God shall equip His servants.

LORD, thank you reminding me about the work that You did in calling the prophet Jeremiah and your servant Moses.  You have chosen them even before they were born, just as You have chosen us (the born again Christians) to be be saved even before the foundation of this world.   Thank you for promising to equip us, your servants, with the confidence, courage and words of wisdom and prophetic words or words of the gospel. I shall rely on God’s strength and wisdom to speak up.  LORD, give me the strength to use the power of my words to influence those around me for the better.

Text:  Jeremiah 1 - New International Version

1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 

2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 

3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

The Call of Jeremiah

4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 

8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 

10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11 The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.  

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

13 The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”

“I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”

14 The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 

15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah.

16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.

17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.

18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 

19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

ODB:  The most powerful orators in history are often those leaders who’ve used their voices to bring about positive change.    

Consider Frederick Douglass, whose speeches on abolition and liberty spurred a movement that helped lead to the end of slavery in the United States. What if he’d chosen to be silent? We all possess the capacity to use our voice to inspire and help others, but the fear of speaking out can be paralyzing. In the moments when we feel overwhelmed by this fear, we can look to God, our source of divine wisdom and encouragement.

When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations, he immediately began to doubt his own abilities. He cried out, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young” (Jeremiah 1:6). But God wouldn’t allow Jeremiah’s fear to get in the way of his divine calling to inspire a generation through his voice. Instead, He instructed the prophet to simply trust God by saying and doing whatever He commanded (v. 7). In addition to affirming Jeremiah, He also equipped him. “I have put my words in your mouth” (v. 9), He assured him.

When we ask God to show us how He wants to use us, He’ll equip us to carry out our purpose. With His help, we can boldly use our voice to make a positive impact on those around us.  By Kimya Loder

From Commentary:  The account of God calling the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4–10) emphasizes that it’s God who calls and equips us. God emphasized that Jeremiah was called to his prophetic work even before conception (v. 5). Similarly, the apostle Paul described God calling him to his work before he was born (Galatians 1:15). Jeremiah responds much like Moses (Exodus 4:10) and questions whether he’s best suited for the work (Jeremiah 1:6). As with Moses, God responded by insisting on Jeremiah’s obedience and assuring him that His power would be with him (vv. 4–8). Then God “touched [Jeremiah’s] mouth,” which likely indicated purifying him, and put His own words in his mouth (v. 9). Finally, Jeremiah is told of the unique focus of his prophetic work, which would both “uproot and tear down” (v. 10).

by Monica La Rose

From me:  LORD, thank you reminding me about the work that You did in calling the prophet Jeremiah and your servant Moses.  You have chosen them even before they were born, just as You have chosen to be be saved even before the foundation of this world. That You for promising to equip us, your servants, with the confidence, courage and words of wisdom and prophetic words or words of the gospel. I shall rely on God’s strength and wisdom to speak up.  LORD, give me the strength to use the power of my words to influence those around me for the better.

Posted September 3, 2023