First Visions

Jeremiah 1:6-10 (New Living Translation)

6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” 7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

1:6 Jeremiah responded to God's appointment with a measure of self-doubt. He first objected that he did not know how to speak. Jeremiah was not claiming that he was physically unable to talk. He was claiming a lack of eloquence and speaking ability required for such a public ministry.

He also objected that he was only a child (na'ar). This word was used of infants (Ex. 2:6; 1 Sam. 4:21) and of young men (Gen. 14:24). Jeremiah's age is not given, but possibly he was in his late teens or early 20s at this time. By using the term "child" Jeremiah was emphasizing his lack of experience. He felt ill-prepared to be God's ambassador to the nations.

1:7-10. God gave three answers to Jeremiah's objection. First, he stressed the authority under which Jeremiah was to act. Jeremiah should not use inexperience as an excuse for evading his task. He would have no choice in the selection of his audience or his message. Rather, he was to go to everyone to whom God sent him and say whatever God commanded. Jeremiah did not have to be an eloquent elder stateman-he was simply to be a faithful messenger.

Second, God stressed that He would protect the future prophet. Evidently Jeremiah was afraid for his personal safety. Certainly his fears were based on his awareness of the times because the people did try to get rid of him. Yet God told Jeremiah not to be afraid of them, because He would be on his side. The people would try to kill Jeremiah but God promised to rescue him.

Third, God showed Jeremiah the source of his message. Jeremiah's call must have come in the form of a vision (cf. Ezek. 1:1) because he noted that "the Lord reached out His hand" to touch Jeremiah's mouth. This visible manifestation of God was His object lesson to tell Jeremiah that the Lord Himself would put His words in Jeremiah's mouth. Jeremiah need not worry what to say; God would provide the very words he would speak.

God then summarized the content of Jeremiah's message (Jer. 1:10). It would be a message of both judgment and blessing to nations and kingdoms. God used two metaphors to describe Jeremiah's mission. Comparing Jeremiah to a farmer, God said he would uproot (announce judgment) and plant (announce blessing). Comparing Jeremiah to an architect, God said he would tear down, destory, and over-throw (pronounce judgment) and build (pronounce blessing).