In the first 10 chapters, I learned how God has appointed Jeremiah to be a messenger to God’s people. God chose him even before birth.
“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.”
Jeremiah 1:5
God tells Jeremiah that He has made him like a fortified city against this rebellious people of Israel. The Lord is announcing great punishment on Israel because they have ceased to obey God and have turned to idols.
And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.
Jeremiah 1:16
Also, the Lord is encouraging Jeremiah to be strong and to not be afraid to proclaim the message from God even though the people will hate him and threaten him. But God has chosen Jeremiah from before birth and will sustain him even when the people will turn against him (Jeremiah 1:17-18).
Don’t we see the same things happening to our Lord the Christ later on?
The following chapters 2 to 10 continue in
– condamnation of Judah for unfaithfulness (Jeremiah 2:1-3:5) because they have rejected Jehovah and chose other gods;
– charge of backsliding during the reign of Josiah (Jeremiah 3:6- chapter 6) with a call for repentance and a preview of coming judgement;
– and a warning delivered in the gate of the Lord’s House reminding the people that false religion leads to destruction (Jeremiah 7-10). Note: a really helpful outline of the book is shared by The Book Wurm.
My Rafiki 