Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.”
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
The word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, tilted away from the north.”
Then the Lord said to me: Out of the north disaster shall break out on all the inhabitants of the land.
For now I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, says the Lord; and they shall come and all of them shall set their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its surrounding walls and against all the cities of Judah.
And I will utter my judgments against them, for all their wickedness in forsaking me; they have made offerings to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.
But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them.
Deeper Dive into the Passage
Jeremiah 1 is a profound passage that marks the calling of Jeremiah as a prophet. Jeremiah’s reluctance due to his youth highlights a common biblical theme: God often chooses the unlikely or the humble to fulfill divine purposes. This reflects the idea that God’s strength is made perfect in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Jeremiah’s initial hesitation is relatable, showing that divine callings can be daunting. The vision of the almond branch is significant. In Hebrew, the word for almond tree is “shaqed,” which sounds like “shoqed,” meaning “watching.” This play on words underscores God’s vigilance over His word and His people. It reassures Jeremiah that God is attentive and active in fulfilling His promises. The boiling pot tilting from the north symbolizes impending disaster from northern kingdoms, likely Babylon. This imagery serves as a warning to Judah about the consequences of their unfaithfulness. It reflects the historical context of rising threats from powerful empires during Jeremiah’s time.
Today, Jeremiah’s call can inspire those who feel inadequate or unprepared for their roles. It reminds us that God equips those He calls. The almond branch can symbolise hope and assurance that God is ever watchful. A modern example might be a young leader feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities but finding strength in faith and community support. While the account of Jeremiah’s call is likely stylised to convey theological truths, it reflects historical realities of prophetic ministry in ancient Israel. The themes of divine calling and protection are consistent with other biblical narratives.
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.”
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
The word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, tilted away from the north.”
Then the Lord said to me: Out of the north disaster shall break out on all the inhabitants of the land.
For now I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, says the Lord; and they shall come and all of them shall set their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its surrounding walls and against all the cities of Judah.
And I will utter my judgments against them, for all their wickedness in forsaking me; they have made offerings to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.
But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them.
Deeper Dive into the Passage
Jeremiah 1 is a profound passage that marks the calling of Jeremiah as a prophet. Jeremiah’s reluctance due to his youth highlights a common biblical theme: God often chooses the unlikely or the humble to fulfill divine purposes. This reflects the idea that God’s strength is made perfect in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Jeremiah’s initial hesitation is relatable, showing that divine callings can be daunting. The vision of the almond branch is significant. In Hebrew, the word for almond tree is “shaqed,” which sounds like “shoqed,” meaning “watching.” This play on words underscores God’s vigilance over His word and His people. It reassures Jeremiah that God is attentive and active in fulfilling His promises. The boiling pot tilting from the north symbolizes impending disaster from northern kingdoms, likely Babylon. This imagery serves as a warning to Judah about the consequences of their unfaithfulness. It reflects the historical context of rising threats from powerful empires during Jeremiah’s time.
Today, Jeremiah’s call can inspire those who feel inadequate or unprepared for their roles. It reminds us that God equips those He calls. The almond branch can symbolise hope and assurance that God is ever watchful. A modern example might be a young leader feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities but finding strength in faith and community support. While the account of Jeremiah’s call is likely stylised to convey theological truths, it reflects historical realities of prophetic ministry in ancient Israel. The themes of divine calling and protection are consistent with other biblical narratives.
