SUPERSCRIPTION
The opening verse not only gives the prophet’s name, Jeremiah, but also his place of birth, Anathoth of the land of Benjamin, and his father’s name, Hilkiah.
Jeremiah’s father, Hilkiah, was of the priests who were in Anathoth. Jeremiah was of a priestly family who was born in a priestly city.
Throughout the book of 52 chapters, Jeremiah says, "The word of the Lord came to me” or “Thus said the Lord to me” or “Thus says the Lord.” The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah during the reign of Josiah, king of Judah, and concluded with the reign of Zedekiah, Judah last king before captivity in Babylon. Although Judah had three other kings during this interval, two of them, Jehoiahaz and Jehoiachin reigned for only three months each.
JEREMIAH'S CALL
The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah revealed to him that he had been chosen by God as his spokesman even before birth. READ Verse 5 and see four active verbs fittingly describe God’s part in the process: formed, knew, consecrated, and appointed.
Jeremiah's calling demanded a lot from him. He was appointed a prophet to the nations (v. 5c) and appointed (set) over the nations and over the kingdoms and his commission was to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant (v. 10). Most of Jeremiah's work was of a destructive nature.
When Isaiah was called, he did not hesitate. He said, "Here am I. Send me" (Isaiah 6:8). When Jeremiah was called, he gave two excuses why he didn't want to accept the assignment. He said he didn't know how to speak and he was too young (Jeremiah 1:6).
God refused to accept Jeremiah’s excuse and assured him he would be equipped in three ways, according to Verses 7-9.
Jeremiah was given divine authority to prophesy to Israel. Notice the charge given to him. God told him: “You shall go, and you shall say what I tell you" (Verse 7).
Jeremiah was equipped with God's presence. Verse 8 guaranteed God's divine presence when he carried out his duties.
Jeremiah was equipped with divine communication of power. The Lord put forth his hand and touched the prophet’s mouth, saying, Behold, I have put my words in your mouth (Verse 9b). God touched Isaiah's mouth to cleanse it because Isaiah was a man of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:7). God touched Jeremiah's mouth to empower him. It was God's bestowal of the gift of prophecy and touching the mouth was the point of contact for that gift.
READ HOW GOD TOUCH THE FOUR MAJOR PROPHETS. Click on the LINK below.
Two Visions
Following soon after his call, God confirmed His word to Jeremiah in two visions, a command, and a promise (vv. 11-19).
Jeremiah’s first vision was one of watchfulness. Jeremiah saw an almond tree (v. 11). God said, "I am watching (being wakeful) over my word to perform it" (v. 12). The almond tree was the first tree to “wake up” (bloom) in the early spring. Thus Jeremiah was assured that God is awake, alertly watching to see that his word is performed.
The second vision was one of divine judgment. Jeremiah sees a boiling pot, facing away from the north (v. 13). God then explains that an enemy from the north will invade Judah (vv. 14- 15) because Jeremiah’s countrymen have forsaken the true God and are worshipping idols (v. 16). The enemy would come from the north to fulfill God’s purpose to punish Judah for her infidelity and apostasy.
The young prophet now stands before his Lord, called, commissioned, and confirmed by the “watching” God who is awake to perform his word of judgment. Jeremiah was afraid of how his message would be received and he had too reason to be afraid. A command from God tells him he must prophesy judgment on his own people. God says, "But you, you shall gird up your loins, you shall arise and you shall speak to them all that I myself shall command you (v. 17).
The girding up of the loins means to prepare for action by gathering up the skirts of the flowing robe. God promises Jeremiah strength to fulfill his task. God says. "I make you…a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls… (v. 18). Like a fortified city the prophet will be kept secure; like an iron pillar he will be made strong, and like bronze walls he will be able to resist attack.
But God promised the prophet more than strength for the battle. He also promised him deliverance in the midst of battle. "They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail…for I am with you…to deliver you" (v. 19). This did not mean that Jeremiah would escape ridicule, suffering, and defeats. It did encourage him to believe that in his darkest hours the Lord would be with him and empower him to accomplish his holy mission.
JEREMIAH'S FIRST PROPHECY
Jeremiah delivered the first of his twelve prophesies that start here and continues though Chapter 25, the first half of the book. The first prophecy is divine judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. “Israel” refers to the Northern Kingdom and “Judah” refers to the Southern Kingdom.
CHAPTER 2
While you are reading about Jeremiah's oracles in chapter forms, they took place at different time in Jeremiah's ministry. Jeremiah speaks about the sin of the people, according to 2:1-37.
God will continue his indictment of Israel even to your children’s children (v. 9).
The consequences of Israel’s apostasy are outlined in 2:14-19. Israel will suffer under the hands of the Assyrians (Verse 15) and Egyptians (Verse 16).
The degenerative nature of Judah’s sin is recorded in 2:20-28 in the form of seven object lessons.
1. An ox with a broken yoke represents Israel's stubbornness who have broken God's commands.
2. An unfaithful wife who has forsaken her husband and committed adultery with numerous men just as Israel has left God and worshipped idols.
3. A choice vine has become degenerate (v. 21). Israel’s planting of a pure seed is no long healthy for Israel because of sin against God.
4. An individual washes himself with lye in an effort to remove the stain of guilt (v.22). Israel’s sin was too deeply ingrained to be removed by the strongest cleansing agent. Here Jeremiah introduces a central emphasis of his: cleansing from sin must come from within; soap (outward ceremony and the like) will not remove its stain.
5. The fifth figure is a picture of a young camel that has separated from the herd and is wandering aimlessly, crisscrossing her own path, with no definite pattern in her actions (v. 23b). Just so Israel, having forsaken her covenant God, rushes about in confusion, indecision, and frustration in pursuit of false deities.
6. Jeremiah compares Israel’s degeneracy to a wild ass running to and fro (v. 24). Because of Israel’s idolatrous passion, the nation does the same thing as a wild ass who runs wild in heat. Israel runs after her lovers, the false gods.
7. A thieif is caught in the act and not permitted to keep what he has stolen but is overcome with shame (v. 26a).
Jeremiah speaks about the sure judgment of God in Verses 2:29-37. Judah has no just complaint against God, but God had a case against them and they deserved God's judgment.
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