Christian Formation for Sunday Feb. 3 - Jeremiah 1:1-10; Jeremiah's Call and Commission

February 3, 2013 – 4 Epiphany

Jeremiah 1:1-10

Jeremiah’s Call and Commission

 

Background: The book of Jeremiah is unique in many ways in the Old Testament. The book is dated fairly explicitly in the opening passage, identifying specific dates and kings during which Jeremiah operated. Additionally, the book relates the entirety of Jeremiah’s call and operation as a prophet, although some of the details are most likely later additions to the text. Last, the text is one of few that survives in both the Greek (Septuagint) and Hebrew (Masoretic) texts – which allows for greater detail and corroboration of the text.

 

Theme: This passage provides the setting of the book of Jeremiah and an insight into his call to ministry. His call narrative is reminiscent of other prophetic calls in the Old Testament with many attributions to Jeremiah’s prenatal election as a prophet. This passage can be considered “typical” with regard to a prophet’s call – denial of worthiness for the call, God’s declaration of worthiness, and God’s direct action to cement the call to action.

 

Questions to Ponder

* Please read Jeremiah 1:1-10.

* Briefly identify the setting of the book of Jeremiah: the dating of the text; the social, political, and religious structure of Israel; and the location of Jeremiah’s call (city and region).

* Briefly describe Jeremiah’s lineage and heritage, from which tribe did he descend and what was their connection to the history of Israel?

* How might the location of Jeremiah’s call influence the message offered in the text?

* How might Jeremiah’s connection to at least three leaders with three different foes make the text more influential in Jewish life? In Christian life? Do you think the connections are different?

* Of which other character/prophet in the Old Testament is Jeremiah’s call reminiscent? Why might there be the similarity between the two (or more) prophets?

* Why do you think Jeremiah protests God’s call in verse 6? Of whom is this protest reminiscent? Why do you think the similarity exists between the protests?

* Beginning in verse 4 the text states that God had set aside Jeremiah before his birth. Do you think Jeremiah’s authority as God’s prophet was established in this call? Why or why not? If not, what do you think establishes Jeremiah’s authority with the Jews?

* Do you think Jeremiah could have turned down God’s call to ministry?

* Do you think God acted in the lives of others in Jeremiah’s time like the account of Jeremiah’s call?

* Do you think God continues to act in our lives today like he in Jeremiah’s?

* While God identified Jeremiah’s mission as one of “building up and tearing down” much of the first portion of the book of Jeremiah is accusatory and condemning. How might Jeremiah’s accusations and condemnation have been seen as fulfilling his mission?

* What might the word of hope be in this passage for Jeremiah’s people and generation?

* What might the word of hope and encouragement be for us today?

* What application do you take from this passage for your daily life and action?