Hi guys, we are starting the incredible journey through the book of Jeremiah! Wow! It has blessed me so much. The Audio is my song inspired by Jeremiah’s book. I wanted to test the Audio functions. So listen, read, and be inspired. Lovely to have you with me on this journey. (If you are interested in audio podcast bible stories please send me a message to say “go for it” )
I encourage you to read Jeremiah ch 1 which will make this story even more meaningful. As always, my work aims to bring context and depth to your Bible reading.
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JEREMIAH
When you stand at the edge of Anathoth, the wind speaks louder than the people.
To the west: Stone, dust, wilderness.
To the east: Far off, the hills of Gilead— green, like a pleasant memory you can’t quite reach.
And to the north… silence. The kind of silence that speaks of ruin.
Jeremiah had seen it since he was a boy. He would sit on the roof of his father’s home, legs dangling over the side, scroll in his lap, and eyes fixed northward. That’s where the kingdom of Israel had once stood. That’s where cities had burned and cries had echoed when Assyria came with iron and fire. (See the Story here: Losing your Identity)
And though no one said it aloud… everyone knew. Judah, his own nation to the south, was walking the same path.
False Words - False Pens - False Peace
They could have been friends, Josiah and Jeremiah were around the same age. And at the age of 8 Josiah was crowned King of Judah - a nation that was drowning in the dark waters of previous Kings: Necromancy, witchcraft, astrology, divination and shrines to false gods had replaced the peoples trust in God Almighty. Walking the streets of Jerusalem, one could smell the moral decay.
When King Josiah ordered the cleaning out of their Temple, they stumbled upon the Book of Moses. These God inspired words brought a revival to Josiah’s heart: And seeing how far his people had fallen - he led the people in renewing their covenant with God. He reinstated the Passover Celebration, greater than any since the times of Samuel the Prophet.
Josiah’s sincere policy and whole-hearted legislation brought outward reform to the people: Yes, the temple was now active. Yes, priests burned incense. Yes, the peoples lips spoke the words, “The Lord lives.”
But beneath it all… greed ran through the marketplace like a river. Justice was sold for silver. Widows were cast aside. The cries of the poor were muffled by songs of celebration.
And the temple—Jeremiah had stood in it. Felt its weight. Heard the echo of priests reciting prayers. But something was missing. Something deep. It was like seeing a crown but no king. A delicious looking apple yet inside, it was rotten to the core.
Jeremiah saw a wounded bride. Her wound so deep and putrid, yet dressed with clean bandages. Her name was Judah, and King Josiah’s bandages of policy and outward reform could not heal her rot and stink. Jeremiah saw it all!
An Unfulfilled Call
His father, Hilkiah, was a priest. A good man. A faithful man. But even his eyes had a sadness in them—an ache from knowing what could’ve been.
You see, Hilkiah’s priestly line once served in the heart of the temple. Back in the days of King David and King Solomon, his ancestors stood before the ark itself. But when King David died, and Solomon’s reign was divided, the priestly line of Abiathar—Hilkiah’s line—was exiled. Banished from the temple. Sent to the fields of Anathoth.
They had the blood of priests… but no altar. No incense. No place to answer their God given call.
“My son,” Hilkiah’s instructive yet gentle words to Jeremiah: “Even in exile, the Word still speaks. You don’t need golden walls to know Him. You only need to listen.”
And so, Jeremiah listened.
He listened as his father read the scrolls of Moses and the poetry of David. He listened to the stories of Elijah, Isaiah… and to the silence that followed their deaths. He listened to the wind that passed from the north and carried with it the scent of old fires and forgotten cities.
And in the night, sometimes… he wondered.
Young Jeremiah spoke softly to himself and to the Lord:
“Why don’t they see it? Why doesn’t anyone speak?”
From Priest to Prophet
The question burned in him, even as he tried to hide it. He didn’t want to be a prophet. He wasn’t good at talking and worse at confrontation.
Prophets were troublemakers. People hated them. Isaiah had spoken truth and been killed by a king named Manasseh… a king who filled the streets with idols and blood.
So Jeremiah said nothing. Until…
One day, as the morning fog clung to the stones of Anathoth, it happened.
Jeremiah heard, or felt, or a little of both: The calm yet thunderous Voice of the Lord:
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.
Before you were born, I set you apart.
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
“L-Lord… I don’t know how to speak. I’m just a boy.” Jeremiah stammered.
Do not say, “I am only a youth.”
You must go to everyone I send you to.
And say whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them… for I am with you, to rescue you.
The words didn’t land on Jeremiah’s ears. They landed in his bones. They wrapped around his ribs like flame. They stirred something ancient and terrifying and wonderful.
He wasn’t being asked. He was being called. Chosen.
Not to comfort.
Not to flatter.
But to tear down, to uproot, to confront the very heart of a dying nation.
And then… to build.
To plant.
To speak of hope through ashes.
See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant."
And that was the moment it began.
Not with applause.
Not with a crown.
But with trembling hands… a pounding heart… and a fire that would never leave.
The next time Jeremiah opens his mouth. The people of Judah will hear a voice they thought they had silenced long ago.
A voice crying out—not for applause—but for repentance.
A voice the nation must choose to hear… or reject.
This is the story of a prophet.
A boy called too young.
To speak to a world too proud.
But when God calls…
The fire cannot be quenched.
To be continued
If you have enjoyed this publication, support by liking, commenting, sharing. This will most importantly help others to discover the riches of God’s word for them. You can also help me with a cup of coffee. Thank you !
This is me blowing the Shofar, playing piano, singing … all while floating a piano on the peaceful waters neat my house (lol). If you don’t believe me: Just listen to the Audio … (top of page)
If you enjoyed this, please share, comment, like and subscribe (for free) to support my work.
Other Biblical References to support this Story: | Jer 1 | Jer 6 :13-14 | 1 Kings 2:26-27 | 2 Kings 17 |
And if you made it this far please feel free to contact me and we can connect !!
Share this post