Approaching studies within Jeremiah, instead of trying to follow chronologically, which is difficult with this book, for roughly the first half of the book, the first 29 chapters, we will instead only produce studies within their appropriate chapters, theming them as follows:

• Jeremiah’s Calling                     Ch.1
• Jeremiah’s Main Message        Ch.2,3,5,7,21,22
• Jeremiah’s Action Parables      Ch.13,18,19,27
• Jeremiah’s Opposition              Ch.11,12, 14,18,20,26,28
• Jeremiah’s Message of Hope   Ch.3,23,24,25,29

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

Passage: Jer 1:1-3     Jeremiah’s Calling (1/4)

1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

A. Find Out:

1. What was Jeremiah’s father? v.1a
2. Where did he live? v.1b
3. What came to Jeremiah? v.2a
4. When did it first come? v.2b
5. Through the reign of how many kings? v.2,3
6. Until when did he keep receiving it? v.3b

B. Think:

1. What sort of background would Jeremiah have had?
2. Look up the following to get an idea of the sort of kings he dealt with:  2 Kings 22:1,2 / 2 Kings 23:36 ,37 / 2 Kings 24:18,19
3. What sort of man must Jeremiah have been to cope with these kings?

C. Comment:

In these opening verses we should note three important things.

First, Jeremiah’s background: a son of a priest (v.1). His upbringing would have taught him much about the Lord. Soon he wasn’t just going to know about God, but know Him personally. That is God’s desire for each one of us, that we don’t merely know about Him, but that we know and encounter Him personally.

Second, we see the kings during whose reigns he prophesied (v.2,3). Josiah was generally a godly king who sought to turn his people back to God. His sons who followed him were not the same! Jeremiah spoke to each of them and to the nation throughout their reigns.

Third, we note that he continued until the people went into exile into Babylon (v.3c) – a tragic time when God removed the people from their land in judgement. The people had not heeded Jeremiah’s warnings which had come again and again, but that was not his responsibility, as we shall soon see. Jeremiah, like us, had to speak God’s word; how they responded to it was up to them! Don’t take on the responsibility for how others respond!

D. Application:

Ask the Lord to help you be aware of the nature of the times in which you live, so that perhaps He may be able to take and use you in speaking to others about Him.

Passage: Jer 1:4-10 Jeremiah’s Calling (2/3)

4 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 set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’

6 ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am too young.’

7 But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am too young.” You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.

9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.’

A. Find Out:    

1. When did the Lord say He knew Jeremiah? v.5a
2. When did the Lord say He had set him apart? v.5b
3. What had the Lord appointed him to be? v.5c
4. What was Jeremiah’s one concern? v.6
5. Why did the Lord say he needn’t be afraid? v.8
6. What did the Lord appoint him to do? v.10

B. Think:

1. What do we learn about the origin of Jeremiah’s calling?
2. What have we seen about the purpose of his calling?
3. What have we seen about the equipping for his calling?

C. Comment:

In these verses the Lord calls Jeremiah and says that He has known him from the first moments of his being (v.4,5). This calling to be a prophet is not sudden, it has been in the mind of the Lord all along. Jeremiah can therefore rest in the knowledge that God is in sovereign control of his life.

In Eph 1:4 we are told “He chose us in him (Jesus) before the creation of the world” which means that WE who are Christians can know the same as Jeremiah: our lives are not an accident but are in the plans of God. We may not be clear what they are yet but we should be able to rest assured of His calling. This is a fundamental truth that we each need to receive: if I am a Christian, God knew me from before birth! (Read Psa 139:13-16 and ponder on Rom 8:28).

Jeremiah’s worry was over his ability to do what was required of him (v.6). In this the Lord reassured him that: a) HE was with him (v.8) and b) He was putting His words in Jeremiah (v.9).

The ministry he would have would destroy evil unbelief and idolatry and build up faith and courage. It would also bring literal destruction as well!

