Jeremiah 1:1-13

Jeremiah 1:1

I. (Jeremiah 1:4). The two great blessings of electionand mediationare here distinctly taught. God did not speak to the nations directly, but mediationally. He created a minister who should be His mouthpiece. Observation itself teaches us that men are called and chosen of God to do special work in all departments of life. The difficult lesson for some of us to learn is, that we are called to obscurity,and yet this is as clearly a Divine appointment as is the choice of an Isaiah or a Jeremiah.

II. (Jeremiah 1:6). It is thus that fear and confidence make up our best life. We are sure that God has called us, yet we dread to set down our feet on the way which He has marked out with all the clearness of light. Fear well becomes our mortality, for what is our strength? and as for our days, their number is small. Beautiful is modesty in its own place, but never forget that there is something which closely imitates its loveliest features, and that its foul name is hypocrisy.

III. (Jeremiah 1:9). You made much of your own weakness; now what are you going to make of God's strength. You may obstinately persist in looking at your own small arm, or you may piously turn to the almightiness of God, and draw your power from eternity; and upon your choice will depend your whole after-life. (1) Observe the expression, "I will put My words in thy mouth." The minister of God is to speak the words of God. (2) The tenth verse sets forth, under a personal figure, the majesty and omnipotence of truth. It is not the mere man Jeremiah who is thus mighty, even to terribleness; he is but representative and ministerial, and if he tamper with his mission he will be dispossessed and humbled.

IV. (Jeremiah 1:11). The power of spiritual vision is preeminently the gift of God. The power of parables, making them or reading them, is a deep mystery of the unseen Kingdom. It is the gift of sight which distinguishes one man from another.

Parker, The Ark of God,p. 170.

References: Jeremiah 1:5. C. J. Vaughan, Old Testament Outlines,p. 243.Jeremiah 1:6. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 80.