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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 15

"A fortified city and an iron pillar"

Text: Jeremiah 1:18

MADE STRONG

One of the commitments of the Lord to all His servants is that He would empower them. Divine empowerment may be expressed in different ways.

“For behold, I have made you this day
A fortified city and an iron pillar,
And bronze walls against the whole land—
Against the kings of Judah,
Against its princes,
Against its priests,
And against the people of the land.”
Jeremiah 1:18

1. “For behold, I have made you this day”

a) “Behold”
i) This word was often used to highlight something important.
ii) Jeremiah was afraid that he would not measure up and thus expressed diffidence initially.
iii) God gave to Jeremiah a special sense of assurance.
b) Today
i) This was the start of a new day.
ii) This was the beginning of a new ministry.
iii) God will enable and empower His servant for his life and ministry.

2. “A fortified city”

a) This is a powerful imagery.
b) This imagery gives us a glimpse of what Jeremiah would become.
c) The beginning ministry may not seem significant.
d) But at the end, Jeremiah’s life would be:
i) Fortified
ii) Strong

3. “An iron pillar”

a) Pillars would be a part of the fortifications of a strong city.
b) An iron pillar suggests strength.
c) Jeremiah would not be an ornament but a strong and significant prophet.

4. “Bronze walls”

a) This is another description of a fortified city.
b) Bronze walls are “a dream”.
c) They are difficult to make.
d) This imagery was used to describe the strength of Jeremiah’s life and ministry.

5. Opposition must be expected

a) From kings
Zedekiah was a wicked king (Jeremiah 1:3).
b) From princes
These were often given high appointments. Many abused the power given to them.
c) From priests
These were “fellow-priests”. Some were false priests! They opposed Jeremiah’s ministry strongly.
d) From the common people
Not all the people supported Jeremiah. The wicked and the corrupt ones were incensed against Jeremiah when he preached about righteousness!

6. The promise of divine empowerment

a) This would be deeply appreciated.
b) Jeremiah needed all the encouragement he could get.