Reading Jeremiah is hard. It is full of descriptive, emotional, spiteful and ungodly behavior, from the very people He chose to be the example of a people in right relationship with God. Why are you so upset God? God’s perspective can be found Exodus 20: 1-6. The beginning description of the ten commandments is a cornerstone for understanding God’s words in Jeremiah. It helps me get a glimpse of God’s rage for the behavior, His unmet longings, and also His opening hand for mercy. If you will turn away from your sin, Israel and Judah, I will accept you and be your God.
Jeremiahs call is intimate, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb… “. Jeremiah’s role had an auspicious start. Is that so much like you and me when it comes to God giving us an assignment!
6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” 7 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!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”
I can’t do this I’m too young seems like a reasonable response. Jeremiah has a difficult assignment from a human perspective. To know that your life was going to be about confronting nations, it’s leadership, tearing some nations down and building others up! Those are ’Goliath’ size activities that would make me shudder as a young person. Jeremiah has no track record or knowledge of these things. It must have been overwhelming.
God responds. He will step in and be that voice and protector when things get rough for Jeremiah. God discloses to Jeremiah that his presence, words, strength and power would be behind Jeremiah in all that he did. A foreshadowing of Jesus perhaps? Jeremiah is called to not be afraid while in the upcoming confrontations. Additional information of Jeremiah’s response or mindset is not provided to us about his calling. We know that he did engage in his role from history.
Early in the book of Jeremiah, God builds His case for justifying his action. It is interesting to me how He is remembering the ‘good ole days’ of an Israel that was in fellowship with the Living God.
“I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.3 In those days Israel was holy to the Lord,the first of his children.
Isn’t it true about anything that is ‘new’, in the beginning?
The text change in tone is swift as God rants about all the things “ the families of Israel” did and did not do to be in a worshipful relationship with God. The text is full of woe, tragedy and disappointment. Powerful and painful metaphors are applied to Israel as an ‘unfaithful wife’, adultery, prostituting herself, and divorce are all used to bring these points home. Judah did not learn from the Northern Kingdom’s mistakes. Judah without remorse follows Israel ways and breaks all that God asks for in a relationship with Himself.
God continues with His case for why the powerful armies of the North are being called on to destroy Judah. Israel is already occupied and feeling all the pains, suffering, and struggles of being held captive by a fierce and cruel occupier. Chapters 4-8 tell the story of God’s appeal through Jeremiah to Judah to turn away from their dishonoring lifestyle. Jeremiah gives warnings of God’s impending judgement and makes conditional appeals to extend mercy. Jeremiah deflects every argument of Judah including a provocative one of the presence of the Ark in the temple of Jerusalem. Not a good enough reason. God is left to follow his promise to allow the destruction of the Jerusalem and the end of Judah. Jeremiah weeps for a sinful Judah. I think the heart of God weeps for all that are wayward.
In Jeremiah two Kingdoms refuse to return to a pure, focused worship of God alone as declared in the ten commandments. God is possessive of the worship and service that belong to Him. It is a sin, as God points out in this commandment, to worship or serve anything other than God. By God’s design he desires ALL OF OUR worship and service to Him alone. In this sense our God is a jealous God.