D. Application:

1. Thank the Lord that He HAS called you and knew you even before He  made the world and you are therefore special to Him.
2. Thank Him that He will provide all you need.

Passage: Jer 1:11-15    Jeremiah’s Calling (3/4)

11 The word of the Lord came to me: ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’

‘I see the branch of an almond tree,’ I replied.

12 The Lord said to me, ‘You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.’

13 The word of the Lord came to me again: ‘What do you see?’

‘I see a pot that is boiling,’ I answered. ‘It is tilting towards us from the north.’

14 The Lord said to me, ‘From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,’ declares the Lord. ‘Their kings will come and set up their thrones
    in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
    and against all the towns of Judah.

A. Find Out:

1. What did the Lord ask? v.11,13
2. What did Jeremiah say he saw first? v.11b
3. What did the Lord say He was watching to see? v.12
4. What did Jeremiah see the second time? v.13
5. What did the Lord say this signified? v.14
6. How would this happen? v.15

B. Think:

1. For what was Jeremiah commended?
2. What 2 things did the Lord tell him He was going to do?
3. Why do you think the Lord used pictures instead of just telling Jeremiah directly?

C. Comment:

There are two things to be noted here: first what was happening to Jeremiah and second the meaning of the pictures.

First, as to what was happening: the Lord is testing Jeremiah to see if he is being observant. The Lord gives him a picture (v.11) and then sees if he has really taken in what is in it. With the branch, it is not just a branch but a branch of an Almond tree. With the pot (v.13) it is not just a pot but a pot tilting away from the north.

When the Lord gives pictures, He is careful about the detail, so we should be careful to take note of it as well. One of the marks of a prophet is that he listens and takes in all the Lord says.

Second, the meaning of the pictures. An Almond tree grew very quickly and so the Lord goes on to say that He is not just saying words, but He is saying things that are going to happen SOON, so He is keeping a watch to see it soon fulfilled (v.12). He then announces that He is about to bring judgement by using the people from the north (v.14). By using pictures the Lord will make it more memorable to Jeremiah. These two pictures will be the basis of all that is to come in his ministry.

D. Application:

1. Thank the Lord for the careful and gentle way He was teaching Jeremiah.
2. Thank Him that He treats us the same.

Passage: Jer 1:16-19    Jeremiah’s Calling (4/4)

16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people
    because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
    and in worshipping what their hands have made.

17 ‘Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.

A. Find Out:

1. What was Jeremiah to do? v.17a
2. What was he to say? v.17b
3. What was he NOT to be? v.17c
4. How had the Lord now made Jeremiah? v.18a
5. Who was he to stand against? v.18b
6. Why would they not overcome him? v.19

B. Think:

1. How would Jeremiah have opposition?
2. What, by inference, might he have felt?
3. How did the Lord say Jeremiah would overcome?

C. Comment:

Here we see the Lord instructing, warning and encouraging Jeremiah. First, the Lord INSTRUCTS him only to say what he is told by the Lord to say (v.17a). That seems a fairly simple job doesn’t it! The practical difficulty is to be sure that what we have heard IS, in fact, the Lord. However, having done that the very real temptation we must avoid is, in our enthusiasm, to add to it.

Second, the Lord WARNS him (v.17b) not to fear the people (that would be unbelief – believing the people are more powerful than Almighty God!), or the Lord would have to reveal Himself in such a way that Jeremiah himself would fear (God’s greatness brings fear to all men). The fact that He warns Jeremiah not to fear indicates that there will be something to fear! When the Lord says He will give us grace, patience or whatever, it means we are going to need it! He explains that the leaders and the people will fight against him.

Third, the Lord ENCOURAGES him by saying that He, the Lord, had made Jeremiah very strong (consider the descriptions in v.18) and would also rescue him from anything they tried to do against him (v.19). We, similarly, need each of these things as we serve the Lord in our daily lives.

D. Application:

1. Thank the Lord that He promises protection and provision for us.
2. Thank Him that He WILL be with you today.