August 1, 2024 • 20 mins
In this Bible Story, we learn about the calling of Jeremiah. He is chosen as a prophet to bring the people of Judah back to God. Much of his words fall on angry ears, and Jeremiah is forced to feel the blunt force of people’s clubs and fists. This story is inspired by Jeremiah 1, 18-20, 2 Chronicles 36:1-5 & 2 Kings 23:28-37. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.
Today's Bible verse is Jeremiah 18:4 from the King James Version.
Episode 155: After the death of Josiah, Judah was left without a righteous king. This led Jeremiah to speak the Word of God with increased urgency. He urged the people to repent before it was too late, but the people refused to listen and instead beat him and made a fool of him. Knowing that this message was both for now and for the generation to come, he called for Baruch to write down the message God had been giving him. But when the word of God came to the house of the King, he burned it piece by piece.
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Producer: Ben Gammon
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Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray. And the vessel that he made of
clay was marred in the hand of the potter, so
he made it again in another vessel, as seemed good
to the potter to make it. Jeremiah eighteen four. As
the words of to day's reading echoed deep in my ears,
(00:22):
may the truths be etched on my heart like tattoos,
For to day is the day that I accept my
call to be set apart and consecrated to do great
works for your name, Emily Father. When doubts begin to
arise in my mind, like Jeremiah, I thank you that
(00:45):
your word will rise up within me like a flame
and burn all limiting beliefs that seek to hold me back.
Your word in Jeremiah one five says that before I
was in my mother's womb, you had already called me.
So I thank you that no name, no words, no
(01:10):
harmful lies that were ever spoken over my life can
bear any weight, because before they spoke them, you already
spoke blessing of purpose over me. Whether I had people
who believed in me or people who doubted me, it
doesn't take away from my calling and my destiny. Therefore,
(01:34):
like Jeremiah, I will stand tall and speak what you
tell me to speak. I will build what you called
me to build, knowing that nothing can stop the momentum
of my life because the potter of my life has
me on his wheel of destiny and in his hands
(01:57):
I am molded and created for greatness. And I thank
you Lord that through you it shall be done. In Jesus' name. Amen,
thank you for making prayer a priority in your day.
(02:18):
To learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story,
brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Many choices in life can be scary, but your healthcare
shouldn't be one of them. Did you know that traditional
insurance isn't your only option to take care of your
medical costs. Christian Healthcare Ministries is created for you. Believers
who expect more from their healthcare. Embrace a faith based
alternative that puts you in control, plus experience flexibility to
(02:50):
pick your provider of choice with programs as low as
ninety two dollars per month. Enroll today at Cchministries dot org.
Slash pray the broken pot.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
In our last story, Josiah continued his reform over the
nation of Judah. He cut down all the remnants of
old idols and reinstated the Passover to remember the freedom
in God. However, the people continued to long after their
corrupt ways. The Lord gave Josiah a gentle warning judgment
(03:34):
was coming upon Judah for all its past sins. There
would be a reckoning for all the innocent souls that
were led astray by past kings. Now we peer into
the life and calling of Jeremiah, who was a prophet
during the reign of Josiah. We learn of Jeremiah's first
call from God and the images that were shown to him.
(03:57):
Inspired by the Book of Jeremiah.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Hello and welcome once again to the Bible in the
Year podcast. This is Jack Graham, And in our last
reading we heard how Josiah brought the people back to God,
reading the Book of the Law the Covenant to them
and calling them to renew their faith in God, the
covenant that God had made with Israel in the days
of Moses. He then went through the land and destroyed
(04:24):
altars and shrines to honor God and protect people from
falling back into idolatry and spiritual bondage. Josiah had already
received word from God that his people would be judged
for their unfaithfulness. And today we'll see the beginning of
this time with the initial call of the prophet who
would have great significance in the story of God's people.
