Jeremiah 1:4-19

Jeremiah 1:4-19

[4] Then the word  of the LORD  came unto me, saying,  [5] Before  I formed  thee in the belly  I knew  thee; and before thou camest forth  out of the womb  I sanctified  thee, and I ordained  thee a prophet  unto the nations.  [6] Then said  I, Ah,  Lord  GOD!  behold, I cannot  speak:  for I am a child.  [7] But the LORD  said  not, I am a child:  to all that I shall send  thee, and whatsoever I command  thee thou shalt speak.  [8] Be not afraid  of their faces:  for I am with thee to deliver  thee, saith  [9] Then the LORD  put forth  his hand,  and touched  my mouth.  And the LORD  said  unto me, Behold, I have put  my words  in thy mouth.  [10] See,  I have this day  set  thee over the nations  and over the kingdoms,  to root out,  and to pull down,  and to destroy,  and to throw down,  to build,  and to plant.  [11] Moreover the word  of the LORD  came unto me, saying,  Jeremiah,  what seest  thou? And I said,  I see  a rod  of an almond tree.  [12] Then said  the LORD  unto me, Thou hast well  seen:  for I will hasten  my word  to perform  it. [13] And the word  of the LORD  came unto me the second time,  saying,  What seest  thou? And I said,  I see  a seething  pot;  and the face  the north.  [14] Then the LORD  said  unto me, Out of the north  an evil  shall break forth  upon all the inhabitants  of the land.  [15] For, lo, I will call  all the families  of the kingdoms  of the north,  saith  the LORD;  and they shall come,  and they shall set  every one  his throne  at the entering  of the gates  of Jerusalem,  and against all the walls  thereof round about,  and against all the cities  of Judah.  [16] And I will utter  my judgments  against them touching  all their wickedness,  who have forsaken  me, and have burned incense  unto other  gods,  and worshipped  the works  of their own hands.  [17] Thou therefore gird up  thy loins,  and arise,  and speak  unto them all that I command  thee: be not dismayed  at their faces,  lest I confound  thee before  [18] For, behold, I  have made  thee this day  a defenced  city,  and an iron  pillar,  and brasen  walls  against the whole land,  against the kings  of Judah,  against the princes  thereof, against the priests  thereof, and against the people  of the land.  [19] And they shall fight  against thee; but they shall not prevail  against thee; for I am with thee, saith  the LORD,  to deliver  thee.

What does Jeremiah 1:4-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This account of Jeremiah"s call prepares the reader for the prophet"s ministry that unfolds beginning in chapter2. The events recorded here prepared Jeremiah for that ministry, a ministry that frequently discouraged him and made him wish that God had never called him.