Scriptures for Today: Jeremiah 1:11-19
Jeremiah 1:11-19
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. 12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. 13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. 14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands. 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
Introduction: “I Will Make You a Defensed City”
Before we get into these verses, let’s understand the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah preached for about forty years. He preached during the final days of Judah before Babylon destroyed Jerusalem.
He preached during the reign of several kings. He watched the nation decline. He warned them again and again. He told them judgment was coming. And they did not listen.
Jeremiah is often called the “weeping prophet.” Why? Because he cared. He saw what was coming. He loved his people. And he knew they weren’t going to repent.
The book of Jeremiah is filled with warnings. It’s filled with calls to turn back to God. It’s filled with confrontation.
And eventually, everything Jeremiah said would happen did happen. Jerusalem was destroyed.
The Temple was burned. The people were taken captive to Babylon. That’s the book.
Now go back to chapter 1. This is where it all begins. Jeremiah is young. The nation is already heading the wrong direction. Idolatry is everywhere. Leaders are corrupt. People don’t want correction.
And God says, “You’re going to speak for Me.” Jeremiah already tried to get out of it earlier in the chapter. He said he was a child. He said he couldn’t speak. God didn’t accept that.
Now God shows him what’s coming. And it’s not good.
Jeremiah wasn’t being called to something easy. God wasn’t sending him to preach to people who were excited to listen. He was sending him to a nation that didn’t want to hear it.
This wasn’t a message of, “Everything is fine.” This was, “Judgment is coming.” And Jeremiah was going to have to stand there and say it.
The Almond Rod
Jeremiah 1:11–12
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. 12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
God asks Jeremiah what he sees. He says, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” I love the Scriptures in the Bible when God asks, “What seest thou?” God allows us to see. What do you see? “I see a rod of an almond tree.” God uses images to show us what’s going to happen.
The almond tree was known for budding early. It was one of the first trees to wake up after winter. God says, “I will hasten my word to perform it.” It will be quick. It will happen soon.
That means this: What I said is going to happen. I’m not delaying. I’m not bluffing.
When God speaks, He follows through. Jeremiah’s message wasn’t empty words. Judgment was coming.
The Boiling Pot
Jeremiah 1:13–16
And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. 14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
Jeremiah sees a seething pot or a boiling pot. The face of it is toward the north. It’s ready to spill over. God says the trouble is coming from the north. “An evil shall break forth ipon all the inhabitants of the land.”
That would be Babylon. “I will call ALL the families of the kingdoms of the north,” the Lord says. They were going to come down and surround Jerusalem. And not just Jerusalem but ALL the cities of Judah.
This was not just another army passing through. This is more than that. God says clearly in verse 16: “I will utter my judgments against them touching ALL their wickedness, who have forsaken me.” Look at what they had done.
“Have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.”
This was God judging His own people. Why? Again, take a close look. 1) Because they forsook Him. 2) Because they burned incense to other gods. 3) Because they worshipped what they made with their own hands.
They left the true God. They replaced Him. So God was bringing judgment.
Get Ready
Jeremiah 1:17
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
Now God turns to Jeremiah. “Gird up thy loins.” That means get ready. Stand up. Speak. Say what I tell you to say.
And then God says something important:
“Be not dismayed at their faces.” They’re going to look angry. They’re going to push back. They’re not going to like it. Don’t let their expressions shut you down.
If you’re afraid of them, God says He will confound you in front of them. That’s serious. If God calls you to speak, you speak. You don’t back down because someone looks upset.
A Defensed City
Jeremiah 1:18–19
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
God tells Jeremiah something very powerful. “I have made thee a defenced city.” That means fortified. Strong. Protected. And notice the words are THEE. This is to Jeremiah.
And look who he’s standing against them: Kings. Princes. Priests. The people. That’s everyone. God doesn’t promise Jeremiah an easy ministry AT ALL. Do you see that? Make sure you don’t miss these things.
“And THEY shall fight against thee.”
He promises a fight. “They shall fight against thee.” Who? Kings, princes, priests, and all the people. Imagine KINGS coming after you.
But then comes the promise from God. “They shall not prevail against thee.” Why? “For I am with thee.”
That’s it. Not because Jeremiah was tough. Not because he was naturally bold. Because God was with him. That’s what makes someone strong.
Practical Applications
- When God speaks, He means it. If He says something is coming, it’s coming.
- Sin has consequences. When people turn from God and make their own religion, judgment follows.
- Don’t be intimidated. If God gives you truth to speak, don’t back down because of faces.
- Strength comes from God being with you. You don’t have to be the strongest person in the room. You just need God on your side.
Conclusion: I Will Make You a Defensed City
Jeremiah was young. The nation was corrupt. Judgment was coming. And God told him, “You’re going to speak. You’re going to preach the words of the Lord.”
God didn’t tell him it would be easy. Being a preacher of God’s words in this world is not easy. People won’t like you. The world will hate you. God didn’t say the people would like it. He said they would fight against him.
Kings would fight him. Priests would fight him. The people would fight him. But God also said something else that’s very important.
“They shall not prevail against thee.” Why? “For I am with thee.” That’s what mattered. God told Jeremiah that He would be with Him.
His age didn’t matter. His ability didn’t matter. His quick comebacks didn’t matter. His confidence didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered because God was with him.
If God sends you to speak truth, He does not abandon you. He doesn’t leave you. He doesn’t forsake you. There may be pressure. There may be resistance.
But if God is with you, that is enough.
Let’s pray.
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