed and that is what matters most. This shows us that God can use people of any age. We just have to be obedient to God’s commands like Jeremiah.
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Jeremiah had the Lord’s promise of protection.
Jer. 1:8 “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee…”
In our years of service, my husband and I both have been afraid of the faces of the receivers of God’s message. Many faces have been daunting at times. As one reads Jeremiah, there is no doubt that the Israelites had scarry faces countless times towards Jeremiah. However, God promised Jeremiah protection and he gives us protection from the scarry faces as well. We just have to be obedient and get God’s Word out to lost and dying souls and not worry about their scarry faces or nasty words.
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Jeremiah was given a job to do. Many messages have been preached to Christians that sometimes we are in a time of preparing the field or soil for a harvest. That sometimes the Word is ripping up the rough soil (the hard hearts) and making ready the ground for planting God’s Word. This was the job given to Jeremiah and he obeyed.
Jer. 1:10 “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.”
Note: When I read this verse, I marked beside it in my Bible. “It says nothing about harvesting.” So, I believe from this first command of God is where Jeremiah knew he would not see much fruit for his labours. Jeremiah knew he was going in with God’s Word to rip up and destroy hardened, stubborn, and sinful hearts. Even if this was the only thing Jeremiah knew he would be doing – Jeremiah was still obedient to preach God’s Word.
Question: Why is Jeremiah’s obedience so noteworthy? It would have been easy to go to an established church (or city for Jeremiah) with hundreds or thousands of people, already serving the Lord. Not much obedience is required in a situation like that but to go preach where no one wants you – now that is another story and that is the story of Jeremiah. His obedience to do what no one else would want to do is a great encouragement to us all.
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The message Jeremiah had to deliver was not good. It was bad news no matter how one may sugar coat it.
Jer. 1:14 “Then the Lord said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.”
Jer. 1:16 “And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me…”
Notice the “all?” When God says “all” or “everyone,” he means all and everyone. No one is left out. Jeremiah did not preach a joyful and happy message but one of doom and gloom, but he was obedient in delivering that dismal message. We need to be obedient and at times we just may have to say to someone, “If you do not get saved, you are going to hell.” Yes, that is dismal, but that may be what it takes to wake up some people.
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Jeremiah also knew the people would be mean, hateful, and fight him for the message he would bring. But he still obeyed.
Jer. 1:19 “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.”
Jeremiah also knew ahead of time; he would suffer physical persecution. But our wonderful Lord gave him comfort and said, “I am with thee” and “to deliver thee.” Knowing he would suffer persecution; Jeremiah still obeyed and went to preach God’s Word.
There is so much to learn about Jeremiah, but I will stop here with a simple thought, “How obedient are you to God’s Word? You know what you should be doing. Are you doing it?”
I believe the main thing God wanted us to know about Jeremiah is that he was obedient. “How obedient are you to God’s commands?”
“If God were to name a book of the Bible after you” – like he did Jeremiah – “would it be because of your obedience?” There were books of the Bible named after women, Ruth and Esther. “Would your name be there as the name of a book?” I challenge everyone to “Put your name as the title of a book in God’s Word. What would he write about you? Would God name a book after you with the soul theme as obedience?”
