Soul Searching

Jeremiah 1: 1 – 19

Soul Searching

1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. 4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” 11 Moreover 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.” 12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.” 13 And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north. 14 Then the LORD said to me: “Out of the north calamity shall break forth on all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I am calling All the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says the LORD; “They shall come and each one set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, Against all its walls all around, And against all the cities of Judah. 16 I will utter My judgments Against them concerning all their wickedness, because they have forsaken Me, burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them.18 For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the LORD, “to deliver you.”

Today we are going to start our study in the book of Jeremiah. I think it is a perfect time for us to study this amazing book. The area of Interest in which we will look at closely not only covers the nation of Israel over 3000 years ago but speaks volumes about what is happening in current Israel. In addition, although the United States was not picked out as our Holy Father God’s elect people we all know that our country was established by His Grace for many of our ancestors had come here to flee religious persecution.

So, as we go through these chapters I am going to point out how the same vile sins that the Jews had committed against our Holy and Loving Father God, all the countries around the world are presently doing the same today.

In addition, our Lord is going to address the Israelites who were at one time His people. Thus, we as Christians should also pay attention to what the Lord’s charges are against them.

A recent survey study was conducted around the US which asked people what religion did they claim? The answer at first startled me in that the survey came up with the result that 87% claimed that they were Christian. To follow up with this group the survey pursued some more questions such as;

. Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God?

. Do you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin?

. Is Jesus Christ God?

. Is there a Trinity – 3 Holy Ones in 1 God?