God knows how he is going to use His prophetic servant, Jeremiah – what His method is going to be – using pictures and rhyming words – and using things with which Jeremiah and the people would be familiar. Jeremiah draws lessons from these.
Chapter 1verse 11 – what do you see – an almond tree. Jeremiah sees the branch of an almond tree that is coming into bud. Now this is the first to blossom in spring, and the blossom comes before the leaves. It is a sign of spring in Israel – the awakening of creation, after winter. Things are coming alive again in Israel. It is called the ‘waker tree’ and God speaks about waking and watching.
What do you see Jeremiah? Can you see what I am about to spring into action? God was alert. God was watching – God was awake and going to act through a very simple picture. Jesus used very simple pictures too
The branch to some looked dead - but no, it was going to come alive in front of Jeremiah’s eyes. This is underlined in his call.
Verse 13 – The word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah once again – “What do you see?” Are you seeing all this Jeremiah? Are you seeing what I am revealing to you? Do you see what I am showing you?
Jeremiah writes it all down – he records it – to show the people – to show us – how God is speaking to him – and how God continues to speak to him throughout the entire book – a lengthy book – providing material for prophesying – providing pictures for proclamation and preaching.
What do you see? And, in the dying embers of a fire, he sees a cauldron – a boiling pot – and as it spills over, steam arises – and scalding steam is terrible – dangerous – damaging – harmful – causing serious burns.
Jeremiah sees all this – so simple, yet so profound.
Jeremiah risks speaking out – but what does it mean? Ask questions!!
“Jeremiah – the enemies of Judah are going to boil over into your country.”
Nations from the north are going to invade Israel – and they did – and that takes us on to time of Daniel.
God allows this – God permitted this to happen – and the nations who came were known as vandals. That is where we get the word – vandals or vandalism.
God gives Jeremiah His reasons for allowing all this to happen to His chosen people.
1 – They had forsaken God.
2 – They have gone after other gods.
3 – They now worship idols – the work of their own hands. You have turned from Me – you are worshipping what you make.
Today we are swamped by – secularism – materialism – humanism – various manifestations of the occult – and it has been said that one great idol today is ‘peace’. We too need to hear clearly from God.
Jeremiah must have shown that he was a bit apprehensive at having to preach this – even a bit afraid.
Jeremiah knows he has to go into the streets and proclaim this word from God. He knows he has to tell bad news to people who won't believe it.
Verse 17 is very strong! This is where the protection of God comes in – and the omnipresence of God - I am with you and will rescue you.
If we're afraid of people, God will make us ashamed, in front of people.
Verse 18 – I will make you a fortress - do not fear them - fear Me. You will either look a fool or a fortress. This is a choice which God sometimes gives us – particularly those who are called to a prophetic ministry. You will be like a fortified city with iron pillars and with a bronze wall. When everybody is against you, I will be with you
Jesus found this type of reaction to his ministry and also this kind of presence from the Father and the Holy Spirit
The message is – God will deliver us – Jesus will rescue us, provided we stand – otherwise we can expect no supernatural intervention
When God unmistakably tells you and gives you a word and commands you – giving you a clear message – the wrestling has to stop – the arguing has to cease – and you have to go and speak. We have a very limited choice at times – to rebel or obey.
On the day of Pentecost, the church took the role of the prophethood of all believers seriously – speaking to men from God and speaking to men for God.
Jeremiah saw things – understood the significance – and paid the price. Jesus would speak about seed, soil, sheep, a coin, a son, and use these prophetically
The fire was now burning in Jeremiah's bones – Chapter 5 verse 14, and 20 verse 9, and 23verse 29.
The Holy Spirit's power and anointing was upon Jesus – and Luke tells us that Jesus is the one who would baptise us with the Holy Spirit and with fire
When you know something of God's omnipotence – God’s Omniscience – and God’s Omnipresence, these will motivate us and inspire us in dark, difficult, dangerous, imprisoning seasons.
“Holy Father, we give thanks and praise in Jesus’ name – not only do You know how to use Your servants – but You reveal Yourself to Your servants – to those who You call. We thank You that You are powerful and knowledgeable and able to be with us no matter where we are and what we are going through – that can motivate us and inspire us and encourage us to stand and hold on at times when it appears dark and difficult and dangerous. We thank You that we can trust You utterly and totally. Hear us as we pray in Jesus’ name.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.