The One Appointed by the LORD

Jeremiah 1:1-10

1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

6 Then said I:
"Ah, Lord GOD!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."

7 But the LORD said to me:
"Do not say, 'I am a youth,'
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:
"Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant."

Jeremiah’s name means ‘appointed by the LORD,’ and justified His calling as God’s spokesman called a prophet.  Prophets were the voice of God’s spoken and written word given flesh to be present among His people that we would not imagine we were hearing voices out of nowhere.  Their words were often backed by God fulfilling he message given them.  Ultimately, Jesus Christ as the final prophet (Hebrews 1:1-2) walked among us as God’s embodied word (John 1:1, 14) for us to first see as eyewitnesses (Luke 1:1-2, 2 Peter 1:16) and then read and understand as His Spirit placed in us validates and explains to us now (2 Peter 1:19-21).  We have no need for more of the type of prophets of the Old Testament time because of Jesus Christ therefore.  Prophetic words now are explanations of inspired preaching and teaching of the finalized word of scripture given to us that we might understand what God has already spoken and grow in wisdom.  We do not seek new revelations because they have been given to us and recorded in the sealed collection of those He spoke to and through which we call the Bible, the writings of God to us.  Back then Jeremiah was called out by the LORD to speak to His people as a messenger (prophet), having been predetermined and set apart to come into being before he was even conceived and not yet born, which was according to God’s predestined plan to call all His chosen ones before time began (Ephesians 1:4, Titus 1:1-3).  When Jeremiah was old enough to hear and respond to God’s calling, he did not boast to others and try to impress with his abilities, but in humility admitted his utter unworthiness, a stark contrast to the self-proclaimed prophets of our modern times.  God reassured the prophet that it was His call and not the messenger’s ability that was key.  The LORD God provided the commanded words not yet written down (but now in this very book) according to His ability and Jeremiah was assured therefore not to worry about the verity of the messages or fear the hearer’s responses.  He put His words in his mouth!  The messages were God’s plan to rule over the affairs of the nations for His glory according to His word and will.  We no longer are called to such work, but now are to speak His word already revealed to expound it to the hearers whose hearts and ears are exposed by God to hear and see His glory and truth.  We who are chosen and called out now are therefore messengers of the existing message of the gospel and not writers of new words to put in His mouth.  We are accordingly warned in 2 Peter 2:1 and 1 John 4:1 to look out for those false prophets not speaking according to His word.  The One appointed by the LORD is Jesus the Christ, the reason no more messengers to bring God’s word are needed; He is the living Word Himself and we have the finalized written form in the scriptures, so who can add to His completed words?  Prophets such as Jeremiah were needed to bring those words to us and inscribed for us to prepare the coming of the Word and completed in Him as the apostles who met Him face to face recorded as eyewitness for us.  Such prophets and apostles are no longer required because He has in these last days spoken to us through His Son, the One appointed by the Father.