(04:45):
That prophet is Jeremiah. So let's listen to God's word today.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
In the days of King Josiah the Righteous, Jeremiah was
walking in the temple courtyards. It was dusk and the
sky was a shimmering ama. Jeremiah watched the sun slide
behind the horizon. The west wind whistled gently, and the
trees beside the temple swayed to the evening lullaby. Jeremiah
(05:12):
sat down as the daylight left the land. He was
a very young man. Often he sought the Lord in
the coolness of nightfall. As Jeremiah closed his eyes, he
could hear a quiet voice in the wind. Along with
it a gentle warmth and presents. The Lord spoke to
Jeremiah as he sat beside the temple. Before I formed
(05:33):
you in your mother's womb, I knew you, Jeremiah. His
voice was firm and strong, but refreshing to the soul.
Jeremiah was equally mesmerized and afraid Before you were born.
I set you apart for the nations. I have chosen
you as a prophet to them. You shall be the
(05:55):
declarer of my wisdom and judgment. The Lord's both passed
Jeremiah's mind and straight to his heart. Jeremiah quivered at
the Lord's call. He knew that the position of prophet
was a great responsibility. With it came trials, judgment, and persecution.
(06:17):
My God, Jeremiah stuttered, I do not know how to
speak your truth. I am only a boy. How could
I do such things? Do not say to me, I
am too young, The Lord replied, Wherever I call you,
you will go. What I tell you you speak, fear
is for those who do not have my presence. A
(06:38):
bright light then burst through his mind's eye, and Jeremiah
was swept into the presence of God. He felt a
hand stretch out to him and touch his mouth. Behold,
I have placed my words in your mouth. You are
to be set apart to watch over all the nations
and kingdoms. You shall witness the building and breaking of
all things before you. Jeremiah turned his mind's eyes forward.
(07:03):
He saw a budding almond branch slowly growing before him,
and budding, beautiful little flowers. He heard the Lord behind him,
asking Jeremiah, what do you see. I see an almond branch.
Jeremiah whispered, yes, you see. Well, it, like everything else,
grows according to my word. The Lord replied, Now, what
(07:28):
do you see. Jeremiah felt the whistling wind pick up
as he was shown the image of a pot facing north.
The pot was over a fire and the water was
simmering into a boil. Jeremiah watched as the boiling water
grew heavier, eventually spilling over on to the fire below.
I see a boiling pot, Jeremiah answered, God, it is
(07:51):
facing away from the north. The Lord continued. This time
his tone was intense and filled with warning. Out of
the north, disaster is boiling. Soon the kingdoms of the
North will boil over on to the land of Judah.
They shall come, and it will be with my permission,
for I am allowing them to come into the land
(08:12):
as judgment for Judah's past sins. They will burn and break,
but they shall not destroy, for I am still a
merciful God. Jeremiah still struggled to completely understand the will
of God. Although he was meant to be a messenger
of the Lord. That did not mean he was particularly
equipped to give it. The Lord was gracious to Jeremiah
(08:34):
and showed him several images of his plan to help
explain arise and go down to the potter's house in Jerusalem.
There I will show you my will. So Jeremiah packed
his things and made his way to the potter's house.
It was dawned by the time Jeremiah made it, and
the potter was already hard at work. The rooms smelled
(08:55):
like clay in camp fire. Jeremiah watched as the potter
worked at his wheel. The clay spun fast on the wheel,
tamed by the potter's guiding hands. Jeremiah watched as the
potter gracefully worked his hands up and down the clay,
molding it into a tall and thin shape. The vessel
continued to spin on the wheel, However, it began to
(09:17):
wobble and lose its thin frame. The top began to sag,
and its edges became sloppy. Jeremiah became worried that the
pot was ruined and expected the potter to throw away
the clay and start over. Instead, the potter pressed his
fist down on the top of the clay. It continued
to spin and form into a round and wide bowl.
(09:37):
Jeremiah's eyes widened as he saw the potter form a
pot far more beautiful than the one before. The potter
meticulously designed the handles and spun the pot into a
marvelous work of art. Jeremiah did not realize it, but
he was crying watching the potter work. The Lord then
spoke to Jeremiah's heart. Can I not do the same
(10:00):
thing that the potter has done? God said softly. The
clay in the potter's hand was unruly and unbalanced. It
had to be broken down to make something more marvelous.
