Yet God has known you from all eternity, and he has set you apart for new life in Christ. Isaiah had one or two doubts about his calling too, but his doubts were different. Therefore, it is for the comfort of every Christian. Jeremiah 1- Jeremiah's call and commission Jeremiah 7 - Jeremiah Proclaims God's Judgment on Israel Jeremiah 31:31-34 - a new covenant Engage the text as a group: 1. . In Jeremiah 1:8, God tells Jeremiah to not fear their faces in the Hebrew. But Dad said: "Go ahead and try. [1], God knows how we like Jeremiah are knit together according to Gods design. The dialogue begins in Chapter 2 as a voice speaks from out of the throne vision: "Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak with you" (Ezekiel 2:1). (Luke 1:34). Rescued from what? Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project, 10 Key Points About Work in the Bible Every Christian Should Know, Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership, Learning From the Psalms How to Pray Through Your Work, Introduction to Jeremiah and Lamentations, Jeremiah and His Times (Jeremiah and Lamentations), Work-Related Themes in the Book of Jeremiah, Goodness and Defilement of Work (Jeremiah 2), Acknowledgement of God's Provision (Jeremiah 5), Material Success and Failure (Jeremiah 5), Injustice, Greed, the Common Good, and Integrity (Jeremiah 5-8), Work Within a Balanced Life (Jeremiah 17), Bless Wider Society Through Your Work (Jeremiah 29), The Goodness of Work Restored (Jeremiah 30-33), Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To destroy is another word for knocking things down. When you call to them, they will not answer. But everyone who believes in Christ also has a special calling to a particular sphere of obedience and ministry. When God calls Jeremiah to ministry, the prophet initially protests, arguing that he was too inexperienced. When make mistake it is natural to correct it. From another point of view, however, these are the words of God himself: The word of the Lord came to him (v. 2). See 1:2-3. This can't be God; I don't have time for this. It may be as simple as writing a letter of encouragement to those who need it, or as all-encompassing as creating a new, forgiving relationship with someone who may have wronged us. Limited Atonement To set something apart is to sanctify it or to dedicate it to holy service. God equipped Jeremiah to be an international prophet in some amazing ways. We do not choose God before God chooses us. He was a polymath, a great scholar, a man of prodigious learning. The Lord instructed Jeremiah to be a bold prophet, not because of his preaching ability or because of his age and experience, but because he was called to speak Gods own words. A fetus is a person. Unlike Isaiah, Moses doubted his competence rather than his righteousness. The great prophets of the Old Testament had divine authority when they spoke for God because of their vital experiential knowledge of God. study God's Word and apply it to your life! Jeremiah may have had reasonable doubts. It is a word that Jeremiah uses more than all the other biblical writers combined, often to describe the uprooting of idols (e.g. Those who have been appointed to preach that Word have a spiritual authority over the nations. When preachers preach according to Gods Word they are mightier than presidents. All rights reserved. It was not always easy for Jeremiah to speak Gods words. Find out more about herhereand on social media@alyssawrote. They lived and labored under the lengthened shadow of that initial experience with God until the end of their earthly ministry. If God has prepared you for something what does agematter? George Douglas, The Book of Jeremiah (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1903), p. 100. 1:3). . Jeremiah was viewed as a renegade who preached disloyalty to the state of Judah. He set him apart and appointed him as a prophet to the nations. God is the Lord of life. rev., New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1950), p. 152. Its ironic then that Jeremiah responds back to the Lord here I dont knowhow to speak. I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:3-4). With Gods calling comes Gods gifting. Southwestern Journal of Theology ed. Mary added a fifth step to the traditional call narratives. When the seraph flew from the altar to touch Isaiahs lips with a live coal, he said: See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for (Isaiah 6:7). (Luke 2:49) His words have the childlike innocence of one who has not yet faced the full responsibility that his call would engender. In most all experiences, four stages can be recognized: God's call to a person, the person's objection to being called, reassurance that God will provide what is necessary for the person to carry out the action, and a sign or a vision that acts as God's signature on the contract. Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). We are called in many different ways. Gods call to be a prophet to the nations. A daily quiet time of return to the Source recenters us so that the Source may well up in us to be expressed in the world. Photo credit: Getty Images/stevanovicigor. All rights reserved worldwide. Jeremiah, a faithful, God-fearing man, was called to tell Judah that, because of their unrepentant sin, their God had turned against them and was now prepared to remove them from the land at the hands of a pagan king. [82]Rowley, The Re-Discovery of the Old Testament, p. 143. