the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Jeremiah 1:1-19
The book of Jeremiah takes us back to the time of the last kings of Judah before the captivity. The emergence of a prophet is always an indication of the low state of the children of Israel, but it is also evidence of the grace of God. Before his birth, this young priest had been set apart by the LORD for the service to which he was destined (cf. Galatians 1:15). Shy as he is, Jeremiah begins by resisting God’s call: "I am a child". "Do not speak so," the LORD replies. "What do your qualifications matter, seeing that you are to say and do nothing but that which I command you." This thought is expressed in the words of the hymn:
"Let us our feebleness recline,
On that eternal love of Thine."
The one who is powerless without Him can do everything in His goodness.
To encourage His young messenger, God gives him two remarkable visions. The almond rod ("the tree which watches") reminds us of Aaron’s rod, which previously had budded, flowered and brought forth almonds (Numbers 17:8) and confirms the intentions of the vigilant and faithful God. It was necessary then for Jeremiah to hasten and warn the people and urge them to repent, for the seething pot proclaims the imminent threat of enemies coming down from the north. A difficult task indeed! But Jeremiah receives strength from above (v. 18) with the promise "I am with thee" (v. 19; see also Jeremiah 15:20).
