046. II. Jeremiah’s Call And Commission

II JEREMIAH’S CALL AND COMMISSION The call to service (Jeremiah 1:4-5). These are the thoughts which Jehovah placed in my heart when he first called me to be his prophet: “From your earliest days I have surrounded you with holy influences, and have stood in peculiarly intimate relationship with you. Now I have commissioned you to be my ambassador to proclaim my will to the nations.” The response (Jeremiah 1:6-8). To this call to service I replied: “Alas, O Lord, I am not gifted as a speaker, and my youth and inexperience unfit me for the great task.” But Jehovah encouraged me with the assurance: “Whatsoever I shall ask you to do, that will you be able to accomplish. Be not afraid of those whom you will be called upon to address, for I will ever be present to deliver you.” The divine commission (Jeremiah 1:9-10). Then, symbolizing my preparation for the prophetic office, Jehovah touched my mouth, and declared that he had placed his word therein. He further added that my mission would be to denounce and to proclaim the destruction of the nations to which I was sent, but that I should also announce their ultimate restoration. A vision of assurance (Jeremiah 1:11-12). Then there rose before my troubled mind the vision of an almond-tree, which first awakens from the deep slumber of winter, and which stands as the symbol of watchfulness. With that vision came the assurance from Jehovah that thus would he ever be watchful to speedily fulfil his word which I should proclaim. A vision of overwhelming judgment (Jeremiah 1:13-16). Again before my mind rose the picture of a huge caldron in the north about to spill its seething contents upon the land. This, I soon learned, symbolized the fiery flood of war which Jehovah was about to turn upon Judah; for by foreign powers would the sentence which he was about to pronounce upon his apostate and idolatrous people be executed.

Further assurance of divine protection (Jeremiah 1:17-19). When the divine command came to declare the truth revealed to me, there came also the assurance that, although king, princes, priests, and prophets, would bitterly oppose me, like a strong fortress I should stand out against them, invincible, because guarded by Jehovah.