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3951_1_82').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3951_1_82', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); In their call-experience the prophets came into contact with a transforming revelation of the character of God which thereafter dominated their thinking and which inspired their every message. The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. 223-24. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3951_1_83').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3951_1_83', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); This experience was the beginning of a moral and spiritual fellowship which was maintained by the surrender of the prophets will to the purpose of God and by a progressive purification of the inner life. His early messages focused on condemning false worship and social injustice, with calls to repentance. (M) 10See, today I appoint you over nations(N) and kingdoms to uproot(O) and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.(P), 11The word of the Lord came to me: What do you see, Jeremiah?(Q). He has Gods very words in his mouth. Now, again if Jeremiah is about thirteen to sixteen years old which I argue is likely the case then this protest is a little more understandable than if he were say fortyyears old. R. E. O. Just as the knight rode away from the castle, and just as the drawbridge was closing behind him, the king yelled down from the ramparts, Dont be afraid of the dragon! Dragon? He labored as Gods prophet for forty years or more, from 627 b.c. When the man or woman is ready, God then teaches them what they need to know to fulfill their calling. Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 2010 by the Theology of Work Project, Inc. His eyes also are cast down, as if he can no longer bear to see Gods people suffer. Old Testament Major Prophets Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful (Jeremiah 31:4). [83]Rudolf Otto, The Idea of the Holy, Trans. He continually urged focusing on the inner spirit and right actions rather than external religious practice. Meanwhile, Assyria had been conquered by Babylon. God rules the nations of this world by his Word. 42, (Cambridge University Press, 1841), 102. Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth ." Jeremiah had biological parents, of course, but God himself fashioned him and knit him together in his mothers womb. God did not deal with them with any unusual harshness; in fact, the fact that he gave the wicked people such a long time to repent shows His love. conveys God's response to what they had done and their situation. 1:17). The prophets job description includes six tasks, and four of them are negative. Sign up for Unity newsletters! Photo credit: Getty Images/KatarzynaBialasiewicz. We often think of prophets as people who can tell the future. Twice in Luke we read that Mary kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:19 and 2:51). And yet, we need to recognize that this kind of excuse is ultimately inexcusable. The southern kingdom of Judah fell during Jeremiah's prophetic ministry (586 BC), having been threatened for many years by outside powersfirst Assyria and Egypt and then by their eventual conquerors, Babylon. Foolishly, he attempts to flee the presence of the Lord by taking a ship to foreign shores (Jon. In the garden, he prayed a poignant, anguished plea: "Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me" (Luke 22:42). God had work for him to do. Required fields are marked *. Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth" (Jeremiah 1:6). Well, I still feel like one!, Your email address will not be published. Isaiah's lips were cleansed and his sin removed as a seraph touched his mouth with a glowing coal. When God touched Jeremiahs lips, it was not to take away his sins, it was to give him Gods words. None of the prophets received his call from God in the same manner; Even so, as is obvious, God uses many ways of revealing his will to men in the present. However, his message was ultimately one of repentance and restoration. God replied: "For to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever . Old Testament History All rights reserved. When God called Jeremiah to become a "prophet to the nations," Jeremiah cried: "Ah, Lord God! When we were children, learning new skills could be terrifying. There was no easy way for a prophet to know ultimate truth. The result was failure. The book of Jeremiah is Gods words and Jeremiahs words. Not only did he experience the horrors of war, starvation, siege, and captivity, he was called upon to tell the people of it, urging them to repent. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Another brief upswing occurred under King Josiah, but after that, Judah was a mess of puppet kings placed by Egypt and Babylon, some reigning for only three months. I think it was a good answer. New International Version (NIV). Telling children who ask where babies come from that they come from God is good theology. Old Testament Narrative But at the same time the Holy Spirit is the One who breathed out the words of the book of Jeremiah. Image by After Gedaliah was assassinated, Jeremiah was taken against his will to Egypt by some of the Jews who feared reprisal from the Babylonians. Who wrote the book of Jeremiah? God sent Jeremiah to a crumbling nation to warn of their impending demise a warning they didnt heed. