September 28 - October 4: The Early Ministry of Jeremiah (5)

JUDAH, FROM ISAIAH TO EXILE (September - November 2025)

Unit II, Jeremiah and the Promise of Renewal

The Early Ministry Of Jeremiah (lesson 1 of 5)

Daily Bible Meditations by Angie Osborn

Sunday, September 28: 2 Chronicles 34:1-7

Josiah was only 8 years old when he became king, but he chose a different path than many rulers before him. While others turned away from God, Josiah developed a fierce passion for God's laws. By age 20, he was tearing down every idol and altar that dishonoured God. Josiah's passion for God's laws led to bold action, courageous decisions, and the deep desire to see his people return to truth. Josiah “did not turn to the right or the left” (v.2). He followed God wholeheartedly. We too can choose to follow God wholeheartedly with passion for His laws.

Monday, September 29: Hebrews 4:12-16

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I had no warning signs or symptoms; it was found through a routine procedure. Hidden away in my colon was a tumour that literally could have taken my life! Thankfully, the skilled doctors were able to remove it, and I am now more than five years cancer free! Like that hidden tumour, we often try to hide sins of that separate us from God. Today's passage reminds us that nothing is hidden from Him. As we read His word, our Heavenly Father is able to skillfully and precisely remove the house things that keep us from a closer relationship with Him!

Tuesday, September 30: Jeremiah 3:12-19

As a parent, I have first-hand experience with children who have acted in ways that are rebellious. At times, those choices and actions that have broken my heart and brought me to my knees. However, I have never given up on my children. My prayer is always that they will turn back towards both their Heavenly Father and earthly father (and mother). As I read today's scripture, I could feel God's longing for His children to return to Him. Our Heavenly Father has provided a way for us to return to Him.

Wednesday, October 1: Jeremiah 4:5-14

God told the Jerusalem to “wash your heart from evil” (v.14). He was not calling for surface-level religion, but deep, internal transformation. Rituals and outward appearances do not move God when the heart is still filled with rebellion. How often do I live a life that “looks Christian” but avoid letting God to do the work to transform my attitudes, pride, bitterness, or other sins? God calls us to allow Him to truly transform us. For that to happen, we need to approach Him with openness and a humble spirit. Then He can cleanse us, transform us, and bring us back to himself.

Thursday, October 2: Hebrews 12:3-17

I like this definition for discipline: “self-control that is gained by requiring that rules be obeyed and the ability to keep working at something that is difficult.” God does have rules and guidelines for us. He expects that we will obey and then provides us with the strength and endurance to keep doing the hard things. Is it always easy? Absolutely not! However, when we look to Christ and his suffering, we see a model of obedience and doing the hard things. God's discipline is not like that of a vindictive, angry ruler. His discipline is designed to bring us closer to Him and provide us with the strength to do what he calls us to do.

Friday, October 3: Hebrews 12:18-29

Through Christ, we have the privilege to enter the city of the living God! We do not need to fear God's judgement. Our loving Heavenly Father provided a way home for each of us who will believe in Jesus. Through that faith, we can approach God with confidence and reverence and He will allow us to enter into a kingdom that will never be shaken. We are called to live a life marked by gratitude, obedience, and reverent worship. Set aside time of this week to genuinely worship God. Reflect on God's holiness and thank Him for making a way for you to come near to Him.

Sabbath, October 4: Jeremiah 1:6-10; 26:8-9, 12-15

Like Jeremiah, we often feel too inadequate, too young, too inexperienced, or too broken to serve God. Sometimes we feel God calling us to do what seems impossible. It is easy to respond with insecurity and the list of all the reasons we why we cannot. But God does not call the qualified – He qualifies the called. If God is calling you, He will equip you. We need to rely on Him and His strength, not our own. You may face criticism, rejection, or misunderstanding when you obey God – but He sees and honors your faithfulness, and He will lead you. What is God prompting in your heart? Are you willing to trust Him to work through you?

Scripture Passages:

Study: Jeremiah 1:6-10; 26:8-9, 12-15

Background: Jeremiah 1:1-10; 6:10-11; 8:18; 9:2; 26:1-24

Andachtstext: Jeremia 1:11-19

Key Verse:

“But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak.” (Jeremiah 1:7)

Heart of the Lesson:

Sometimes we are called on to lead in situations for which we do not have adequate experience. How should people respond when they lack the necessary experience to carry out a task? When God called Jeremiah, he objected that he was “too young” to carry out the prophetic task and yet God's sufficiency and purpose came to bear despite Jeremiah’s reservations.

Questions for Studying the Text:

1. Have you ever felt unqualified or too inexperienced for something God (or others) asked you to do? How did you respond?
2. What role did profits play in ancient Israelite society, and how were they typically received? What major political and spiritual crisis was Judah facing at the time of Jeremiah's ministry? What were the people’s religious attitudes, especially regarding the Temple and covenant, during Jeremiah’s time (Jeremiah 7:1-11)?
3. How did God respond to Jeremiah's concern about being “too young”? Why do you think God chose someone like Jeremiah – young, reluctant, and emotionally sensitive – for such a difficult ministry? Compare God's call to Jeremiah with that of Moses (Exodus 3:10-12; 4:10-12) and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-8)
4. What did Jeremiah say that caused such a strong reaction in Jeremiah 26? Who led the charge against him (26:8-9) and why is this significant? How did Jeremiah defend himself (26:12-15)? What would it look like in today's society to “speak truth to power” as Jeremiah did?
5. How can we develop the courage to remain faithful when our message or values are unpopular? In what ways can you encourage younger or less experienced people to respond to God's calling in their own lives?

