Scripture
Jeremiah 1:4-10 (ESV)
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
[5] "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
[6] Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." [7] But the Lord said to me,
"Do not say, 'I am only a youth';
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
[8] Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord."
[9] Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
"Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
[10] See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant."
Jeremiah 7:1-11 (ESV)
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: [2] "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord. [3] Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. [4] Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.'
[5] "For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another [6] if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, [7] then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.
[8] "Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. [9] Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, [10] and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'—only to go on doing all these abominations? [11] Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord.
Questions for Reflection
1. What does it feel like to bring news that you know will be unpopular?
2. When have you been chosen for a task for which you felt totally unqualified?
3. How did God announce to Jeremiah that he was chosen as a prophet? (1:5)
4. What was Jeremiah’s assessment of his own abilities in relation to God’s call? (1:6)
5. How did God respond to Jeremiah’s reservations? (1:7)
6. What promise did God make to Jeremiah from the outset of his ministry? (1:8)
7. What difference can it make to know that God knew us and set us apart even before our birth?
8. What reservations do you have about your ability to serve God according to His call?
9. When we tell people about Christ, whose words do we speak?
