Jer 1:17-19 | KingComments | STEP | In these last verses of the chapter, Jeremiah is greatly encouraged for his arduous task. He needs this because his message will be neither welcome nor popular with his people. To fulfill his duties, nothing less will suffice than absolute dedication to God and utter reliance on His power ( ). He must gird up his loins. This means that he must be willing to serve and nothing must hinder him in doing so. Next, he must arise, that is take the position of service. Thus he must speak to the people. In doing so, he must not withhold anything, but he must say “all” (cf. ). Every word of God is important. He must also not change anything about it, not use words of his own, words that may sound more pleasant, but must speak what the LORD will “command” him. Nor should he have any fear of those to whom he is to speak. That would mean that he would allow fear of man to prevent him from fulfilling God’s command. If that were the case, he would have to deal with God Himself, Who would then turn against him. That would be an embarrassment for him with respect to the people to whom he was sent. The fear of the LORD is the best remedy against fear of man. The LORD then encourages him with the promise that “today”, that is, with immediate effect, He will make him a threefold strength: 1. “as a fortified city and 2. as a pillar of iron and 3. as walls of bronze” ( ). He will need this to bring his message to “the whole land”. The LORD points him to the four groups people of “the whole land”: “the kings of Judah”, “its princes”, “its priests” and “the people of the land”. Just as he must not withhold a word of what the LORD commands him to speak, so he must not forget or spare a group of people that the LORD lists here. His message will not win him any friends. They will all be against him at one time or another. Who likes a preacher of judgment (cf. )? Yet this one man is stronger than all his enemies combined. The secret of spiritual victory is given in . He may trust that the LORD is with him and that with Him he will be invincible. In his darkest hours, these words will sustain him emotionally and spiritually. The words “to deliver you” imply that Jeremiah will have a tough ministry. The Lord Jesus also says to us to encourage us in the service we have, “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” ( ). Jeremiah must learn from the beginning to trust in the LORD. He may be assured of invincibility on condition of faith in the LORD, Who is greater and stronger than any power. He will ultimately prevail over all his enemies. The prophecies Jeremiah will utter will also all come true. Then he will also be “delivered” in another sense, namely from false accusations. It will turn out that he is a true prophet of the LORD.

‏ Jeremiah 1:17-19

Commission of the LORD

In these last verses of the chapter, Jeremiah is greatly encouraged for his arduous task. He needs this because his message will be neither welcome nor popular with his people. To fulfill his duties, nothing less will suffice than absolute dedication to God and utter reliance on His power (Jer 1:17). He must gird up his loins. This means that he must be willing to serve and nothing must hinder him in doing so.

Next, he must arise, that is take the position of service. Thus he must speak to the people. In doing so, he must not withhold anything, but he must say “all” (cf. Acts 20:27). Every word of God is important. He must also not change anything about it, not use words of his own, words that may sound more pleasant, but must speak what the LORD will “command” him.

Nor should he have any fear of those to whom he is to speak. That would mean that he would allow fear of man to prevent him from fulfilling God’s command. If that were the case, he would have to deal with God Himself, Who would then turn against him. That would be an embarrassment for him with respect to the people to whom he was sent. The fear of the LORD is the best remedy against fear of man.

The LORD then encourages him with the promise that “today”, that is, with immediate effect, He will make him a threefold strength:

1. “as a fortified city and

2. as a pillar of iron and

3. as walls of bronze” (Jer 1:18).

He will need this to bring his message to “the whole land”. The LORD points him to the four groups people of “the whole land”: “the kings of Judah”, “its princes”, “its priests” and “the people of the land”.

Just as he must not withhold a word of what the LORD commands him to speak, so he must not forget or spare a group of people that the LORD lists here. His message will not win him any friends. They will all be against him at one time or another. Who likes a preacher of judgment (cf. 2Tim 4:3-4)?

Yet this one man is stronger than all his enemies combined. The secret of spiritual victory is given in Jer 1:19. He may trust that the LORD is with him and that with Him he will be invincible. In his darkest hours, these words will sustain him emotionally and spiritually. The words “to deliver you” imply that Jeremiah will have a tough ministry. The Lord Jesus also says to us to encourage us in the service we have, “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).

Jeremiah must learn from the beginning to trust in the LORD. He may be assured of invincibility on condition of faith in the LORD, Who is greater and stronger than any power. He will ultimately prevail over all his enemies. The prophecies Jeremiah will utter will also all come true. Then he will also be “delivered” in another sense, namely from false accusations. It will turn out that he is a true prophet of the LORD.