God's Promises To Jeremiah

God’s Promises to Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:11-19

Last week, we saw how God commissioned Jeremiah. Jeremiah was at

first reluctant to go and preach. He understood that his message would be unpopular. He knew that other prophets had been killed before him. After

God commissions Jeremiah as a prophet, God gives Jeremiah 3 promises. These promises have important practical implications also for us today.

3 Promises:

1. The almond tree (v.11-12). Because we don’t know the original language we don’t see the play on words. The budding of the almond tree anounced

the coming of spring. It was one of the first trees to bud. Jeremiah would do ministry under some very difficult circumstances. It would not always look at

though God was at work. Jeremiah needed to be reassured that God is at work to fulfill His word. That is what God is saying here. He’s saying the

promises he has made and the warnings would all be fulfilled. He’s pointing back to promises and warnings such as in Deut 30:15-20. He told the people

plainly that if they persisted in idol worship that they would go into exile. He had warned them through many prophets. Now, God was at work at keeping

His words.

2. The boiling pot (v.13-16). The pot was coming out of the north. Babylon was a nation in what is now Iraq. The army from there would travel north

and then down into Judah with a feriousness not seen very often in history. God is saying to Jeremiah that He is going to judge and discipline His people

for their sin. God isn’t going to continue to look the other way. This is a warning to us--- God has unbelievable patience and longsuffering, but a day

of judgment comes. God is Holy. He can’t allow disobedience to go on indefinitely.

The main sin that God accuses the people of is idolatry. They have forsaken Him and turned to idols that their hands made. (Jeremiah 2:5) Even

though they knew the words and deeds of God they rebelled and worshipped other gods. God said to them “You have as many gods as you have towns, O

Judah; and the altars you have set up to burn incense tot hat shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.” (11:13)

3. The city, a pillar and a wall (v.17-19) God doesn’t leave Jeremiah to do this ministry alone. God strengths Jeremiah, so that he can be faithful. God assures him again of his protection. See also Jeremiah 15:20.

Glenda Fulton Davis once said:

“It’s not always easy to smile and be nice.

When we are called to sacrifice

It’s not always easy to put others first

Especially when tired and feeling our worst.

It’s not always easy to do the Father’s will

It wasn’t so easy to climb Calvary’s hill

But we as His children should learn to obey;

Not seeking our own but seeking His way

It’s not always easy to fight the good fight

But it is always good and it is always right.

“Jeremiah made the right decision and as a result became one of the most unpopular prophets in Jewish history. Measured by human standards,

his ministry was a failure, but measured by the will of God, he was a great success. It isn’t easy to stand alone, to resist the crowd, and to be out of step with the philosophies and values of the times. Jeremiah lived like that for 40 years.” Warren Wiersbe.

Jeremiah took up his cross and denied himself and followed after the Lord. (Matt 16:24,26). He took himself off the throne of his life and did what

God wanted and not what he wanted. He gave the people God’s word and not his own. We are called upon to make the same type of sacrifice. To deny

self, to put Christ on the throne of our lives and to live for Him.

Some things to remember from this passage

1. God’s Word is reliable and trustworthy. What God says will happen will happen. Maybe not in our timetable, but He is always faithful to keep His

word.

2. God disciples His children when they sin. Hebrews 12:5-6

3. God calls us to take up our cross and deny ourselves and follow Him