Short thoughts about Jeremiah and his calling to prophetic office.
Jeremiah is the son of Hilkiah, a Levitical priest. While there were some priests who prophesied, I don't think they filled the prophetic office like Jeremiah. So he is an unusual if not unique position. I have tried to make a distinction between someone who prophesies on occasion and the office of prophet.
His name means "whom Jehovah has appointed"
Observations:
This is one of the clearest statements about God being the initiator for prophetic voice. He puts His words into the prophets mouth. As we will see, the exact method is not described here. Jeremiah and other prophets have visions and dreams, not a verbal inspiration. But what they see in the dreams and visions is still inspired.
Jeremiah is given great delegated authority by the LORD. He is a young man (v 6) from a small town within the territory of Benjamin. But God sets him over nations and kingdoms. So not just the people of Judah and Benjamin. Israel proper has already been dispersed by Assyrians.
Jeremiah is given negative messages (pluck up, destroy, tear down), but also positive (plant and build up).
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