“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.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
Jeremiah was raised in a godly, priestly home and yet he had to have his own personal encounter with the Lord.
Apostle Paul also spoke of his own call in similar terms
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles (Galatians 1:15-16)
The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 1:7-8)
Bible scholars tell us that Jeremiah was probably anywhere from 17 to 20 years old at this time. Maybe, he felt that his youth prevented him from being a good or authoritative messenger of God’s word.
God was essentially saying:
Don't say I am too young
Go wherever I send you
Say whatever I tell you
Don't be afraid of people
His Presence will be with you and protect you
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.
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.” (Jeremiah 1:9-10)
As God touched the mouth of Isaiah at his call to the office of prophet, He also touched the mouth of Jeremiah. (Read Isaiah 6)
They will fight against you,
But they shall not prevail against you.
For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.” (Jeremiah 1:19)
A beautiful promise from the Lord that came to pass in the life of Jeremiah. The enemies of Jeremiah did not prevail against him, and he served God with distinction through great trials for 40 years.We too need to claim this promise daily.
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