Jeremiah watched the potter as he listened to the Lord.
I am shaping disaster so that something more splendid may
be made. Jeremiah was filled with purpose. After this, he
(10:24):
left the potter's house and began to call out the
declarations of God and the temple courtyards in the city streets.
Amen your ways, Jeremiah declared, turn from your evil ways
and embrace your Savior. Much of Jeremiah's words fell on
deaf ears. People passed and paid no attention. In fact,
(10:45):
many of them began to grumble at his words. Yet
Jeremiah continued to speak. We have turned our backs on God,
he says to us, my people have forgotten me, like
a bride running away from his groom. As Jeremiah the
words given to him by God, his heart began to break.
He could feel the hurt in the Lord's words. He
(11:07):
loved his people, and year after years since freeing them
from slavery, they had found new ways to turn away
from him. Sorrow filled his heart, so he continued to
proclaim the warnings of God unashamed. This caused some elders
to conspire against Jeremiah and send him threats. He did
not cease preaching. He leaned on God for courage and
(11:30):
pressed on. It was midday and Jeremiah was outside the
temple gates proclaiming the word of the Lord. He spoke
with the love and intensity of God, warning people to
repent and turn back to their first love. Pashur, the
chief officer and priest, watched Jeremiah from afar. He could
not stand the man speaking as though he was the
(11:52):
only mouthpiece of God. Jealousy dug its roots down deep
into his heart. Eventually, hatred boiled over in him. He
picked up a club that was often used to protect
the priests in case of a robbery, and stormed towards Jeremiah.
The prophet could barely see the shadow of Pasure before
the club struck him over the side of his face.
(12:14):
Jeremiah fell onto the floor and smacked his head on
the cobblestone floor. Disoriented, Jeremiah stumbled to his knees, only
to be kicked in the jar. Blood dripped from his mouth.
He finally glanced up to see Pashur looming over him.
Before Jeremiah could say a word, he received a swift
kick in the ribs. He could feel them crack on impact.
(12:37):
Writhing in pain, Jeremiah managed to open his eyes only
to see the club descending down once again, knocking him unconscious.
Jeremiah woke up the next day. The sun was beating
down on the back of his neck. He tried to
move his hands to rub it, but could not. Regaining consciousness,
Jeremiah discovered that his head and hands were bound in
(12:58):
the stalks outside the temper gates. People passed by him,
giving him grim looks of disapproval or hatred. Jeremiah hung
there all day, receiving the spitting and ridicule of passerbyers.
He did not stop praying the entire time. Although many
of his prayers were asking God to release him, he
(13:19):
maintained his mission to preach repentance. The day was drawing
to a close and Jeremiah could hear the footsteps of
Passcheur behind him. Without a word, Pascheur released him from
the stocks and began to walk away. Jeremiah cleared his throat.
His head was throbbing due to dehydration and the beating
from the day before. He stood to his feet and
(13:40):
stuttered out a few words. The Lord no longer calls
you Pascheur, Jeremiah said. The officer turned his head in curiosity.
Jeremiah looked him deeply in the eyes. You are no
longer called Pascheur, but terror on every side. Passur reached
for his club to give Jeremiah another beading, but Jeremiah continued,
(14:04):
this time with the full intensity of God behind his words.
Thus says the Lord, I will make you a terror
to yourself and to all who love you. Passur froze,
listening to Jeremiah intently. They shall all fall by the
sword of Babylon, all of Judah will be given into
the hand of the Great Northern Kingdom. Your friends shall
(14:25):
be carried away as captives, and all the wealth of
the city shall be taken, and you Passhor will be
carried away as a captive. You shall die as a captive.
Like many Pashur fled from the prophet, and Jeremiah fell
to his knees and wept. He lamented that he was
given the role of warning Judah. He wanted to stop.
