When God Has Your Attention

The first event after Jeremiah's commission is a conversation about visions given to him by God. The Lord asks him two questions. Here is the first. 

Jeremiah 1:11–12 (ESV) And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” 12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”

A note in my Bible over the word, "almond" stipulates a wordplay at work here. The Hebrew word for almond (saqed) sounds like "watching" (saqad). God wanted Jeremiah to SEE God's word at work. God will always see that His Word goes to work as God declared it to work. 

This is the fundamental requirement if one should venture to speak for God. That person must be confident that God's Word will come to pass no matter what others SAY. Those who reject such confidence will find themselves swaying in the wind of public opinion, current trends, and even age-old deceptions. God makes plain to Jeremiah that His Word will work in spite of the requisite opposition Jeremiah will face when delivering it. 

The first bit of bad news is delivered next through a second vision and question:

Jeremiah 1:13–14 (ESV) The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14 Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land.

God would send disaster from the North. Is this Assyria who already took captive the Northern kingdom? Many say no. Is it Babylon as Jermemiah later reports will take captive the Southern Kingdom? Perhaps. Ultimately the North is an oft-repeated symbolic direction from which looming disaster comes (See Gog and Magog in Ezekial 38). 

Jeremiah 1:15 (ESV) For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah.

The really bad news is that Jerusalem, the city of David will see foreigners dominate her and rule her. And the text seems to indicate more than one will do this. History proves it 100% true. 

After God describes the sin of the people's idolatry He commissions Jeremiah with work to be done:

Jeremiah 1:17 (ESV) But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.

The Hebrew for "dress yourself for work" is better translated, "gird up your loins". I like that image. It's a calling to courage. If we are to speak for God, we are to do the necessary WORK to develop courage in God's Word. 

And finally, Jeremiah is to remember that it is God who makes the messenger strong for the message. 

Jeremiah 1:18–19 (ESV) And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, 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 they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”

The question of everyone's life is who has your attention? What word are you listening to? If it is not God's change course and make it God's Word! The strength you need is in the speech He utters.