“The words of Jeremiah…to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah.” Jeremiah 1:2
Dear Ones:
Whether it be concerning an individual, a nation, or even the creation of the world, the significance of the phrase, “…the word of the Lord came,” cannot be overstated. God NEVER speaks haphazardly, nor without purpose, design, and goodness. Even at His declarations of judgment to come, there is the sense and conviction in His words, that everything was done that He could do, or was allowed to do, to avert such a calamity. The Lord does NOT “willingly afflict.” However, it must also be said that not all difficulty and “calamity” is an issue of judgment by God, because of the sin of the person or nation. That which is so very important to grasp is that, regardless of the situation, whether we find ourselves suffering for the sins of others, or even a nation, or whether life is just difficult, and seemingly filled with challenge after challenge, we are called to look heavenward to hear “…the word (or voice) of the Lord.” Why? In that “word” is ALWAYS life, hope, wisdom, mercy, and love. It is in the case of difficulty and suffering that we often forget that God, in His goodness, never changes. It is in that moment, hour, day, or even month and year, that we are called upon to seek the Lord, and to truly hear what He would say to us, and how we shall answer Him. There is a way through the storm, and grace to weather it, but it will all be by “the word of the Lord.”
In the days of King Josiah, after Hilkiah had discovered “the book of the law” in the house of the Lord, that the king became convinced, after hearing its words, that judgment was coming upon Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. The cause of this judgment was primarily due to a former king, Manasseh, who caused Israel to sin, even seducing them to do more evil than the nations around them. However, it would be primarily because of the innocent blood that Manasseh shed in Jerusalem, that God would not pardon the sin. The pending judgment would only be averted for a time because of the humility, and response of Josiah to the reading of the law. Jeremiah the prophet comes upon the scene during the reign of Josiah, and will continue during the reign of Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah, when Israel would be carried away captive by the King of Babylon. In this context of pending judgment, a period of deferred judgment, and the the invasion of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar, the life-line of the believer of that day, and was the same as today: “the word of the Lord.” What is the “word of the Lord” TODAY, in the place in which we live, and in the circumstances in which we find ourselves?
In the first chapter of the book of Jeremiah, concerning his calling, and mission, we find that “the word of the Lord came” during the reigns of the formerly mentioned kings. The coming of the Lord’s word is not only the catalyst that declares His intervention in circumstances, but also, it is the communication of His intent, His purpose at that specific time. Jeremiah was called “by the word of the Lord.” It seems that the Lord needed to speak to Jeremiah several times concerning His calling, going into great detail to reveal to Him how God was leading him, and what God expected as a response from him. It is then that this “prophet of the nations” is called, cleansed and consecrated. The Lord gives to him clear instructions concerning what his duties are, and the opposition that he will face. With every “mountain” of impossibility, from a human standpoint, God provides the promise of victory, the touch upon the mouth, giving to Jeremiah his word, and the convincing certainty that the time had come for all of this to come to pass, saying: “I will hasten My word to perform it.” (Jer. 1:12)
Dear Father, Give us ears to hear Thy Word today, and respond in faith and obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad