Bun in the Oven

Scriptures to Read

Jeremiah

1:1-10

Jeremiah

1:11-19

Jeremiah

2:1-9

Jeremiah

5:1-13

Jeremiah

7:1-11

Jeremiah

8:18-22

Jeremiah

11:1-10

I am so glad for an oven with a glass in the door and a light inside. It gives me opportunity to view the cake as it is baking. I can see it begin to pull away from the sides of the pan without having to open the door and risk upsetting the baking process. I want to spend time looking at the Prophet Jeremiah. In His Own special and unique way, God looked upon Jeremiah as he was growing in his mother's womb. Jeremiah could not see himself as a prophet and protested in two ways. He said he could not speak and noted he was only a youth. Moses also protested when God called him by saying he could not speak. It seems ironic to me that those who are called to speak for God and actually have a good deal of ability say they cannot speak and those who seem to have much less ability want to do a lot of speaking. I think Jeremiah was a relatively quiet and shy young man but ultimately he prophesied for God for 40 years, before five kings: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehioakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, all from the same basic family. Josiah was a good king and desired to reform Israel from their wicked ways. I think Josiah and Jeremiah were actually friends and got along together well, perhaps because they both loved God and wanted to serve Him. The other four were not godly and of course they frequently opposed Jeremiah. It seems Jeremiah was a combination. He was of the priestly family and was called to be a prophet for God. If I were in that position, it would seem easier to be a priest. Their duties were basic, consistent, and pretty much routine. The duties of a prophet, were to do whatever God told him to do. Sometimes those things were pretty bizarre. He did not say it but God seemed to anticipate Jeremiah was fearful of the call. So, God makes His promises to Jeremiah: "Fear not the faces of your opponents, for I will be with you to deliver you." Then God did a lovely thing. He reached out His hand and touched Jeremiah's mouth, saying, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth..." You might remember, when God called Isaiah one hundred plus years before, Isaiah protested that he had unclean lips. God's angel took a burning coal from the altar and put it on Isaiah's lips. I'd much rather have God put His hand on my mouth than a burning coal. But this is pretty much how Jeremiah's prophecy/ministry begins. God says, "I formed you in your mother's womb; I sanctified you before you were born; I ordained you as a prophet to the nations." The call is clear. Although Jeremiah protests, God overcomes those protestations. Jeremiah becomes God's spokesman. He issues clear words both of judgment and encouragement. As God puts it, "Your work will be to 'root out and pull down', to destroy and tear down,' to 'build and to plant.'" During his career, Jeremiah will clearly proclaim the judgment God intends for Judah because they have forsaken God. He will proclaim a new covenant God intends to make with His people. He will demonstrate the faithfulness of God to His people and their unfaithfulness to Him. He will declare, the depravity of man not only for Judah but for mankind. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?" (17:9) In the midst of severe judgment, Jeremiah offers hope.