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J e r e m i a h    M a n d a t e

When I awake from sleep is usually the time that Holy Spirit shows me things.

One morning recently repeated urging  came to look at God's commissioning of the Prophet Jeremiah. 

Here it is in Jeremiah 1, verses 4 through 10:

Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; 

I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Then I said, "Alas, Lord God! Behold I do not know how to speak,

because I am a youth."

But the LORD said to me, 

"Do not say, 'I am a youth,' because everywhere I send you, you shall go,

And all that I command you, you shall speak.

"Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,"

declares the LORD.

Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, 

and the LORD said to me,

"Behold I have put My words in your mouth.

"See, I have appointed you this day over the nations

and over the kingdoms,

To pluck up and to break down,

To destroy and to overthrow,

To build and to plant."

How easy to imagine young Jeremiah  shaking, and cowering 

under a rock after hearing the LORD's mandate for his life and work.

What a responsibility! -- but was the responsibility Jeremiah's? Yes...and no.

Our inner eyes - our understanding - can open as we view this picture:

                                                                          Photo by Tyson2u

The famous prose poem called "Footprints" presents a word-picture of the

believer who asks the Lord why there were times when only one set of 

footprints was visible as he walked on the sand of his life. 

"Why did you leave me when I needed you?"

The Lord answered,

 "When you see only one set of footprints, it was then

that I carried you."

Jeremiah had a really rough life! One day the king of Judah's officials

were very angry with Jeremiah because of God's Word through him. 

They got permission from the king, and had the prophet put down into 

a muddy pit [a cistern] used for storing water.

A good man, an Ethiopian eunuch, went to King Zedechiah and obtained

permission to rescue Jeremiah.

So, for Jeremiah, this was such a time when God "carried" him. 

The responsibility for Jeremiah's life and prophetic ministry was in the

hands of the LORD. 

Jeremiah's responsibility was to listen to God, then to obey His direction.

If he was to speak to the people at a God-directed location, he did that.

If he was told to go speak to the king, he did that.

It was NOT Jeremiah's responsibility to try to "make it happen", because

kings and everyone else can choose to obey or disobey. 

This man of God prayed much for his people, pleading for God's mercy.

He is known as "the weeping prophet."

For Jeremiah long ago, and for men and woman called by God today,

the commission is the same:

Seek me and you shall find me, when you search for me with 

all your heart...

In the earth-realm, princes and princesses (the sons and daughters of kings), 

are sent by their father to other nations as ambassadors.

Today the King of kings and Lord of lords in heaven, still sends trusted sons and daughters on special missions in this world.

       Let us seek Him and remain obedient, and prepared -       

   so that when God calls our name, we will be in good health,    

   packed and ready to go!