Jeremiah 1

Jer. 1:9: “My words in your mouth”

This chapter relates God’s call of Jeremiah to be a prophet.  Jeremiah’s call was to be a prophet to the nations (v5) with the specific “target group” being the people and leadership of Judea, the remaining Southern Kingdom of Israel.  

He was called to a ministry that would be characterized by rejection of his message.  Note this: he would be rejected!  He would not have a following.  Even though …
*He was specifically chosen by God (1:5);
*He would speak with God’s authority (1:9-10);
*He would personally sacrifice much for the sake of his ministry (12:6: his siblings would turn against him; 15:17: he would have no friends; 16:2: he would not be permitted by God to marry or have children).

The fact is that God was “ready to perform (His) word” (v12) by sending a powerful nation from the north (v13-16) that would be like a pot of boiling water poured out on Judah.  The decision had been made by God back in the reign of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah (2 Kings 21:10-16).  The time had come to call the people to repentance before the inevitable and unavoidable judgment.

Is it possible there are “preachers” today whose messages have been cleansed of references to sin and judgment, to the reality of the wrath of God that is even now being revealed on earth (Rom. 1:19f), and which will be poured out in full on wickedness?  Yes, we believe that is the case.  There are few who would receive such a call as Jeremiah, to preach the realities of sin and judgment and to have few followers.  Yet, Jeremiah was faithful to preach the words that God put in his mouth.  Out of this message, be assured that God will offer grace and mercy, but few will accept it.  Jeremiah was faithful because he was not seduced by “numbers” but was obedient to God’s call in his life.

The good news of the gospel only makes sense in the context of the bad news of man’s guilt before a Holy God!  “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isa. 59:1-2)