(14:47):
He wanted to cease preaching the word of the Lord. However,
as Jeremiah prayed to the Lord, he knew that he
must continue. If I did not preach your truth, there
would be a fire in my bones to speak. I
cannot help but proclaim your name. I would be weary
if I held it in. Jeremiah felt the heart of God.
He would preach to people who would not listen. He
(15:08):
would love people that would hate him in return. This
was the burden and calling of a shepherd.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Today's reading begins with a calling. God's voice goes out
to a young man in the courtyard of God's temple, Jeremiah.
That man wasn't expecting this, but God had planned things
for him since before he was conceived, even in his
mother's womb. If there was ever any doubt how God
views the unborn, the words he speaks to Jeremiah leaves
(15:42):
us no doubt. There was a prophet in the womb
of this woman, his mother. God knew him and had
a purpose for him before his life begin, and that
life began when he was conceived. A calling from God
is a privilege, and it should not be taken lightly.
Jeremiah seemed to understand the depth and gravity of this call.
(16:05):
This would be costly and often uncomfortable. People would even
hate him and want to take his life, and his
first reaction is to object. I'm too young to speak
for you, was his reply. But God was not interested
in Jeremiah's objection or excuses. Still, he encouraged the young man,
saying in Jeremiah one p. Eight, do not be afraid
(16:27):
of them, for I'm with you to deliver you, declares
the Lord. God was reminding Jeremiah what we also need
to hear, that He who calls us is greater than
any obstacle that we face. That if God before us,
who can be against us, we shall always listen to
the still small voice, to the word of God that
(16:49):
calls us to his service. The Lord then gave Jeremiah
a vision a pot filled with water over a fire.
The pot was pointing north, and the fire brought the
water to a boil. God then gave Jeremiah understanding of
what it meant. God's judgment was coming from the north
to punish Judah for its past sins. This would only
(17:11):
happen with God's permission, a reminder of the Lord's total
sovereignty and supremacy. God would use a foreign enemy for
his purposes to correct and cleanse his own people. And
though the enemy would invade, burn and break Judah, they
would not destroy the people. Jeremiah was beginning to understand,
but he still needed more. The Lord showed him many
(17:34):
things that were going to happen, and yet he struggled
to grasp God's plan. We then heard how God sent
him to the house of a potter. It was time
for an object lesson. He watched as the potter worked
the wheel, spinning the clay and shaping it into a pot.
But the clay lost its shape and all seemed lost.
But rather than toss out the clay, the potter began
(17:57):
to work it again. God used this to explain how
He can use brokenness in our own lives to shape
his people. Jeremiah was filled with confidence and went about
speaking God's words and warnings to all who would listen. Unfortunately,
not many did. They turned away from God and his word,
(18:18):
and just like the prophets who had come before him,
Jeremiah faced opposition, hatred, and even physical harm. We heard
the story of Pascheor, the chief of priest, who was
so angry he beat Jeremiah and placed him in stocks
to be ridiculed by those who passed by. But just
as God had promised in the end, those like Pashor
(18:39):
did not prevail against Jeremiah, and he continued working for
God's purposes. Speaking God's truth is not always easy, but
we should surely always speak God's words, whether in ancient
Judah or in our culture today. When we speak God's truth,
it can be costly, it can be tiring, it could
(19:02):
be frightening. But as Jeremiah testified, he had no choice
but to cry out with God's word. Holding it in
was not an option. And even when we speak to
people who do not listen, it is our calling as
Christians to be witnesses of the good news, the gospel
of Christ, and to reach as many people as we
can with God's truth. This was what God was doing
(19:24):
through Jeremiah and what God wants to do through you.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. We pray
that you would give us strength and courage to always
stand for you and your truth, even when people don't
listen or are even hostile. Give us the resolve and
the resilience, the courage and the bravery to speak your
(19:47):
words with clarity and conviction. In Jesus's name, Amen, thank
you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. You could doubt
load theprey dot com app and make Bible study and
prayer the priority of your life. If you enjoyed this podcast,
(20:07):
please share it with someone you love because the word
of God will make a tremendous difference in people's lives.
