City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

4 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”

Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”

Jeremiah 1:1-9, 18-19

Interpretation

Jeremiah’s origin story started when God spoke to him at an early age; an age that he felt too young to be of any use. Though, God encouraged Jeremiah and let him know that he was chosen even before he was formed in his mother’s womb. God gave Jeremiah the power of the Holy Spirit(by Jesus touching his mouth), to become His spokesperson during the end of the kingdom of Judah and the occupation of Babylon. God gave Jeremiah the power to be an iron pillar that others will not prevail against.

But, there is more to the story. Jeremiah was raised by a true man of God, the high priest Hilkiah. Hilkiah, as spoken about in 2 Chronicles 34, was the high priest during the reign of Josiah, king of Judah. He was good friends with Shaphan the secretary to the king. Hilkiah, while being ordered by king Josiah to clean up the temple for repairs, found the book of the Law of the Lord. This was the Torah, or as some scholars believe, the book of Deuteronomy. Hilkiah gave this book to Shaphan who then read the book in front of king Josiah. After having heard about God’s judgements, king Josiah humbled himself in front of God and helped bring the people of Israel back to God throughout the rest of his reign.

Shaphan the secretary had a son named Ahikam. As we read in the book of Jeremiah 26, Ahikam was one who helped spare Jeremiah’s life from death after Jeremiah prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem to king Jehoiakim(the son of king Josiah who wasn’t like his dad, unfortunately). Not only that, but Shaphan’s grandson, Gedaliah, was the governor of Judah as appointed by king Nebuchanezzar of Babylon. The two families were really close, both served and followed God, and God used them to take care of His people.

Application

I, for one, love to read about the connections in the Bible, such as those surrounding Jeremiah and his prophesies to the people of God. I do not know what may have transpired to bring these families so close together, but one thing is for sure, the legacies that Hilkiah and Shaphan left behind were children who followed God through hardships and difficulties.

Legacies are important when it comes to living a life for God and bringing up your children in the ways of the Lord. Both Ahikam and Jeremiah learned to serve God through seeing this in their parents. They held each other up through the hard times and strengthened the family bonds.

What legacy are you leaving to your kids or what legacy has your parents left you? When tough times come, and they will, are you ready? Will your kids be ready?

And if you are young, do not be afraid to be used by God. He has plans for you and your age will not hold you back from what God can do through you.

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank You for all that you have given me and all that You have done through me. You are precious and my King. Help me to live my life for You and to be an example to the generations that come, no matter my age or past. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.