1:17
The Lord has very firm words for Jeremiah. Earlier He has told him that He created him in the womb, and that He would be with him. Now He instructs Jeremiah to get himself ready. God may anoint, appoint and equip us for various tasks, but we still have our part to play. Jeremiah has to stand up and say whatever God wants him to say. “Get yourself ready” is literally “tighten your belt around your waist”. He is warned not to be terrified by “them”, them being the various people he would speak to. Why should he not be terrified? Because if he was God would terrify him even more! Sometimes we talk a lot of rubbish about the fear of the Lord, often fear just means fear. If we think about it at all we are very foolish when we choose to be afraid of men rather than afraid of God!
1:18
But it is not just that fearing men rather than God is a foolish thing to do, God has strengthened Jeremiah, and He has strengthened us. God made Jeremiah like a fortified city and a bronze wall, able to stand against the whole nation. Now this did not mean Jeremiah was a superhero, it did not mean he would not face opposition and suffering, for we will later read that he did face these things. But God would enable him to stand up in the face of opposition. He would stand against “kings, officials, priests and the people”. Everyone was against him! But God is able to make us stand.
1:19
While God was promising protection, He was definitely not promising an easy life! “They will fight against you” There would be serious opposition, but they would not overcome Jeremiah. Why Because God would be with him and would rescue him. God takes direct action on our behalf.
No comments:
Post a Comment