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful (Jeremiah 31:4). Jeremiah 12:14-17). Once God had issued his divine call and dealt with his dubious candidate, he gave him a dangerous commission: You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him (James 1:5). In other words, God is saying in Jeremiah 1:7 that hehas it all planned out. Ezekiel was set as a watchman over Israel in order that he might warn them to turn from their wicked ways (Ezek. After studying the call-experience of Jeremiah, I can see no basis at all for believing, as some do, that God no longer calls men to be his spokesmen. 1901 NW Blue Parkway God is sovereign. To tear down is to tear down a standing structure, like knocking down a city wall or toppling a tower. Jeremiah responded faithfully to Gods call to work, and God gave him the knowledge he needed to accomplish it (Jer. 11:1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. His shoulders are hunched forward, weighed down by the sins of Judah. Salem Media Group. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. It might mean breaking through our reluctance to visit a sick friend or relative, making peace with a son or daughter, or entering into a program of self-improvement that ultimately blesses others. God was quick to remind his people that although there would be consequences for their sin, He still had a plan. His inspiration and authority will be no deeper than his personal experiences with God. To answer the call effectively, we must learn to hear the Inner Voice that guides us, discerning the direction of a call through meditation and prayer. It would be a mistake to think that our calling to our work must resemble Jeremiahs. When Michelangelo painted him on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, he presented him in a posture of despair. Old Testament Minor Prophets Perhaps his grasp of Akkadian and Ugaritic was deficient. Jeremiah spent forty years delivering Gods messages to Judah. 14The Lord said to me, From the north(T) disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. Explore what the Bible says about God's calling and your work. However, two of the most important lessons are those of repentance and Gods faithfulness. New Testament General Epistles With reference to Jeremiah chapter 1:4- 19, state Jeremiah's five responses to God's call Atika School Provides Christian Religious Education questions and answers for KCSE preparations. This was precisely Jeremiahs objection. So, with that assurance given to Jeremiah, responding to his age-based doubt, the Lord continues his commissioning of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:9-10. Fort Worth, Texas. Jeremiah spent forty years telling the people what would happen. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you" (Jeremiah 1:7-8). He did all this long before Jeremiah drew his first breath or shed his first tear. Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth" (Jeremiah 1:6). While Jeremiah was being carried around in his mothers womb, God was making preparations for his salvation and his ministry. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. He is the one who uproots some nations and plants others. Copyright 2023 Unity World Headquarters. . Her passions for Biblical study and creativity collide in her writing. Jeremiah, the shy and sheltered youth of Anathoth, found himself conscripted into a position from which his timid nature caused him to shrink (Jer. For this, he was arrested. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Well, it could be the nations that God spoke of earlier. An angel appears to Mary and begins with "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" . The angel's words to Mary should leave us no doubt: "For with God nothing will be impossible" (Luke 1:37). Moses sees the burning bush and hears the voice of God calling him to deliver the Israelites (Exodus 3:1-10). Cf. A good way to answer those questions is to compare Jeremiah with some other prophets. Advertisement . We seek that kind of reassurance when we feel called to do something that seems beyond our present capabilities. Later the Lord reaches out his hand and touches Jeremiahs mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). When the Prophet Jeremiah was called to become a prophet, he made an excuse. Answering While God Calls (Jeremiah 8:20) on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM. burned like a fire in the souls of these prophets. The discouragement of his ministry is evident from the verbs God uses to describe it: See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant (Jeremiah 1:10). But God's call to spiritual growth does not always imply a complete change in our lives. The failure of many preachers to make a spiritual impact upon the society in which we live is due to the fact that they have assumed the prophetic office without having an express call from God. