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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 4

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you"

Text: Jeremiah 1:5

A SPECIAL PERSONAL WORD

The Lord gave to Jeremiah many significant messages (word). There was one that could not but be remembered clearly. The Calling of God would always be remembered.

“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
‘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.’ ”
Jeremiah 1:4-5

1. “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying”

a) This was probably one of the earliest words Jeremiah received from God.
i) It was given in the reign of King Josiah.
ii) Jeremiah was there when King Josiah died (2 Chronicles 35:20-27).
b) It was a word that would determine his destiny.
i) It was personal.
ii) It was powerful.
iii) It was a heavy word, for to be called a prophet would demand much from Jeremiah.

2. The Content of this special word from the Lord may be divided into three parts:

a) “I knew you”
i) When did God know Jeremiah?
ii) Even before Jeremiah was in the womb of his mother.
iii) God’s omniscience is truly awesome.
b) “I sanctified you”
i) The word “sanctify” can mean “to make holy”.
ii) Another nuance is, “to be set apart”.
iii) God told Jeremiah he was set apart for the work that was being revealed.
c) “I ordained you a prophet to the nations”
i) Ordination is the final part of this personal word to Jeremiah.
ii) In the usual understanding of the word, this would mean that Jeremiah would be anointed with oil.
iii) In this instance, God announced that He had ordained Jeremiah to be God’s servant, called to be a prophet.
iv) Physical ordination is not to be taken lightly.
v) But to be ordained by God Himself challenges us to go deeper in our understanding.