Jeremiah 1 : Jeremiah is predestined to be a prophet

In Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah is called to prophecy in the name of the Lord when he was very young:

4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Oh, Lord [a]God!
Behold, I do not know how to speak,
Because I am a youth.”
7 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.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
For I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord.


The Lord details his mission:

10 See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to tear down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.”


The Lord watches over His word to fulfill it:

12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am [c]watching over My word to perform it.”

The Lord is in control of everything. The Lord reveals that will punish Judah. Babylon will destroy Judah:

14 Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north the evil [d]will be unleashed on all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” declares the Lord; “and they will come and place, each one of them, his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls around, and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will [e]pronounce My judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, since they have abandoned Me and have [f]offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.

Jeremiah must spread this particular message from the Lord, but he will face problems:

17 Now, belt your garment around your waist and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will make you dismayed before them. 18 Now behold, I have made you today like a fortified city and like a pillar of iron and walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its leaders, to its priests, and to the people of the land. 19 And they will fight against you but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord.