July 14, 2025 - Jeremiah 1-6

I suspect that all of us are quite familiar with the prophet Jeremiah and his call to the prophetic ministry.  In the call narrative, a phrase sort of jumps:  Jeremiah was “one of the priests who were in Anathoth” (1:1).  The prophet was of the priestly line of Abiathar (this is the priest who was deposed by Solomon and replaced by Zadok).  There were many other priests; thus, Jeremiah was one of many with the same lineage.  Many times, the priests were primary targets of Jeremiah’s stinging oracles (e.g., 2:26; 6:13,14; 32:32, etc.).  They were unfaithful.  They did things that displeased God.  They led the people astray.  But among them, there was one faithful priest and prophet, Jeremiah.  These chapters tell about the prophet's call, his initial visions, his prophecies of judgment against Jerusalem and Judah, his calls for repentance, and his warnings about disaster coming from the north.  The situation was a mess, but in the midst of the mess, one man stood up and spoke the truth.  Lots to consider here.

Take my life and let it be

consecrated, Lord, to thee.

Take my moments and my days;

let them flow in endless praise,

let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands . . . my feet . . . my voice . . . my lips . . . my silver and my gold . . . my intellect . . . my will . . . my heart . . . [And, so, the hymn writer continues.]

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

at thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be

ever, only, all for thee,

ever, only, all for thee.

An imperfect servant of the Lord was Jeremiah but, oh, so faithful!