AUGUST 10

The name “Jeremiah” means “whom Jehovah appoints.” Apart
from this appointment by God, certainly this prophet could not have
continued to minister faithfully. He was of the priestly line and
lived in the priest’s city of Anathoth. Apparently he had some
personal wealth because he was able to purchase real estate and even
hire a scribe. He was called to the ministry when he was a child,
undoubtedly in his teens.

Jeremiah ministered during the last 40 years of Judah’s
history, from the 13th year of Josiah to the destruction of
Jerusalem. He lived to see his beloved nation go down into sin, war,
and judgment; yet through it all he was faithful to preach God’s
Word.

When Jeremiah began his ministry, Assyria was the leading
power in the world; but Egypt and Babylon were rapidly gaining
strength. In 607 b.c., the Babylonians took Nineveh and destroyed
the power of Assyria. Babylon then turned to Judah, and Judah’s
politicians advised the kings to ask Egypt for help. Jeremiah was
always against an Egyptian alliance. He knew that God’s people
should not seek help from the world. He knew Judah’s only hope was
in the Lord; but her sins were so great that the nation had lost the
blessing of God. Babylon did finally capture Judah and took
Jerusalem. Jeremiah wrote “Lamentations” to commemorate the death of
the Holy City.

Chapter 1 gives the call of Jeremiah. Like Moses, he was
reluctant to accept the responsibility, but did succumb to God’s
call. Jeremiah’s first message was to a backslidden nation. It was
threefold. He reminded Israel of God’s wonderful blessings and
deliverance; he rebuked them for forsaking God’ and then he accuses
them of following other gods. Verse 13 of chapter 2 refers to the
people forsaking the Word of God, “the fountain of living waters”
and following after false gods, “broken cisterns.”