Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. (Jeremiah 1:17) KJV
Jeremiah was a young man, in the mist of priest, in a city of priest were his father was also a priest. Out of all these priest the Lord chose a young boy, inexperienced, but uncontaminated by traditions, flawed doctrines and the idols of the people. When the Lord got fed up with the ways of an older generation of priests, their neglect of the people and their turning away from God to their idols, ie. their cars, homes, their cloths, jobs, bank accounts, self promotions, Self! Self! Self! He decided to uproot, tear down, destroy and overthrow.
Jeremiah certainly did not want the responsibility of being the vessel that God chose to bring about the necessary changes, but, when God calls... Jeremiah also understood the opposition that he would encounter, and of course so did God. Too often change is a bad word, let alone an uncomfortable and unimaginable action for many in the Church.
In verse 17 the Lord tells Jeremiah to, "gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee." In other words, get ready young men and women of God, prepare yourself, "tell them what I COMMAND you to say, what I command you to teach and what I command you to write." Young ministers, our elders will not always like what we do and say, but, If God commands, we must do and say what He as commanded of us. Remember, say and do it in love and respect, but with no regrets.
"Be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them." You've heard the phrase, "If looks could Kill," well they certainly can. As a pastor and communications major, I can tell you from experience they can kill your confidence. Here the word faces is used because it is an effective form of non-communications. People often times let you know how they feel or think by their facial expressions, and if you are not careful these looks will leave you dismayed. In other words, they will cause you to lose courage and the confidence you had in what God COMMANDED you to do and say. (Confound) to bring about confusion and disorder.
The NLT reads this same scripture passage like this, "Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them." In other words,don't let them "Punk" you. Certainly Jeremiah was afraid because he new that he was not just going up against well known and respected priest, but also against a mindset stuck on tradition.
I'll close with the same encouraging words God gave Jeremiah in verse 18 and 19,
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
Jeremiah was a young man, in the mist of priest, in a city of priest were his father was also a priest. Out of all these priest the Lord chose a young boy, inexperienced, but uncontaminated by traditions, flawed doctrines and the idols of the people. When the Lord got fed up with the ways of an older generation of priests, their neglect of the people and their turning away from God to their idols, ie. their cars, homes, their cloths, jobs, bank accounts, self promotions, Self! Self! Self! He decided to uproot, tear down, destroy and overthrow.
Jeremiah certainly did not want the responsibility of being the vessel that God chose to bring about the necessary changes, but, when God calls... Jeremiah also understood the opposition that he would encounter, and of course so did God. Too often change is a bad word, let alone an uncomfortable and unimaginable action for many in the Church.
In verse 17 the Lord tells Jeremiah to, "gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee." In other words, get ready young men and women of God, prepare yourself, "tell them what I COMMAND you to say, what I command you to teach and what I command you to write." Young ministers, our elders will not always like what we do and say, but, If God commands, we must do and say what He as commanded of us. Remember, say and do it in love and respect, but with no regrets.
"Be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them." You've heard the phrase, "If looks could Kill," well they certainly can. As a pastor and communications major, I can tell you from experience they can kill your confidence. Here the word faces is used because it is an effective form of non-communications. People often times let you know how they feel or think by their facial expressions, and if you are not careful these looks will leave you dismayed. In other words, they will cause you to lose courage and the confidence you had in what God COMMANDED you to do and say. (Confound) to bring about confusion and disorder.
The NLT reads this same scripture passage like this, "Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them." In other words,don't let them "Punk" you. Certainly Jeremiah was afraid because he new that he was not just going up against well known and respected priest, but also against a mindset stuck on tradition.
I'll close with the same encouraging words God gave Jeremiah in verse 18 and 19,
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
2 comments:
This blog is very powerful in fact it reached me at a time where I had to analyze somethings that was preventing me from being okay with a decision that I had to make recently. So, often we are raised and told repeatedly you can't do this and you shouldn't do that. But as we reach a level of maturity and responsibility we challenge & change the course of some of those traditional methods we were taught. It's very difficult to go against what you've been taught ALL OF YOUR NATURAL LIFE but possible. It doesnt make one NEGATIVE when he or she finally DECIDES for themselves. Especially when you are comfortable and can live with a decision that's being made. However a decision is essential and necessary in order for change to occur. Change despite what we are taught is not horrible CHANGE can be great for everybody involved. At age 39 I battled and overcame a traditional fear that I was bombarded with by family members and friends. The whole wonder of what others will think, what others will say just like this passage describing the LOOKS on peoples faces. The judgement, the hate but JEREMIAH choosing to standup anyway representing God who by the way has no punk in him; is uplifting and highly encouraging at a time when we need to let God perform via and through us. Written by: Gregory D. Anderson, Jr. Visit www.gregspeaks.net or email us at greg@gregspeaks.net
I have throughly enjoyed this post. I belive this is truly sound doctrine. Thanks for taking the time to share the truth of the word.
Post a Comment