He’s sometimes called “The Weeping Prophet,” and Jeremiah had much to cry about. He was a preacher’s son, born in a village not far from Jerusalem. He was called to be God’s prophet in 627 BC and was still serving when Jerusalem fell in 587 BC. Forty years is a long time to be a weeping prophet. His ministry spanned the reign of three kings of Judah, during a period of great spiritual decline and national peril. There would not be much fruit for his labor (v 1-3). Jeremiah 1 tells about his commissioning as a prophet, and the first thing God tells him is that he was chosen for this role even prior to his birth. The LORD loved Jeremiah and made a commitment to him before he breathed his first breath or shed his first tear. No doubt this assurance will help stabilize him during the darkest hours of opposition and mistreatment ahead (v 4-5). Initially, it took some persuasion before Jeremiah was convinced he was the right person for this job. He had two main objections: his lack of experience and lack of eloquence. But when God gives His servants a clear calling, He accepts no excuses. False humility may simply reflect a lack of faith. God is not limited by human weakness, and if He calls you, He will gift you (v 6-7). Jeremiah must have understood this would be a dangerous assignment from the moment God said, “Do not be afraid of them.” But just like you and me, he will be indestructible until he has finished the work God has given him to do. The LORD’s presence will be at his side and the LORD’s words on his lips. Whenever he speaks in God’s name, God will be talking through him (v 8-9). It’s not always easy to speak for God. The prophet’s job description included six tasks, and four are negative. He was sent to pluck up, break down, destroy, overthrow, build, and plant. Jeremiah lives in such evil days that his messages of judgment will outnumber his messages of grace two to one. But grace will have the last word, bringing renewal out of devastation (v 10). God finishes his call of Jeremiah with a dramatic flourish. Using three object lessons, He communicates three important lessons. The almond branch was the first to bud in the spring, a sign that the tree was waking up. So God will watch over His servant; He is always awake (v 11-12). The boiling pot, tilted north, indicates that God’s judgment will be poured out upon Judah by the army of Babylon, their northern enemy (v 13-16). And the iron pillar was God’s way of conveying that He will provide the necessary strength and courage for Jeremiah to stand firm and finish his calling (v 17-19). For further meditation: