Jeremiah 1:1

Jeremiah 1:1 says, The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:  We first have Jeremiah identified as the son of Hilkiah, who was of the priests of Anathoth.  As a part of a priestly family, Jeremiah had been authorized and appointed to teach the people of Israel as Matthew Henry states it, but God added to that authority.  As followers of Christ, we are a part of the priesthood of believers and are appointed to share the gospel with everyone, but some are called for a more specific purpose in sharing the gospel, such as pastors and evangelists.  Verse two states, To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.  We are then told that the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, and when this was historically.  If we are going to proclaim God's word today as Christians, we must first make sure that what we proclaim has come from God, and if it is from God, it will be consistent with His written word, the Bible, and will point people to Christ and will glorify God.  Matthew Henry says that with Josiah, a young king and Jeremiah a young prophet working together that we would have expected the people of Israel to reform, but they didn't.  Verse three adds, It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.  Jeremiah continued to prophesy through the reigns of two more kings, unto the carrying away of Judah.  Matthew Henry points out that Jeremiah continued to prophesy after that, but at that point many of His prophesies were fulfilled.  Even if we see the prophesies of God being fulfilled today, we are still to witness for Christ.  Verse four declares, Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  Then verse five adds, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.  God told Jeremiah that even before his conception that God had a purpose for him.  God said Jeremiah was sanctified and ordained a prophet even before he was born.  I believe that God has a purpose for each individual born today, but most will never fulfill His purpose because they refuse to accept His authority.  We can certainly attest to the sanctity of every child that is formed in the womb from what is said here.  Verse six proclaims, Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.  Having been commissioned by God, Jeremiah first offered an excuse as to why he could not do what God had called him to do.  When we know what God has called us to do today, do we begin to offer excuses as to why we cannot?  Verse seven declares, But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.  God basically told Jeremiah to not look at who he was but to look to Who God is.  We need to do the same today and go where God sends us and do what He calls us to do.  Verse eight adds, Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.  Just as Jeremiah was told to fear not the faces of the people because God was with him. so does He promise us today.  We need to boldly do what God calls us to do.  Verse nine continues, Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.  Jeremiah said that then the LORD put forth His hand, touched his mouth, and said that He had put His words in Jeremiah's mouth.  We as followers of Christ must put our faith in God to provide us with the ability to speak His word today.  Verse ten concludes, See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.  God then stated what Jeremiah was to do.  God said He set Jeremiah over the nations and kingdoms, to root out the evil in them and to plant the word of God.  We as Christians when we are following God's will for our lives have authority over all earthly rulers.  We must always put God's kingdom first.