Jeremiah 1:1-3 – Serving God in times of turbulence

Jeremiah was the son of a priest. His father Hilkiah was a priest in Anathoth, a little village in the territory belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. A Reading of 2 Kings 22 tells us that Hilkiah was instrumental in the reform of Judah in the reign of Josiah. He was the priest who found the book of the law that triggered the godly Josiah to intensify his reform.  Therefore, it would not come as a surprise to read that Jeremiah, his son was called to the prophetic ministry in the 13^th year of the reign of Josiah.

Prophets were people whom God would send to speak to the kings and help to point the way of God for the nation. Second King 22:1 tells us that Josiah became king when he was only eight years old, and he reigned over Judah for 31 years. Unlike his wicked father Amon, Josiah was a good king. Second Chronicles 34:3a, tells us that “…in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David….” A brief calculation will tell us that Josiah would be 21 years old when Jeremiah was called into the prophetic ministry.  

Not only did Jeremiah serve God in the time of Josiah, but he also served God in the time of Jehoiakim’s reign. Unlike his godly father, Jehoiakim was wicked. It is not difficult to imagine how tough it was to be God's servant when a wicked king was on the throne. Jeremiah Had to denounce Jehoiakim’s wickedness before predicting his terrible death in Jeremiah 22:13-17. He prophesied in Jeremiah 22:19 concerning Jehoiakim’s death saying that “He will be buried with a donkey’s burial, dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” Jeremiah had to contend with Jehoiakim’s waywardness. His 40 years long years of service also took his ministry from the reign of Jehoiakim to the eleven years of Zedekiah's reign and even to the exile of Jerusalem in the 5^th month. However, he himself was exiled to Egypt and died there.

In summary, Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry saw him serve three administrations – Kings Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah. He served in times when Israel was pummelled by three great superpowers. They had to face the Assyrians from the north, the Egyptians from down south, and the Babylonians from the east. Jeremiah responded to God’s call and had suffered much in ministry, but he unflinchingly went forward. God still needs people today to speak for Him. Our days may not be as turbulent as Jeremiah’s but are we willing to respond to the needs of our time? God is still in need of people who would boldly speak for him in our time. Would be stand out and be counted?