And if you want to know more as to how
you can grow in your Christian life and faith, how
you can develop as a follower of Jesus into a strong,
dynamic witness, then be sure and visit Jack Graham dot org.
(20:28):
We have multiple resources there available for you again. That's
Jack Graham dot org. God bless you and good day.
Let us pray. And the vessel that he made of
clay was marred in the hand of the potter, so
he made it again in another vessel, as seemed good
to the potter to make it. Jeremiah eighteen four. As
the words of to day's reading echoed deep in my ears,
(00:22):
may the truths be etched on my heart like tattoos,
For to day is the day that I accept my
call to be set apart and consecrated to do great
works for your name, Emily Father. When doubts begin to
arise in my mind, like Jeremiah, I thank you that
(00:45):
your word will rise up within me like a flame
and burn all limiting beliefs that seek to hold me back.
Your word in Jeremiah one five says that before I
was in my mother's womb, you had already called me.
So I thank you that no name, no words, no
(01:10):
harmful lies that were ever spoken over my life can
bear any weight, because before they spoke them, you already
spoke blessing of purpose over me. Whether I had people
who believed in me or people who doubted me, it
doesn't take away from my calling and my destiny. Therefore,
(01:34):
like Jeremiah, I will stand tall and speak what you
tell me to speak. I will build what you called
me to build, knowing that nothing can stop the momentum
of my life because the potter of my life has
me on his wheel of destiny and in his hands
(01:57):
I am molded and created for greatness. And I thank
you Lord that through you it shall be done. In Jesus' name. Amen,
thank you for making prayer a priority in your day.
(02:18):
To learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story,
brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Many choices in life can be scary, but your healthcare
shouldn't be one of them. Did you know that traditional
insurance isn't your only option to take care of your
medical costs. Christian Healthcare Ministries is created for you. Believers
who expect more from their healthcare. Embrace a faith based
alternative that puts you in control, plus experience flexibility to
(02:50):
pick your provider of choice with programs as low as
ninety two dollars per month. Enroll today at Cchministries dot org.
Slash pray the broken pot.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
In our last story, Josiah continued his reform over the
nation of Judah. He cut down all the remnants of
old idols and reinstated the Passover to remember the freedom
in God. However, the people continued to long after their
corrupt ways. The Lord gave Josiah a gentle warning judgment
(03:34):
was coming upon Judah for all its past sins. There
would be a reckoning for all the innocent souls that
were led astray by past kings. Now we peer into
the life and calling of Jeremiah, who was a prophet
during the reign of Josiah. We learn of Jeremiah's first
call from God and the images that were shown to him.
(03:57):
Inspired by the Book of Jeremiah.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Hello and welcome once again to the Bible in the
Year podcast. This is Jack Graham, And in our last
reading we heard how Josiah brought the people back to God,
reading the Book of the Law the Covenant to them
and calling them to renew their faith in God, the
covenant that God had made with Israel in the days
of Moses. He then went through the land and destroyed
(04:24):
altars and shrines to honor God and protect people from
falling back into idolatry and spiritual bondage. Josiah had already
received word from God that his people would be judged
for their unfaithfulness. And today we'll see the beginning of
this time with the initial call of the prophet who
would have great significance in the story of God's people.
(04:45):
That prophet is Jeremiah. So let's listen to God's word today.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
In the days of King Josiah the Righteous, Jeremiah was
walking in the temple courtyards. It was dusk and the
sky was a shimmering ama. Jeremiah watched the sun slide
behind the horizon. The west wind whistled gently, and the
trees beside the temple swayed to the evening lullaby. Jeremiah
(05:12):
sat down as the daylight left the land. He was
a very young man. Often he sought the Lord in
the coolness of nightfall. As Jeremiah closed his eyes, he
could hear a quiet voice in the wind. Along with
it a gentle warmth and presents. The Lord spoke to
Jeremiah as he sat beside the temple. Before I formed
(05:33):
you in your mother's womb, I knew you, Jeremiah. His
voice was firm and strong, but refreshing to the soul.
