Why would a servant of God persevere in ministry when few respond in faith, when there is great opposition to the work and the servant faces the prospect of violence or even death? The only answer is the servant’s awareness that he has been called by God. A very striking example in the Bible is the prophet Jeremiah. We consider Jeremiah 1:1-19 Called to be a prophet.
1. The context of ministry
Verses 1-3 offer information on the identity of Jeremiah and the historical setting in which he ministered. He was from a priestly family, although we do not know if he ever exercised priestly functions. From his earliest days he would have been exposed to |God’s Word. Note the combination ‘The words of Jeremiah’ (v1) and ‘The Word of the Lord’ (v2) – they describe the same message – both man’s word and God’s word (not a mixture of the two). Jeremiah’s message is ‘God-breathed’ (2 Timothy 3:16). It ‘came to him’ at God’s initiative. He ministered in the final years of the Kingdom of Judah (627-587BC), ending with the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. The kingdom descended into chaos until God’s judgment fell.
2. The call to ministry
Jeremiah’s call is reported in v4ff. We do not know how ‘The word of the Lord came’ to him. Some kind of visionary experience may be described in v11ff. Although this concerns chiefly Jeremiah’s unique ministry, there are elements that apply to all Christians called to be witnesses.
- Sovereignty: From v5 it is clear this is the Lord’s doing. Long before birth God had chosen Jeremiah. ‘I knew you’ – the language of relationship. It is he who sets apart and appoints to his service. This is full of assurance for God’s servants.
- Commission: Jeremiah’s initial response was reluctance – he is overwhelmed by what is required. A proper awareness of our limitations is appropriate as long as obedience is not hindered. The Lord is gentle but firm (v7-8). He also adds an assurance of his presence – ‘I am with you’, the assurance all his servants need (Matthew 28:20). In v9-10 the touching of the mouth is a reassurance of the divine commission. Jeremiah’s task has a negative element, ‘uproot…tear down’, exposing the nation’s sinful ways, but also a positive element, ‘build…plant’. Both areelements in faithful gospel witness. Neither may be neglected.
- Visions: The visions of v11-16 relate to Jeremiah’s ministry. ‘Almond tree’ (v11) sounds like ‘watching’ – the Lord will watch and ensure that his word is fulfilled. The ‘boiling pot’ (v13) is a symbol of judgment which the Lord will pour out on the unrepentant.
3. The challenge of ministry
‘Get yourself ready!’ (v17) – hard work is required. Jeremiah (and we) could be intimidated by the opposition to be faced but note the solemn warning if we succumb – ‘I will terrify you before them’. God’s estimate of us must outweigh man’s opinion. We are in a spiritual battle (v19; cf Ephesians 6:10ff). We have a great promise: ‘I am with you and will rescue you’. The path will not be trouble free, but the Lord’s servants are never finally defeated.