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{{DOD-August}}
The name "[[Jeremiah]]" means "whom [[Jehovah]] appoints." Apart from this appointment by [[God]], certainly this [[prophet]] could not have continued to minister faithfully. He was of the priestly line and lived in the priest's city of Anathoth. Apparently he had some personal wealth because he was able to purchase real estate and even hire a scribe. He was called to the ministry when he was a child, undoubtedly in his teens.
[[Jeremiah]] ministered during the last 40 years of [[Judah]] 's history, from the 13th year of Josiah to the destruction of [[Jerusalem]]. He lived to see his beloved nation go down into [[sin]], war, and [[judgment]]; yet through it all he was faithful to preach [[God]]'s Word.
When [[Jeremiah]] began his ministry, [[Assyria]] was the leading power in the world; but [[Egypt]] and [[Babylon]] were rapidly gaining strength. In 607 b.c., the [[Babylonians]] took Nineveh and destroyed the power of [[Assyria]]. [[Babylon]] then turned to [[Judah]] , and [[Judah]] 's politicians advised the kings to ask [[Egypt]] for help. [[Jeremiah]] was always against an [[Egyptian]] alliance. He knew that [[God]]'s people should not seek help from the world. He knew [[Judah]] 's only hope was in the [[Lord]]; but her sins were so great that the nation had lost the blessing of [[God]]. [[Babylon]] did finally capture [[Judah]] and took [[Jerusalem]]. [[Jeremiah]] wrote "Lamentations" to commemorate the [[death]] of the Holy City.
Chapter 1 gives the call of [[Jeremiah]]. Like [[Moses]], he was reluctant to accept the responsibility, but did succumb to [[God]]'s call. [[Jeremiah]]'s first message was to a backslidden nation. It was threefold. He reminded [[Israel]] of [[God]]'s wonderful blessings and deliverance; he rebuked them for forsaking [[God]]' and then he accuses them of following other [[God]]s. Verse 13 of chapter 2 refers to the people forsaking the [[Word]] of [[God]], "the fountain of living waters" and following after false [[God]]s, "broken cisterns."