Jeremiah was equally mesmerized and afraid Before you were born.
I set you apart for the nations. I have chosen
you as a prophet to them. You shall be the
(05:55):
declarer of my wisdom and judgment. The Lord's both passed
Jeremiah's mind and straight to his heart. Jeremiah quivered at
the Lord's call. He knew that the position of prophet
was a great responsibility. With it came trials, judgment, and persecution.
(06:17):
My God, Jeremiah stuttered, I do not know how to
speak your truth. I am only a boy. How could
I do such things? Do not say to me, I
am too young, The Lord replied, Wherever I call you,
you will go. What I tell you you speak, fear
is for those who do not have my presence. A
(06:38):
bright light then burst through his mind's eye, and Jeremiah
was swept into the presence of God. He felt a
hand stretch out to him and touch his mouth. Behold,
I have placed my words in your mouth. You are
to be set apart to watch over all the nations
and kingdoms. You shall witness the building and breaking of
all things before you. Jeremiah turned his mind's eyes forward.
(07:03):
He saw a budding almond branch slowly growing before him,
and budding, beautiful little flowers. He heard the Lord behind him,
asking Jeremiah, what do you see. I see an almond branch.
Jeremiah whispered, yes, you see. Well, it, like everything else,
grows according to my word. The Lord replied, Now, what
(07:28):
do you see. Jeremiah felt the whistling wind pick up
as he was shown the image of a pot facing north.
The pot was over a fire and the water was
simmering into a boil. Jeremiah watched as the boiling water
grew heavier, eventually spilling over on to the fire below.
I see a boiling pot, Jeremiah answered, God, it is
(07:51):
facing away from the north. The Lord continued. This time
his tone was intense and filled with warning. Out of
the north, disaster is boiling. Soon the kingdoms of the
North will boil over on to the land of Judah.
They shall come, and it will be with my permission,
for I am allowing them to come into the land
(08:12):
as judgment for Judah's past sins. They will burn and break,
but they shall not destroy, for I am still a
merciful God. Jeremiah still struggled to completely understand the will
of God. Although he was meant to be a messenger
of the Lord. That did not mean he was particularly
equipped to give it. The Lord was gracious to Jeremiah
(08:34):
and showed him several images of his plan to help
explain arise and go down to the potter's house in Jerusalem.
There I will show you my will. So Jeremiah packed
his things and made his way to the potter's house.
It was dawned by the time Jeremiah made it, and
the potter was already hard at work. The rooms smelled
(08:55):
like clay in camp fire. Jeremiah watched as the potter
worked at his wheel. The clay spun fast on the wheel,
tamed by the potter's guiding hands. Jeremiah watched as the
potter gracefully worked his hands up and down the clay,
molding it into a tall and thin shape. The vessel
continued to spin on the wheel, However, it began to
(09:17):
wobble and lose its thin frame. The top began to sag,
and its edges became sloppy. Jeremiah became worried that the
pot was ruined and expected the potter to throw away
the clay and start over. Instead, the potter pressed his
fist down on the top of the clay. It continued
to spin and form into a round and wide bowl.
(09:37):
Jeremiah's eyes widened as he saw the potter form a
pot far more beautiful than the one before. The potter
meticulously designed the handles and spun the pot into a
marvelous work of art. Jeremiah did not realize it, but
he was crying watching the potter work. The Lord then
spoke to Jeremiah's heart. Can I not do the same
(10:00):
thing that the potter has done? God said softly. The
clay in the potter's hand was unruly and unbalanced. It
had to be broken down to make something more marvelous.
Jeremiah watched the potter as he listened to the Lord.
I am shaping disaster so that something more splendid may
be made. Jeremiah was filled with purpose. After this, he
(10:24):
left the potter's house and began to call out the
declarations of God and the temple courtyards in the city streets.
Amen your ways, Jeremiah declared, turn from your evil ways
and embrace your Savior. Much of Jeremiah's words fell on
deaf ears. People passed and paid no attention. In fact,
(10:45):
many of them began to grumble at his words. Yet
Jeremiah continued to speak. We have turned our backs on God,
he says to us, my people have forgotten me, like
a bride running away from his groom. As Jeremiah the
words given to him by God, his heart began to break.
He could feel the hurt in the Lord's words. He
(11:07):
loved his people, and year after years since freeing them
from slavery, they had found new ways to turn away
from him. Sorrow filled his heart, so he continued to
proclaim the warnings of God unashamed. This caused some elders
to conspire against Jeremiah and send him threats. He did
not cease preaching. He leaned on God for courage and
(11:30):
pressed on. It was midday and Jeremiah was outside the
temple gates proclaiming the word of the Lord. He spoke
with the love and intensity of God, warning people to
repent and turn back to their first love. Pashur, the
chief officer and priest, watched Jeremiah from afar. He could
not stand the man speaking as though he was the
(11:52):
only mouthpiece of God. Jealousy dug its roots down deep
into his heart. Eventually, hatred boiled over in him. He
picked up a club that was often used to protect
the priests in case of a robbery, and stormed towards Jeremiah.
The prophet could barely see the shadow of Pasure before
the club struck him over the side of his face.
(12:14):
Jeremiah fell onto the floor and smacked his head on
the cobblestone floor. Disoriented, Jeremiah stumbled to his knees, only
to be kicked in the jar. Blood dripped from his mouth.
He finally glanced up to see Pashur looming over him.
Before Jeremiah could say a word, he received a swift
kick in the ribs. He could feel them crack on impact.
(12:37):
Writhing in pain, Jeremiah managed to open his eyes only
to see the club descending down once again, knocking him unconscious.
Jeremiah woke up the next day. The sun was beating
down on the back of his neck. He tried to
move his hands to rub it, but could not. Regaining consciousness,
Jeremiah discovered that his head and hands were bound in
(12:58):
the stalks outside the temper gates. People passed by him,
giving him grim looks of disapproval or hatred. Jeremiah hung
there all day, receiving the spitting and ridicule of passerbyers.
He did not stop praying the entire time. Although many
of his prayers were asking God to release him, he
(13:19):
maintained his mission to preach repentance. The day was drawing
to a close and Jeremiah could hear the footsteps of
Passcheur behind him. Without a word, Pascheur released him from
the stocks and began to walk away. Jeremiah cleared his throat.
His head was throbbing due to dehydration and the beating
from the day before. He stood to his feet and
(13:40):
stuttered out a few words. The Lord no longer calls
you Pascheur, Jeremiah said. The officer turned his head in curiosity.
Jeremiah looked him deeply in the eyes. You are no
longer called Pascheur, but terror on every side. Passur reached
for his club to give Jeremiah another beading, but Jeremiah continued,
(14:04):
this time with the full intensity of God behind his words.
Thus says the Lord, I will make you a terror
to yourself and to all who love you. Passur froze,
listening to Jeremiah intently. They shall all fall by the
sword of Babylon, all of Judah will be given into
the hand of the Great Northern Kingdom. Your friends shall
(14:25):
be carried away as captives, and all the wealth of
the city shall be taken, and you Passhor will be
carried away as a captive. You shall die as a captive.
Like many Pashur fled from the prophet, and Jeremiah fell
to his knees and wept. He lamented that he was
given the role of warning Judah. He wanted to stop.
(14:47):
He wanted to cease preaching the word of the Lord. However,
as Jeremiah prayed to the Lord, he knew that he
must continue. If I did not preach your truth, there
would be a fire in my bones to speak. I
cannot help but proclaim your name. I would be weary
if I held it in. Jeremiah felt the heart of God.
He would preach to people who would not listen. He
(15:08):
would love people that would hate him in return. This
was the burden and calling of a shepherd.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Today's reading begins with a calling. God's voice goes out
to a young man in the courtyard of God's temple, Jeremiah.
