The words are memorable as striking a note common to the lives of many prophets; common, also, we may add, to most men as they feel themselves called to any great work. John Trapp Complete Commentary. The change in the fortunes of the Jews is compared by the prophets to a shepherd's seeking his lost sheep, and feeding them again in green pastures (Jeremiah 31:10; Jeremiah 1:19; Ezekiel 34:11-16). Nevertheless Jeremiah, in his own opinion, "cannot speak"; that is, was no way fit to speak. Read Jeremiah 1 commentary using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. Jeremiah"s response to his call reveals the first of his many similarities to Moses (cf. Jeremiah 10:3-5. They know also the awful responsibility that attaches to the work; and nothing but the authority of God can induce such to undertake it. 6. A like excuse Moses made, Exodus 4:10. Jeremiah 33:6-8. Be not afraid of their faces.] 8. Jeremiah 15:16. (11-19) Commentary on Jeremiah 1:1-10 (Read Jeremiah 1:1-10) Jeremiah's early call to the work and office of a prophet is stated. I cannot speak - i. e., “I cannot prophesy,” I have not those powers of oratory necessary for success. behold. But why did he refuse to obey God, when called to the prophetic function? “They are inflexible, immoveable, fixed, without action or motion, like the trunk of a tree: … They whom God never called run, because of worldly honor and emolument: the others hear the call with fear and trembling, and can go only in the strength of Jehovah. No human hand can repair it; but if they return to the Lord he will heal. See Exodus 6:30; and Exodus 7:1-2. Jeremiah 18:1 ¶ The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Verbum angustiae. behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child. See App-4. Ah. As we enter into a new … Continue reading "Commentary on Jeremiah … Hence the excuse that is added is that of modesty. Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee — This is not so much a command as a promise: as much as to say, I … For it is wood, which one hath cut out of the forest, a work of the craftsman's hands with the axe. I am a child - This implies nothing very definite about Jeremiah‘s age. Jeremiah 6:14. He was to be a prophet, not to the Jews only, but to the neighbouring nations. The voice is that of the prophet Jeremiah however the words are Yahweh’s. "At that time" points back to "days come" in Jeremiah 7:32. behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child. In tracing the whole course of Jeremiah’s work, we must never forget the divine constraint by which he entered on them. For I am a child.] He was weak to cope with giant evils. 1:1-10 Jeremiah's early call to the work and office of a prophet is stated. App-6. Then I said, "Alas, Lord God ! The passage opens with an ominous tone: Woe! Lord GOD. Still the long duration of his prophetic mission makes it probable that he was very young when called to the office, as also were Isaiah, Hosea, Zechariah, and others. 3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in … 2. It was a usual saying of Luther, Etsi iam senex, et in concionando exercitus sum, &c. Although I am now an old man, and an experienced preacher, yet I tremble as oft as I go up into the pulpit. Compared with what it was, every thing is out of order; but the ruin of the Jewish nation would not be final. ; properly and pertinently, politely and eloquently, especially before great personages, kings and princes, and the citizens of Jerusalem, being brought up in a rustic manner in the country. When Jeremiah intended to go to the land of Benjamin he was captured and cast into the dungeon (Jeremiah 37:11-21; Jeremiah … … Continue reading "Commentary on Jeremiah 23:1-6" But these words especially reflect his sense of the greatness of the work before a prophet of God at that time; and so, by implication, the unspirituality and corruption of the time. child — the same word is translated, “young man” (2 Samuel 18:5). New International Version (NIV) But the Lord said unto me, &c. — God refuses to accept of his excuse, and renews his commission to him to execute the prophetic office. Jeremiah 8:1. Then said I, Ah, Lord God!] Jeremiah's call to the prophetic office. I cannot speak, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 4:10). Leadership is a buzzword in many disciplines these days: business, law, medicine, education, politics, and congregational life. Jeremiah 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I [am] with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.. Ver. He was young in the presence of hoary abuses. 1 Kings 3:7. If ye were so, ye would never say so. And the word child, or youth, is elsewhere used of those who were arrived at the first years of manhood. Commentary on Jeremiah 1:4-10 View Bible Text . Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth. Jeremiah was an excellent speaker, as well appeareth by these ensuing homilies of his, which show that he was suaviter gravis, et graviter suavis (as one saith of Basil), a grave and sweet preacher, one that could deliver his mind fitly, and dared to do it freely. 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