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, Now, I have put my words in your mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). The Angel went on to say to her: "Do not be afraid, Mary. Jeremiah lived when little Israel was tossed around by three great superpowers: Assyria to the north, Egypt to the south, and Babylon to the east. She is a literary agent atC.Y.L.E., the publicity manager atMountain Brook Ink, and a freelance editor withSherpa Editing Services. As you know, I am getting a C in rhetoric at the synagogue. So, did God come to Jeremiah in bodily form somewhere and speak to him and touch him? Give possible dates of these kings. To download full issues and find more information on the Southwestern Journal of Theology, go to swbts.edu/journal. The below passage well demonstrates the cause of Jeremiahs agony: And if they ask you, Where shall we go? tell them, This is what the Lord says: Those destined for death, to death;those for the sword, to the sword;those for starvation, to starvation;those for captivity, to captivity., I will send four kinds of destroyers against them, declares the Lord, the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds and the wild animals to devour and destroy. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. Moses received his first sign when his staff turned into a serpent. Sigmund Mowinckel, The Spirit and the Word in the Pre-Exilic Reforming Prophets,, The Prophets Call A Dialogue With God: As Seen In Jeremiah, Southwestern Journal of Theology Vol. He was a preachers son, for his father Hilkiah was a priest. As William Tyndale stated long ago: There is no work better than another to please God: to pour water, to wash dishes, to be a [cobbler], or an apostle, all are one; to wash dishes and to preach are all one, as touching the deed, to please God. He lived in a time very much like our own, when people no longer think God matters for daily life. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. than in any of the other prophets. He was alone with the knowledge of the horrors coming for Judah. Category: Journal ArticleTags: Jeremiah, Old Testament Narrative, Prophecy. I'm right here by your side." There is a meaningful sense in which the words of Jeremiah are recorded in the pages of the Old Testament. The Call of Jeremiah. The call of Jeremiah is rich in its doctrinal and practical content. Once the Lord uproots, tears down, destroys, and overthrows a nation, there is not much left. God not only knows you, he chose you; and he did so long before you were ever conceived. Jeremiah witnessed, both in foresight and real time, the destruction of his people. (E), 6Alas, Sovereign Lord, I said, I do not know how to speak;(F) I am too young.(G), 7But the Lord said to me, Do not say, I am too young. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. In other words, God's call generally focuses less on us, our particular sins or strengths, and more on a big God and a big job. New Testament General Epistles the call of prophet Jeremiah | how did jeremiah respond to god's call | - YouTube 0:00 / 3:22 Jeremiah's Teaching on Suffering and Hope. Because of the nation's refusal to listen and change, God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed by the Babylonians, making it an example of the fate of the unrepentant. The inherent unknowns of a God-journey can unnerve us as much as it did Moses. She is the co-author ofDear Hero and has 200+ bylines in publications ranging fromThe Christian Communicator toKeys for Kids. When God calls someone to do a job, he gives him or her all the gifts needed to get the job done. [81]Scott, p. 106. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3951_1_81').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3951_1_81', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); Rowley, in describing the effect of the prophets call says. What Do We Learn from Reading Jesus Genealogy? Eugene H. Peterson, Run with the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1983), p. 38. Among its important teachings are the following: 1. All rights reserved. Both kingdoms devolved into corruption and sin, despite repeated warnings from prophets sent by God prophets such as Jeremiah. During this time, Jeremiah wrote to the exiles in Babylon, telling them they would not be returning to their homeland anytime soon. The message of the modern prophet differs only in that it is an interpretation of Gods revelation as recorded in the Bible and an application to the problems of today. 1. Even a child which Jeremiah claimed to be and probably was can do that! We likely will not have the same calling as Jeremiah. Although Luke gives us details of Jesus' commissioning by the Spirit at his baptism, Jesus' call to a life out of the ordinary came through his mother (Luke 1:30-35). The more people tell you not to be afraid, the more you start to wonder what you ought to be afraid of! Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. It is helpful to read 2Kings 22:1-3 and 23:31:31-37. It turns out that God doesnt abandon us then, either. I don't know how to do this. What happens when we mess up badly, like Judah, and end up in a terrible situation that is entirely of our own causing? (LogOut/ Unity Village, MO 64065. Lamentations gives voice to the deepest agonies, with the hope that some comfort may come from crying out to God for mercy. This channel helps one to not only pass christian religious education examinations, but also equips one with appropriate skills and knowledge because it's a source of inspiration in spiritual development.Virtues of honesty, tolerance, handwork, diligence, respect, are also acquired here; helping one to understand themselves and the universe.CRE paper 2 2020 | CRE paper 2 2021https://youtu.be/DwVkaKBR67wcre paper 1 2021| cre paper 1 notes pdf | kcse 2019 cre paper 1| questions and answershttps://youtu.be/Y-Juh7gRsP0 CHOOSE ANY VIDEO FROM HEREhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMGvnjDr6acKX-M5wcyCs1Q/playlistsOld Testament prophesies HEREhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-7bi3qtiZU\u0026list=PLN1Hq1ch1NWIAJYhhLD9qSJBsJpCu8QTLselected aspects in traditional African society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3CUCDgJij0\u0026list=PLN1Hq1ch1NWJQZelHWsSdHxSHJN-vq1k6APPLICATION QUESTIONShttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcezGzZrYQU\u0026list=PLN1Hq1ch1NWLyYx14DvnLJUQ7PHeuOii1 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say (Exodus 4:11-12). Old Testament Wisdom. Concerning this truth, Skinner has stated that the ultimate secret of true prophetic inspiration is found in an immediate consciousness of having the mind of God.[84]Skinner, p. 195. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3951_1_84').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3951_1_84', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); The concept of God which the prophets received in their call was an in ward and spiritual criterion by which they tested the truthfulness of their message. 4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew[ a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.". We don't know when he perceived that he was to have a public ministry, but Jesus was still a child when he stayed behind in Jerusalem in the temple, dialoguing with his teachers. [weight: 0, uuid: 0472ba03-6a53-4b34-a5d6-6a6fa4ecf6de], [weight: 0, uuid: 226a8345-3cb3-4471-a08b-42c8347364b5], [weight: 0, uuid: 00432b85-8300-4be9-84ad-d7d601ae9ca9], [weight: 0, uuid: d44f4b9a-1077-432a-ae03-c65eeebde611], [weight: 0, uuid: e0188e7b-48b6-473e-92d6-b6e38cf010da], [weight: 0, uuid: 208be9e6-cc79-48dd-a120-8abb2e10cf52], [weight: 0, uuid: cb4e2841-3fe6-4a73-a11c-6a47afc59733], [weight: 0, uuid: 4713a568-ec19-48f2-a7d2-60d976f8e61f], [weight: 0, uuid: a32833de-2602-4ddb-ab2f-68842cad9a7c], [weight: 0, uuid: fa0ea4f4-bfcc-4cad-b167-d72af801617f], [weight: 0, uuid: f2a40789-4319-44f9-a8b3-7afafa7c2697], [weight: 0, uuid: a03aeb04-c88f-4d56-964b-3cb3f8f3d35e], [weight: 0, uuid: 4b6f6a98-12fb-494d-b8ee-aedefdbd75ed], [weight: 0, uuid: fb5bb90c-9637-4316-9309-b6e83dae810f]. The book of Jeremiah offers many valuable lessons. In any case, Jeremiah had his doubts about whether he could do the job. After several years of preaching, Jeremiahs family turned against him and even plotted to kill him (Jeremiah 1:8, 11:21-23, 12:6). It gives hope to parents who have lost children in infancy, and even for women who aborted their own babies. God did not disqualify Jeremiah on the basis of his youth and inexperience. Though Jeremiahs birth date isnt exactly clear, he received Gods call at a young age, probably as a teenager (Jeremiah 1:6). It is tilting toward us from the north.. Jeremiah endures mockery, imprisonment, kidnapping, and death threats from the people he desperately tries to help. Jeremiah preached a lot of doom and punishment. Many died in a siege of Jerusalem and more were carried off to Babylon in 597. He came forth with the consciousness that he was an extension of the divine personality. Get Unity news, prayers, and resources straight to your inbox. Before taking time to think about my answer, I blurted out, Yes, Id preach to the Queen of England.. God himself possesses everything Jeremiah needs to answer his call. The first two actions seem to focus on the initial stages of destruction rooting out and pulling down. This does not mean that your gifts and abilities do not matter when you are trying to figure out what God wants you to do with your life. For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty (Isaiah 6:5Jeremiah 1:5). The reason Jeremiah has authority over nations and kingdoms (Jeremiah 1:10) is that he is not speaking on his own behalf. As an adult, Jesus struggled with the overwhelming implications of his ministry. Unlike the others, however, Jonah rejects God's call. 18Today I have made you(AD) a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole landagainst the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. To answer such a call may mean that we would be required to make major life changes, perhaps selling our home and property. Four decades is a long time to be a weeping prophet. It comes in meditation as we gain new insights into the call. Was Jeremiahs call like the call of Moses? New Testament Epistles But he does command him not to be afraid, and he does promise to rescue him. Salem Media Group. To Paraphrase Jeremiah's Doubts You might remember that in Jeremiah 1:5 God says that he knew Jeremiah before he was born. He sent dozens of messengers proclaiming repentance, but these messengers were killed, abused, and mocked. Jeremiah Cheung. All rights reserved. He began proclaiming God's messages and continued to do so through trial and peril. Judah was sent into captivity, the Promised Land stripped from them, and it was entirely their own fault. Jeremiah was known for his dramatic object lessons.