The Amazing Bible. Book Club
Jeremiah - Chapter 1 - A Neo-Babylonian Prophet
Chapter one of Jeremiah tells us that he is from a Levitical family of priests, who served in the city of Anathoth, in the territory of Benjamin, a part of Judah. His calling began during the reign of Josiah, the last "good" king of Judah, who reigned around 641-609 BC. It was during his reign that the capital of Assyria fell to the Babylonians with the help of the Scythians and Medes in 612 BC. Assyria was crumbling and Babylon was growing. Jeremiah's prophetic ministry began during Josiah's reign, but he prophesied and saw the destruction of Judah, Jerusalem, and the temple by the Babylonians. He saw the fall of Judah.
With his calling, the Lord told Jeremiah that he was created and set apart for the Lord. He was appointed as a prophet, not just to Judah, but to the nations. He was fearful because he was young, but the Lord said to fear not, for He was with him, and He would rescue him. The Lord then gave Jeremiah two visions, the first was of the branch of an almond tree, saying when it buds then the prophecy will be fulfilled. The second was of a boiling pot from the north, and that represented Babylon coming, and the Lord will pour out disaster on Judah. He explains in verse 16 that the Lord has allowed this judgment because the people had forsaken the Lord and worshipped idols. The calling ends with a call to "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you" (vs. 17). Then the Lord reminded him to not be terrified by them, and He said a second time, for the Lord will fight for him and will rescue him.
Chapter one of Jeremiah tells us that he is from a Levitical family of priests, who served in the city of Anathoth, in the territory of Benjamin, a part of Judah. His calling began during the reign of Josiah, the last "good" king of Judah, who reigned around 641-609 BC. It was during his reign that the capital of Assyria fell to the Babylonians with the help of the Scythians and Medes in 612 BC. Assyria was crumbling and Babylon was growing. Jeremiah's prophetic ministry began during Josiah's reign, but he prophesied and saw the destruction of Judah, Jerusalem, and the temple by the Babylonians. He saw the fall of Judah.
With his calling, the Lord told Jeremiah that he was created and set apart for the Lord. He was appointed as a prophet, not just to Judah, but to the nations. He was fearful because he was young, but the Lord said to fear not, for He was with him, and He would rescue him. The Lord then gave Jeremiah two visions, the first was of the branch of an almond tree, saying when it buds then the prophecy will be fulfilled. The second was of a boiling pot from the north, and that represented Babylon coming, and the Lord will pour out disaster on Judah. He explains in verse 16 that the Lord has allowed this judgment because the people had forsaken the Lord and worshipped idols. The calling ends with a call to "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you" (vs. 17). Then the Lord reminded him to not be terrified by them, and He said a second time, for the Lord will fight for him and will rescue him.