Jeremiah 1

The Call of Jeremiah

1 These the words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, one of the priests holding it down in Anathoth, out in the land of Benjamin.

2 The LORD started speaking to him in the days of King Josiah, son of Amon, in his thirteenth year on the throne.

3 And God kept speaking through the days of Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, all the way until the eleventh year of Zedekiah, when Jerusalem got taken down and the people got dragged off in the fifth month.

God Chooses Jeremiah

4 Then the word of the LORD hit Jeremiah like, “Listen up.”

5 “Before you were even forming in your mom’s belly, I already had you marked. Before you popped out into this world, I set you apart. I appointed you to step up as a prophet to the nations.”

6 Jeremiah said, “Hold up, Lord GOD… I do not know how to talk like that. I am just a young dude.”

7 But the LORD told him, “Do not hit Me with the ‘I am too young’ line. You are going to go where I send you, and you are going to say what I tell you.”

8 “Do not be scared of anybody. I am right there with you, and I got you protected?” declares the LORD.

God Puts His Words in Jeremiah’s Mouth

9 Then the LORD reached out, touched Jeremiah’s mouth, and said, “I just put My words in your mouth.”

10 “Today I am putting you on assignment over nations and kingdoms: to tear down, to uproot, to destroy, to smash, and also to build up and plant.”

The Almond Branch Vision

11 Then the LORD asked, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” He said, “I am seeing a branch from an almond tree.”

12 The LORD said, “Exactly. I am watching over My word, making sure it pops off just like I said.”

The Boiling Pot Vision

13 The word of the LORD came again: “What do you see now?” Jeremiah said, “A boiling pot tipping from the north, about to spill south.”

14 The LORD said, “That is right, disaster is coming from the north straight onto this land.”

15 “I am calling out all the kingdoms up north. They are going to roll in, set up their thrones right at the gates of Jerusalem, and surround all the cities of Judah.”

16 “I am laying out My judgment on them because they ditched Me, burned incense to fake gods, and bowed down to idols they made with their own hands.”

Jeremiah’s Commission

17 “But you, tighten up. Get yourself ready. Say everything I command you. Do not get shook in front of them, or I will give you something to really be shook about.”

18 “Today I am making you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against this whole land, against Judah’s kings, leaders, priests, and all the people.”

19 “They are going to come at you, no doubt. But they will not win. Because I am with you, and I am the One backing you,” declares the LORD.