Understanding and Living by Steve Osborn

IN OVER MY HEAD

Recently, I have thought back to my first pastorate and shaken my head in wonder. Fresh out of seminary and with my wife and new baby in tow, let's say I was more than a little green behind the ears. I had grown up as a pastor son and had received an excellent seminary education, but I lacked the one thing they cannot teach you in school – experience. What did I know about being a pastor to this group of people I had just met, many of whom were decades older than I? It is probably a good thing I did not realise the staggering responsibility I had taken on. Fortunately, I had a bit of (unfounded) confidence, a few good mentors I could ask for advice, and church members filled with grace to let me grow into the job – but most importantly, God had called me to that task, and He would walk with me each step of the way.

In the late 7th century B.C., with the nation of Judah careening toward a national crisis, God called a young man (probably still a teenager) named Jeremiah to proclaim His message of judgement and the call for repentance to Judah end of the nations. Talk about in over your head! We should not be surprised by Jeremiah's initial response, “I'm too young! I don't know how to do this! You've got the wrong person!” It is common to react to God's calling with feelings of inadequacy, fear, and reluctance. We have heard this story before- godly men as mighty as Moses, Gideon, and the Jonah all tried to claim they were unqualified to do what God was asking. God's response to Jeremiah should encourage all of us who have been called to serve above our level of experience or ability. God did not lie and say, “You've got this, it's not as hard as it looks.” He assured that Jeremiah that He would be with him, that he would give him the words to say, and, most importantly, that God had called Jeremiah to that task, and He would walk with him each step of the way.

WHEN TRUTH HURTS

God gave a strong hint about the tone and content of Jeremiah’s ministry at the end of His call “To root out and to tear down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). We see there a whole lot of judgement with a little bit of hope sprinkled in. Jeremiah's message would call out Judah for things like unfaithfulness and idolatry, while warning them of their coming judgement. Even as he called the people to repentance, he knew exile was inevitable. Compared to the majestic, visionary message of hope and restoration, with messianic overtones, of his predecessor, Isaiah, Jeremiah’s message was more raw, emotional, and confrontational. No wonder he was known as the “weeping prophet.”

People tend to respond negatively to such a message. We want a more comforting message from God, as the poor the reminded young Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; But wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their years away from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). There were plenty of prophets available who were bringing false hope in their messages of peace and prosperity. So, when Jeremiah prophesied, during Hezekiah’s reign, the destruction of the Temple (Jeremiah 26:1-7), the priests, prophets, and all the people plotted to kill him. Jeremiah stuck to his guns, letting the people know that this was God's message, not his own, and that he was willing to die for that message if that is what it took (Verses 12-15).

Faithful service to God often means standing firm, even when we are misunderstood, rejected, or threatened. It means being committed to His truth even when it costs us. It means a loving the things God loves – truth, justice, repentance, and righteousness – more than the things of the world. It also means hating the injustices God hates – such as racism, corruption, exploitation, and abuse – and fighting against them. Most of us today do not face any real threat of harm for serving the Lord, but we need to take a choice nonetheless. How committed are we to obeying His call? Will we stand firm with a message of truth that may be offensive or hurtful to some rather than shifting to a more popular message that is easier for people to receive? Can we truly deny ourselves, take up our crosses each day, and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24)?

RECEIVING GOD’S CHOICE

God may not be calling you to confront national leaders and chastise your entire nation like he did Jeremiah. But he has chosen you to accomplish some pretty amazing things for Him – not because you are good enough or smart enough, but just cause that is His plan. Do you receive his choice? Just as He said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5), He has said to you, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

That may be hard for you to believe, and it is human nature to respond with fear or feelings of inadequacy. Remember, God's call is not based on your age or your skill set or your résumé but entirely on His purpose and His sufficiency. He is enough. Where is God calling you to speak truth or take a stand? What fears must you surrender to answer that call? When Satan tempts you to respond to God's choice with, “I'm too young” or “unqualified” or “not strong enough” or “not brave enough”, God says, “Everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to save you” (Jeremiah 1:7b-8).

Hints for Teaching:

Lesson Goals:

1. Review the call of Jeremiah and his ministry in the context of the Babylonian threat.
2. Love what God loves and hate what God hates.
3. Name injustices and work for justice.

Teaching Activity:

In order to visualise at the components of Jeremiah’s call and see how God addressed his concerns, diagram Jeremiah 1:6-10 using these headings: Jeremiah's Excuse; God’s Responds; God’s Command; God’s Empowerment; and The Mission. What stands out about God’s response? What does this tell us about how God calls and equips people? Give each participant a piece of paper and ask them to complete this sentence: “God might be calling me to … but I feel …. Then ask them to write God’s possible response underneath, based on Jeremiah 1:7-8. Close with the silent reflection and optional sharing in pairs.

Looking Forward:

God's call and empowerment of Jeremiah has encouraged us to obey God's call in our lives. Next, Jeremiah’s confrontation of Judah’s hypocrisy will challenge us to strive for consistency in word and deed.