Devotions

Before I Formed You in the Womb

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Reading about Jeremiah’s encounter with the Lord reminds us that God is our creator and what the Lord said here is also true of us in Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”. There is a plan and purpose that the Lord has for each of us. Jeremiah is appointed to bring a strong message to “to pluck up”, “to destroy and to tear down”, but also “to build and to plant”. It is surprising though to read the charge against the people in Jeremiah 2:6 “they did not say, “Where is Yahweh”. These have missed his plan for their lives. Have you asked the Lord what he has for you now? 

Before I Formed You in the Womb I Knew You

Jeremiah 1:1–10 Jeremiah had an experience that few people have, a divine encounter. It doesn’t say if this was a vision, or a dream, or a physical encounter as Moses had with the burning bush (Exodus 3:4) or simply an audible voice as when Jesus was baptised with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22). It simply says in Jeremiah 1:4 “the word of the Lord came to me, saying”. In Jeremiah 1:7 it is clear that he knew it was the Lord because he reacted with “Ah, Lord Yahweh!” and then a very human statement, “I do not know how” as if the Lord didn’t know his ability. This was a dialog, a conversation, and not just a command from the Lord. This was the Lord informing Jeremiah of the Lords plan and purpose for Jeremiah and it came with correction (Jeremiah 1:7 “you must not say, ‘I am a youth’) and encouragement (Jeremiah 1:8 “Do not be afraid of them”) and finally equipping for the work ahead (Jeremiah 1:9 “Yahweh stretched out his hand and he touched my mouth, and Yahweh said to me, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth”). Then the Lord sets the boundaries in

Jeremiah 1:10 See, I appoint you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, and to destroy and to tear down, to build and to plant.”

And while this has great prophetic impact for Judah and Jerusalem in their day, and it is now an historic record for us, there is a pattern here for us showing how the Lord operates. He does know us from the womb. He does have a plan and purpose for our lives. He will confirm and equip for the work. But this plan isn’t set in stone. There is a dialog, there is correction and encouragement, and a time when the Lord says, “I appoint you this day …”. 

You, You Must Gird Your Loins, and Stand, and Speak

Jeremiah 1:11–19 The Lord spends time with Jeremiah teaching him, saying to him in Jeremiah 1:11 and 13 “What are you seeing?”. It seems that Jeremiah heard the Lord speaking and also had a vision that showed him what was going to happen. But these visions, these pictures needed interpretation. In Jeremiah 1:11-2 “the branch of an Almond tree” represented God “watching over his word to perform it”. But we miss something here if we don’t know the Almond tree is the first to bud and flower in the spring so, “There is a play on MT almond rod (šāqēd, ‘waker’) and šōqēd (watching over), which illustrates the promptness with which God keeps his promises. Just as the early stirring of the almond heralded springtime, so the spoken word pointed to its own rapid fulfilment”.1 Then in Jeremiah 1:13 he sees “a boiling pot, and its face is from the face of the north.” The language is a bit unusual for us so, it seems that Jeremiah saw a large pot, perhaps above the the earth below and “The pot in the north rested on one side, its mouth being about to pour forth its contents southwards, namely, on Judea”.2 Another commentary suggest that “The pot described as boiling (RSV) was a large vessel used for cooking or washing and placed upon glowing embers which were fanned by the wind”.1 And another commentary ads that “If the wind is blowing the steam from the pot as suggested above, then the wind is coming from the north and blowing the steam southward”.3 And from these descriptions of the boiling pot ready to pour out to the South with steam blowing across the land, the interpretation is clear in Jeremiah 1:14 where the Lord says this means “From the north disaster will be unleashed on all the inhabitants of the land”. We now also understand the intensity, the severity, of the word of the Lord to be delivered by Jeremiah to the people of Judah and why the Lords says to him in Jeremiah 1:17–19 “you, you must gird your loins, and stand, and speak … Do not be afraid of them … I have made you today as a fortified city and as an iron pillar and a bronze wall against all the land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19 And they will fight against you but they will not prevail against you, for I am with you,” declares Yahweh, “to deliver you.”  

They Did Not Say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’

Jeremiah 2:1–8 Some people believe that God is far off and that even if they search they wouldn’t find him. But Paul said that God did put us on the earth to find him and “he is not far away”, in

Acts 17:27 “to search for God, if perhaps indeed they might feel around for him and find him. And indeed he is not far away from each one of us”

And, the Lord, from the beginning, has made himself known as it says in

Romans 1:20–21 For from the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created, so that they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasoning, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

So, here, the Lord asks in Jeremiah 2:5 “What injustice did your ancestors find in me that they were far from me”. The answer should be obvious, there is no injustice in the Lord. If we are far from him, it isn’t because of anything he has done. Here is the answer, in

Jeremiah 2:6 And they did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh, the one who brought us up from the land of Egypt …”

But it wasn’t only the people that did not seek the Lord or ask for him, it was also the priests who might have led the people to the Lord in

Jeremiah 2:8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’

Here is how this is said after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in

Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Have you called on the Lord? Have you asked him to show himself to you? This may seem too simple, and yet, as it says in

Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Will you accept Jesus Christ right now? Will you speak out what you believe?

Romans 10:9–10 that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.

Simply say this prayer from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association at https://peacewithgod.net/: Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

My People Have Committed Two Evils

Jeremiah 2:9–19

Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the source of living water, to hew out for themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.

Where are Your Gods That You Made for Yourself?

Jeremiah 2:20–28

Yahweh has Rejected Those in Whom You Trust

Jeremiah 2:29–37

Jeremiah 2:37 Also from there you will come out with your hands on your head, for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper through them.

You Refuse to be Ashamed

Jeremiah 3:1–5

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Jeremiah 1:1-19
  • Jeremiah 2:1-37
  • Jeremiah 3:1-5

References

  • 1. Harrison, R. K. (1973). Jeremiah and Lamentations: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 21, p. 55). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 2. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 507). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 3. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Je 1:13). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.