Lessons From Jeremiah – Part 3 – Jeremiah Commissioned; Two Visions; And God Demands Action Series

LESSONS FROM JEREMIAH – PART 3 – JEREMIAH COMMISSIONED; TWO VISIONS; AND GOD DEMANDS ACTION

PART 3 – Jeremiah 1:9-17

CHAPTER 1

{{Jeremiah 1:9-10 Then the LORD stretched out His hand AND TOUCHED MY MOUTH, and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, TO PLUCK UP AND TO BREAK DOWN, TO DESTROY AND TO OVERTHROW, TO BUILD AND TO PLANT.”}}

I was in the tropical rainforest recently near my home after consistent heavy rain and the water was streaming down the paths and from the higher ground becoming stronger as more little water channels joined the flow. In some areas there was a chasm where a month before, you could walk across a tiny bridge built for bicycle riders.

So much material is carried away and deposited lower down or more often, out to sea by the rivers. In time (a long period of time [sorry young earthers!]) the rainforest ranges are eroded away and new land is built up in other places. The old material on the sea bed can be subjected to heat and pressure to form metamorphic rock, and can be pushed upwards by plate tectonics. The land is in a constant state of change.

When I was thinking about all that as I was watching the water rushing in the rainforest, the way God works became evident. God breaks down and rebuilds. Among the nations He plucks up and breaks down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” Verses 9 and 10 above say God was going to do this by His word through Jeremiah.

[A]. JEREMIAH IS COMMISSIONED

Sometimes just the faithful word of the Lord alone is sufficient, but at other times God’s touch is needed, and in this case the Lord touched Jeremiah’s mouth. It was a confirmation and an assurance for Jeremiah. In Isaiah’s case, a burning coal from the altar was needed for his lips as God gave him the words for his mouth also. Isaiah was the fiery prophet of judgement, and Jeremiah was the tender, compassionate prophet of his people. For one, the burning coal of fire was needed, but for the other, just the touch of the Lord’s hand.

I suppose there are countless stories of ways the Lord uses to commission His servants. It would be most interesting if someone ever collated these calls to service. Moses was confronted by a burning bush. Paul was arrested by the Lord on the Damascus road. Matthew was sitting at a tax office when the call came to him. Simon and Andrew were casting a net and James and John were mending nets.

Jeremiah was appointed to the task affecting nations and kingdoms but we are also appointed with authority in society and families. Jeremiah had that authority in verse 10 to pull/pluck up, to break down, to destroy, to overthrow, to build and to plant. His prophecies would be against nations and would speak of destruction and overthrow and restoration. In our lives, and in our church life, and in our family life, and in our society’s life, we have the same authority as God directs us, but not to the same extent that Jeremiah was appointed to.

May we count for much in our service for the King of Kings. We need to listen and obey and to have confidence in the Lord, and go forth! Sadly some go half-heartedly, some like the esteem of the call, some start well but end up apathetic about their call. Others are faithful to the commissioning call from the Lord Jesus Christ, faithful all their lives.

[B]. THE VISION OF THE ALMOND ROD

{{Jeremiah 1:11-12 The word of the LORD came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” and I said, “I see A ROD OF AN ALMOND TREE.” Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I AM WATCHING OVER MY WORD TO PERFORM IT.”}}

God has declared a concrete truth set for all time and eternity – {{Isaiah 55:10-11 “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth. IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”}} There is nothing more powerful than God’s word that breaks the rock in pieces. The word of the Lord created the whole universe. His word will perform the purpose for which it was given and entrusted into the hands of faithful men.