January 6, 2024: Haftorah - Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
This week's Haftorah reading is from Jeremiah 1:1-2:3. Join Dr. Jeffery Myers as he concentrates on the life of the Prophet Jeremiah, and how ADONAI used him to communicate the message of repentance to Israel, and ELOHIM'S value of life. We are not just a number…ELOHIM knows us!
Follow along in the AUDIO PODCAST, by clicking on the play button below, and reading along with the notes, as you listen to today's Haftorah Portion:
Lion of Judah Speaks: Haftorah Portion – Jeremiah 1:1-2:3:
This Haftorah is filled with the best and worst of times dealing with the nation of Israel. Jeremiah is a priest in the village in the tribal boundaries of Benjamin, just a few miles from Jerusalem. Jeremiah receives the word of Adonai in the days of Josiah, the king of Judah. The nation of Judah had a very imbalanced history in which there were good kings who served Adonai and led the people in righteousness. But there were also wicked kings who arose and rejected Adonai and led the people in evil and idolatry. Hezekiah and Josiah were two kings that obeyed the word of Adonai. The reign of Josiah was an amazing time of reforms and spiritual restoration. Josiah’s grandfather was Manasseh who is described as the most wicked king Judah ever had reign over them.
Josiah tore down idols, cleansed the Temple, restored the Pesach, and pressed the people to obey Elohim. Jeremiah 1:2 records the best of times. However, Jeremiah 1:3 records the worst of times. Jeremiah would be the prophet who would prophecy over the best and worst times. He will prophesy during a time of great spiritual fervor and prophesy during a time of great rebellion to Elohim, all the way to the destruction of the nation in 586 BC. Jeremiah was a man with a message from Elohim- a message of repentance! Sadly, his prophecies fell mostly on deaf ears.
Jeremiah was viewed as a renegade who preached disloyalty to the state of Judah. Because of the nation’s refusal to listen and change; Elohim allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed by the Babylonians, making it an example of the fate of the unrepentant.
The book of Jeremiah is different than other prophetic books because we get an insight to who the man is all about. It is a long book-the longest in the whole Bible, other than the book of Psalms. It is a story full of powerful lessons and memorable verses.
Sometimes Elohim calling His prophet into service is quickly stated. But you will notice that Jeremiah’s call is lengthy and informative. Listen to what Adonai tells Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you, I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
What an amazing introduction of Elohim to Jeremiah. Adonai formed Jeremiah in the womb and before he did this, he knew Jeremiah. Why is this so important? Adonai is telling us that we are not an accident! We are not just an experiment in reproductive science. We are formed and made by Elohim! We should know this as Elohim’s people because science cannot explain the life spirit that is put into each human. Science cannot explain the soul that everyone has. We can explain all we want to about reproduction and genetics but at the end of it all, Elohim forms us in the womb! Life comes from Elohim! We have no right to decide who is worthy of life and who isn’t worthy of life when we see that Elohim forms each baby. We have no right to abort what Elohim creates and forms. Elohim says that even before birth, He knows that child. Every person comes from Elohim. Elohim is the author of every life! Babies are not balls of tissue but are formed in the very image of Elohim by Elohim! We are not random, and we are not an accident. We are formed by Elohim. Elohim knew us before we knew Elohim. Jeremiah was set apart or consecrated and we are also.
So, what can we learn from the first chapter of Jeremiah? We learn that Elohim knows everything about us. The Elohim who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them- created us! This is a title contained in His word that tells us the defining hallmark of the true Elohim, who was thoroughly unlike the pagan deities worshipped by the surrounding nations.
He is the Yah of Abraham, Isaac, and Ya’akov, the one and only Elohim who can claim to be the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them…including us!
Elohim knew Jeremiah before the moment of conception. David spoke of how Elohim similarly knew him: “Your eyes saw my substance (conceived life) being yet unformed” (Psalm 139:16). In other words, Elohim knows about us before we even began to take shape in the belly of our mother. We are not just a number…Elohim knows us! We are special, one-of-a-kind who Elohim knows and cares about. Elohim is acutely aware of who we are and has a purpose for our lives.
We also learn from this portion that we are never too young to be used by Elohim. Elohim told Jeremiah, “Before you were born, I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). The objective was clear: Jeremiah was to go to the people and prophesy to them. But Jeremiah immediately protested!
Speaking the uncomfortable truth to the sinful people of Judah would not be a walk in the park especially for a young man. He tried to turn down the responsibility and use his age as an excuse, but it didn’t work. Elohim didn’t invite him- He ordered him!
History shows us that Elohim works through young and old alike to accomplish His purpose. We have as examples; David, Josiah, Timothy just to name a few. We should never use “I am too young” as an excuse.
The third lesson we learn is that Elohim promises to protect and deliver us. Elohim encouraged Jeremiah saying, “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:8).
Elohim was aware that Jeremiah still had his worries. What follows is one of the most strengthening and reinforcing comments someone could say to a sensitive young man like Jeremiah: “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).
That didn’t mean he would never experience persecution. Jeremiah’s prophetic career was plagued by imprisonment, starvation and loneliness. Yet Elohim assured Jeremiah that He would deliver him (verse 19). And even when his life seemed to be hanging by a thread, Jeremiah was able to count on Elohim’s promise. As the world becomes more corrupt, the solid and consistent examples of a true follower in action will become more noticeable-and some will not like it!
Yeshua HaMashiach explained that people who live in darkness hate the light of Elohim’s way of life. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). The time is coming when true disciples will be in a position similar to Jeremiah’s and be hated by nearly everybody (Matt. 10:22). The time is coming when we will experience severe persecution. But we can draw strength from Elohim’s protection and the knowledge that we are doing the right thing.
People will fight against us. It might even be our own people that fight against us just like it was Jeremiah’s own people that fought against him. But this does not excuse us from our Elohim-given purpose. We dress for the work, prepare your minds for action, and set all your hope on the grace to come when Yeshua is revealed. Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, Elohim gives us the strength to do His work and removes the fears we have. We all have gifts to be used and we all have Elohim’s words to say: “We are His workmanship! We are His handiwork! We are formed the way Elohim made us.”
Fulfill your purpose without excuse! Our work is to take Elohim’s word to do Elohim’s work…so let’s start now!
Shabbat Shalom Mishpocha,
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Have a great Sabbath! Serve Adonai will gladness! Surrender your lives to Him and walk out your Elohim-given purpose with NO EXCUSES! Let the warriors arise and storm the land with the truth of Elohim’s word! See you at the altar!
Shalom Aleichem
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