That man wasn't expecting this, but God had planned things
for him since before he was conceived, even in his
mother's womb. If there was ever any doubt how God
views the unborn, the words he speaks to Jeremiah leaves
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us no doubt. There was a prophet in the womb
of this woman, his mother. God knew him and had
a purpose for him before his life begin, and that
life began when he was conceived. A calling from God
is a privilege, and it should not be taken lightly.
Jeremiah seemed to understand the depth and gravity of this call.
(16:05):
This would be costly and often uncomfortable. People would even
hate him and want to take his life, and his
first reaction is to object. I'm too young to speak
for you, was his reply. But God was not interested
in Jeremiah's objection or excuses. Still, he encouraged the young man,
saying in Jeremiah one p. Eight, do not be afraid
(16:27):
of them, for I'm with you to deliver you, declares
the Lord. God was reminding Jeremiah what we also need
to hear, that He who calls us is greater than
any obstacle that we face. That if God before us,
who can be against us, we shall always listen to
the still small voice, to the word of God that
(16:49):
calls us to his service. The Lord then gave Jeremiah
a vision a pot filled with water over a fire.
The pot was pointing north, and the fire brought the
water to a boil. God then gave Jeremiah understanding of
what it meant. God's judgment was coming from the north
to punish Judah for its past sins. This would only
(17:11):
happen with God's permission, a reminder of the Lord's total
sovereignty and supremacy. God would use a foreign enemy for
his purposes to correct and cleanse his own people. And
though the enemy would invade, burn and break Judah, they
would not destroy the people. Jeremiah was beginning to understand,
but he still needed more. The Lord showed him many
(17:34):
things that were going to happen, and yet he struggled
to grasp God's plan. We then heard how God sent
him to the house of a potter. It was time
for an object lesson. He watched as the potter worked
the wheel, spinning the clay and shaping it into a pot.
But the clay lost its shape and all seemed lost.
But rather than toss out the clay, the potter began
(17:57):
to work it again. God used this to explain how
He can use brokenness in our own lives to shape
his people. Jeremiah was filled with confidence and went about
speaking God's words and warnings to all who would listen. Unfortunately,
not many did. They turned away from God and his word,
(18:18):
and just like the prophets who had come before him,
Jeremiah faced opposition, hatred, and even physical harm. We heard
the story of Pascheor, the chief of priest, who was
so angry he beat Jeremiah and placed him in stocks
to be ridiculed by those who passed by. But just
as God had promised in the end, those like Pashor
(18:39):
did not prevail against Jeremiah, and he continued working for
God's purposes. Speaking God's truth is not always easy, but
we should surely always speak God's words, whether in ancient
Judah or in our culture today. When we speak God's truth,
it can be costly, it can be tiring, it could
(19:02):
be frightening. But as Jeremiah testified, he had no choice
but to cry out with God's word. Holding it in
was not an option. And even when we speak to
people who do not listen, it is our calling as
Christians to be witnesses of the good news, the gospel
of Christ, and to reach as many people as we
can with God's truth. This was what God was doing
(19:24):
through Jeremiah and what God wants to do through you.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. We pray
that you would give us strength and courage to always
stand for you and your truth, even when people don't
listen or are even hostile. Give us the resolve and
the resilience, the courage and the bravery to speak your
(19:47):
words with clarity and conviction. In Jesus's name, Amen, thank
you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. You could doubt
load theprey dot com app and make Bible study and
prayer the priority of your life. If you enjoyed this podcast,
(20:07):
please share it with someone you love because the word
of God will make a tremendous difference in people's lives.
And if you want to know more as to how
you can grow in your Christian life and faith, how
you can develop as a follower of Jesus into a strong,
dynamic witness, then be sure and visit Jack Graham dot org.
(20:28):
We have multiple resources there available for you again. That's
Jack Graham dot org. God bless you and good day.
Host
Jack Graham
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