About the Book of Jeremiah & Jeremiah 1

About the Book of Jeremiah

Jeremiah was born into a priestly family in Anathoth, the son of Hilkiah (1:1). The phrase “the priestly family of Anathoth” recalls the story in 1 Kings 2. After Solomon ascended to the throne, he removed the priest Abiathar, who had sided with Adonijah, and banished him to Anathoth. Because of this, there likely existed a sense of discrimination among the people of Judah toward the priestly family of Anathoth. This means that Jeremiah, by birth, carried conditions that made him easily distrusted by the people of Judah.

It is estimated that Jeremiah was born around 650 B.C., though the exact date of his death is unknown. He was called to be a prophet in the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign (1:2). Since this happened around 628 B.C., Jeremiah would have been in his twenties when he received God’s calling and began his prophetic ministry.

During that time, Judah was experiencing spiritual revival due to King Josiah’s religious reforms, while Babylon was rapidly growing in power externally. However, after Josiah’s death, Judah quickly declined. Jeremiah proclaimed that God had appointed King Nebuchadnezzar as the instrument of judgment and urged the people to accept their punishment for their sins. But the kings of Judah sought help from Egypt in an attempt to escape Babylon’s threat, which only hastened Judah’s downfall.

Jeremiah suffered more than any other prophet. Because of the hostility of Judah’s leaders and people toward him, he became known as “the weeping prophet.”

After Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C., Jeremiah remained in Judah, but after Governor Gedaliah was assassinated, he was taken to Egypt by the group responsible for the murder. Considering his age, it is highly probable that he ended his life there in Egypt.

Jeremiah 1 “God’s Calling”

Jeremiah 1 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• The Potter’s Hand – Darlene Zschech
• Here Again – Elevation Worship
• Chris Tomlin – Whom Shall I Fear [God Of Angel Armies]

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• The Prophet Jeremiah’s Call | Bible Story for Kids
• Every move I make | Hillsong Kids | Kids Praise and Worship Motions – Song for Kids
• Brave – Song for kids
• I’m Trusting You | Roar VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

The author first explains the historical background of Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry. He was called in the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign and continued his prophetic work until the eleventh year of the reign of Judah’s last king, Zedekiah (vv. 1–3).

Jeremiah recounts the story of his calling as a prophet. In a vision, the Lord appeared to him and told him that He had chosen Jeremiah as a prophet even before he was born (v. 5). Jeremiah tried to decline this calling for two reasons: first, he claimed he did not know how to speak well, and second, he said he was too young (v. 6). In response, the Lord reassured him that neither his youth nor his lack of eloquence mattered, because his task was simply to speak the words that God gave him (v. 7). The Lord promised to be with him, to protect him, and encouraged him to be courageous (v. 8). Then the Lord touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said that He had put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth (v. 9), declaring that his mission would be to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant among nations and kingdoms (v. 10).

The Lord then showed Jeremiah a vision of an almond branch. In Hebrew, the word for “almond tree” sounds similar to the word meaning “to watch” or “to be vigilant.” This signified that Jeremiah’s role as a prophet was to watch carefully what was happening in history (vv. 11–12).

Next, the Lord showed him a vision of a boiling pot tilting from the north (v. 13). The Lord explained that disaster would pour out from the north upon Judah. This foretold the coming invasion from Babylon. The reason for this judgment was that the people of Judah had forsaken God’s will and turned to idolatry (vv. 14–16).

Finally, the Lord commanded Jeremiah to get ready, stand up, and speak everything that God commanded him to say. He was told not to be afraid of the people, for if he feared them, God would make him fearful before them. The Lord promised to make Jeremiah strong—like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall—so that he could stand against kings, officials, priests, and the people of the land (vv. 17–19).

Meditation:

There is a saying that the mission of journalism is “to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.” This phrase perfectly captures the mission of a prophet. God said to Jeremiah, “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (v. 10).

The period in which Jeremiah lived was a time when Judah was facing judgment because of its idolatry. Therefore, his message primarily concerned God’s judgment, and for that reason, he became despised by the people of Judah. Yet Jeremiah did not speak only of destruction and judgment. He also prophesied about the new hope that God would bring after all the suffering and ruin had passed. To those who buried their faces in sin, he proclaimed a message of disaster; but to those who trusted in God and endured the hardship, he delivered a message of comfort.

Today, we live in a time when messages of warning, rebuke, and judgment need to be heard more than messages of comfort. Yet those who preach the Word often hesitate to speak about judgment and repentance, and congregations do not wish to hear such messages. We live in an age where everyone sees themselves as a victim and seeks only comfort and encouragement. Even from the pulpit, people desire only words of consolation. In Jeremiah’s time, there were prophets who preached only comfort and encouragement. The people praised them during their day, but as time passed, it was revealed that they were false prophets.

Here, we see how difficult it is to proclaim God’s Word without filtering or compromise and how our fallen nature tends to resist the truth of God’s message.

Prayer:

Lord, our times are similar to Jeremiah’s. People close their ears to the truth and listen only to what they want to hear. Meanwhile, the world is sliding into conflict, confusion, and war. Hold us firmly, Lord, that we may keep our eyes open and discern the movements of this age. Help us to live holy lives according to Your will. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God called Jeremiah when he was young and afraid. God reminded him that He would be with him, protect him, and give him the words to say. Just like Jeremiah, God calls us to speak truth and live faithfully even when others don’t want to hear it. God’s truth can sometimes challenge people, but it also brings real comfort and hope to those who trust in Him.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • God told Jeremiah not to be afraid because He would be with him. What are some things that make you afraid, and how can you remember that God is with you?
  • Jeremiah had to tell people things they didn’t want to hear. Why do you think it’s important to tell the truth even when it’s hard?
  • When have you felt God helping you be brave or do the right thing?
    
• Youth
  • Jeremiah said he was too young and didn’t know how to speak well. Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough for something God was asking you to do?
  • Why do you think people often prefer to hear “comforting” messages rather than “challenging” ones? How do you personally react when God’s Word challenges you?
  • What might it look like to “speak truth with love” in your school, family, or friend group today?