Vs 4, 5.

The word of the Lord came to me: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you for my own; before you were born I consecrated you, I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'

Before Jeremiah was conceived, God had chosen him!!!!!!!  God's plan for us starts before we exist as human beings.  Before we're a twinkle in our own father's eye, we're a twinkle in our Heavenly Father's eye.

Before Jeremiah was born, God concecrated him/ set him apart and appointed him according to his own plan.  God's plan for Jeremiah was a big one - a prophet to the nations!  (NLT: my spokesman to the world) Wow!!! What a responsibility!

What a mind-boggling announcement!  Here was the young Jeremiah, son of a priest, presuming that his life was set out before him: he would follow in his father's footsteps and become a priest. But God had other plans for Jeremiah.  How many of us have a clear understanding that God has a definite plan for our lives, even before we are born?  How many actually ask him what his plan for us is?  Although he has a plan - the best plan for each of us - he still allows us freedom of choice.  Jeremiah had to make the decision to obey and accept God's call.  We can follow God's plan, or we can follow a path of our own choosing. It's when we follow our own path that we so often 'come a cropper'!  It just doesn't work as well as we hoped. And we wonder what's gone wrong.

It makes me feel very special to think that, like Jeremiah, God has had a plan for me from the very moment of my conception. I can see that, in my life, he has arranged things so that I would have the genetic make-up he required for me, that I would be brought up in a Christian family, that people would cross my path who would influence me to want to know him better.and who would teach me, that I would work in areas he has led me to go to.  I do not know exactly what his plan is for me, but I trust that, as I have followed his leading, I have done what he has required of me.  I assume he still has things for me to do in the rest of my life.

Sometimes I wish he would tell me as clearly as he did to Jeremiah, "I want you to....."  But I have learned that he doesn't always do that.  He asks us to trust him and follow, not knowing exactly what he has in store for us and not always seeing a result of our work for him.  In some ways, I envy the young Jeremiah - to have his call so clearly laid out for him.

The word of the Lord came to me. This is an Old Testament way of stressing that it was God who called Jeremiah, not Jeremiah's own choice.

V 6.

'Ah! Lord God,' I answered, 'I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.'

Jeremiah felt he was too young to be given such an important task. He wouldn't know what to say. No-one would listen to him as they'd think he was too young to know what he was talking about.  How often do we make excuses for not taking on a job that we are called on to do?  We are either too young, too old, too busy, not well enough educated, not experienced enough, not qualified, ..... whatever will get us out of it!  Even Moses tried to tell God he'd chosen the wrong man for the job! (Exodus 4: 10-13)

God doesn't always choose people we would expect - his criteria are different from ours.  He knows best what we can do - as long as it's with his help and guidance.

Quest Study Bible note: Jeremiah described himself as a child, but childhood was a broader term then than it is now.  It probably referred to anyone who was not yet fully mature.  Jeremiah may have been between his early teens and early twenties.

Vs 7, 8

But the Lord said, 'Do not call yourself a child; for you shall go to whatever people I send you and say whatever I tell you to say.  Fear none of them, for I am with you and will keep you safe.'  This was the very word of the Lord.

God's reply to Jeremiah was similar to that for Moses: Don't say you can't because I will be with you.  This reminds me of Philippians 4: 13. I have strength for anything through him who gives me power.

 God has a job for each one of us and when he calls us to do that job, he also gives us the ability to do it. (also read 1 Corinthians 10: 13 for this assurance).  When we are engaged in God's work, we need to remember it is God's work, not ours.  We need to trust him to help us do it and, as long as we are following his lead, we should not worry about the results of what we do - how it turns out.  Our task is to do what God asks us to do and leave the rest to him.  When we can manage to do this it is very liberating.  When God promises to help and to keep us safe, he will do just that.  When we trust God to do his own work through us, it makes doing his work much more fun!

New Bible Commenatary p 675.  The word to Jeremiah not only reassured the prophet but also validated his ministry among the people.  In this sense it comes to all (not just ministers or other church officials) who feel their inability to perform what they know God has called them to do.  It warns church people generally against being superficial in assessing the gifts and ministries of others.

Vs 9, 10.

Then the Lord stretched out his hand and touched my mouth, and said to me, 'I put my words into your mouth. This day I give you authority over nations and over kingdoms, to pull down and to uproot, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.'

Jeremiah's commission was to warn Israel and other nations of what God would do if they continued to ignore him.  Jeremiah, in a sense, was to share God's authority over these nations.  When Jeremiah announced destruction of nations for their unfaithfulness, that is what God would do.  When Jeremiah commended other nations they would be built up and new nations planted to be obedient to God.

If God wants anyone to have responsibility, he gives it.  This is not dependant on human decision.

God will see his work done.  If we make excuses and refuse to answer his call , he will call others who are willing to be obedient. - and we will miss out on the joy and satisfaction of seeing God's kingdom grow.