Jeremiah 1

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1:1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: 1:2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
1:7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
1:9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
1:11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
1:12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
1:13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
1:15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
1:16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
1:17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
1:18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
1:19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.


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Everything King James Bible:Jeremiah

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 1

Overview:
Jeremiah's Call to the prophetic office. (1-10) A Vision of an
Almond-tree and of a seething-pot, Divine protection is
promised. (11-19)

1-10 Jeremiah's early Call to the work and office of a Prophet
is stated. He was to be a Prophet, not to the Jews only, but to
the neighbouring nations. He is still a Prophet to the whole
world, and it would be Well if they would attend to these
warnings. The Lord who formed us, knows for what particular
services and purposes he intended us. But unless he sanctify us
By his new-creating Spirit, we shall neither be fit for his holy
service On Earth, nor his holy happiness in Heaven. It becomes
us to have low thoughts of ourselves. Those who are young,
should consider that they are So, and not venture Beyond their
powers. But though a sense of our own weakness and insufficiency
should make us go humbly about our work, it should not make us
draw back when God calls us. Those who have messages to deliver
from God, must not fear the Face of Man. The Lord, By a sign,
gave Jeremiah such a Gift as was necessary. God's message should
be delivered in his own words. Whatever worldly Wise men or
politicians may think, the safety of kingdoms is decided
according to the purpose and Word of God.

11-19 God gave Jeremiah a view of the Destruction of Judah and
Jerusalem By the Chaldeans. The Almond-tree, which is more
forward in the Spring than any other, represented the speedy
approach of judgments. God also showed whence the intended ruin
should arise. Jeremiah saw a seething-pot boiling, representing
Jerusalem and Judah in great commotion. The mouth or Face of the
Furnace or Hearth, was toward the north; from whence the Fire
and Fuel were to come. The northern powers shall unite. The
cause of these judgments was the Sin of Judah. The whole counsel
of God must be declared. The fear of God is the best remedy
against the fear of Man. Better to have all men our enemies than
God our enemy; those who are sure they have God with them, need
not, ought not to fear, whoever is against them. Let us pray
that we may be willing to give up personal interests, and that
nothing may move us from our duty.