Jeremiah 1:7
Verse
Context
The Call of Jeremiah
6“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” 7But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
This excuse God holds of no account. As prophet to the nations, Jeremiah was not to make known his own thoughts or human wisdom, but the will and counsel of God which were to be revealed to him. This is signified by the clauses: for to all to whom I send thee, etc. The על belonging to תלך stands for אל, and does not indicate a hostile advance against any one. כל after על is not neuter, but refers to persons, or rather peoples; since to the relative אשׁר in this connection, עליהם is quite a natural completion; cf. Isa 8:12, and Ew. 331, c. Only to those men or peoples is he to go to whom God sends him; and to them he is to declare only what God commands him. And so he needs be in no anxiety on this head, that, as a youth, he has no experience in the matter of speaking.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
to all that--to all "to whom" [ROSENMULLER]. Rather, "to all against whom"; in a hostile sense (compare Jer 1:8, Jer 1:17-19) [MAURER]. Such was the perversity of the rulers and people of Judea at that time, that whoever would desire to be a faithful prophet needed to arm himself with an intrepid mind; Jeremiah was naturally timid and sensitive; yet the Spirit moulded him to the necessary degree of courage without taking away his peculiar individuality.
John Gill Bible Commentary
But the Lord said unto me, say not, I am a child,.... This excuse will not be admitted: for thou shall go to all that I shall send thee; either to "every place", as the Targum paraphrases; or "to all persons to whom" he should be sent, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions render the words; or "to all things for which" he should send him, as the Syriac and Vulgate Latin versions. The sense is, that he should go everywhere, and to every person, and on every errand and message he should be sent unto and with: and whatsoever I command thee, thou shall speak; out and openly, and keep back nothing through the fear of men; as follows:
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:7-8 God urged Jeremiah to look beyond himself to the importance of the task he was called to fulfill. He had to meet God’s requirements for a royal messenger, which included willingness to travel and the faithful delivery of the Lord’s messages.
Jeremiah 1:7
The Call of Jeremiah
6“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” 7But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Speak to Me (Compilation)
By Compilations5.6K02:53CompilationJER 1:7In this sermon, the preacher laments the lack of true Jeremiah-type preachers in the media who fearlessly proclaim the word of God. He emphasizes that the pulpit should be a burning bush, where the preacher is shut in with God and speaks with the mind of God. The preacher calls for a revival of hearing the word of the Lord, as he believes there is a spiritual famine in the land. He encourages believers to draw closer to Jesus and experience His power and glory, which will cause them to shine as lights in the world.
Wrong Revival Principles - Part 2
By Jonathan Edwards2.6K45:24Audio BooksGEN 5:6JER 1:7ZEC 13:5ROM 8:14GAL 5:182TI 3:16REV 3:9In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of receiving new revelations from God through impressions or signs. He argues that if a person receives a strong impression or sign, such as a specific scripture coming to mind, it should be interpreted as a new revelation from God. These new revelations may contain entirely new propositions or truths that are not explicitly stated in the scripture. The preacher also emphasizes the importance of ministers of the gospel being clothed with a spirit of innocence and gentleness, while also wielding the sharp sword of the word of God to awaken and convict consciences.
Fren-06 Jeremiah - Prophet to the Nations
By Art Katz1.9K57:08JeremiahJER 1:7In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of destruction and restoration in the purposes of God. He refers to Acts 3:21, which speaks of the period of restoration of all things that God spoke about through his prophets. The speaker believes that the world is in need of destruction because there is a lack of righteousness and truth in the church. He also references Exodus 32, where Moses confronts the people of God for worshiping a golden calf and destroys it. The speaker encourages believers to be bold and obedient in their commission to pluck up, break down, destroy, and overthrow before building and planting.
Ten Shekels and a Shirt - Part 2
By Paris Reidhead1.6K09:56JER 1:7MAT 16:26This sermon delves into the concept of success and failure in the eyes of God versus the world, highlighting examples from biblical figures like Noah, Jeremiah, and Jesus Christ. It challenges the prevailing philosophy of pragmatism and humanism, emphasizing the importance of viewing God as the ultimate end rather than a means to personal gain or success.
Tortured for Christ
By Richard Wurmbrand1.0K1:00:35TortureJER 1:7In this sermon, Reverend Richard Wembrand shares stories of persecution and suffering endured by Christians under communist rule in Romania. He tells the story of a Christian woman who, despite losing her son to the communists, chooses to forgive and pray for her son's killers. Another story involves a little boy who believes that his father, the captain of a ship, can change its course just by waving at it. Reverend Wembrand uses these stories to illustrate the power of forgiveness and the belief that God can change the course of events. He encourages his audience to trust in God's provision and not to worry about material needs.
General Session 1 W/ Pastor Cymbala
By Jim Cymbala1.0K38:54ConferenceJER 1:7JER 23:9JER 23:11JER 23:13MAT 3:11In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of preaching the word of God and not personal opinions or dreams. He criticizes false prophets who are not inspired by God and are misleading people. The preacher also highlights the tendency of people to go to churches that cater to their preferences, rather than seeking the truth. He references Jeremiah 23, where the prophet expresses his distress over false prophets and their deceptive words.
A Preacher Is Not Without Honor
By Shane Idleman1208:47RepentanceThe Role of the PreacherJER 1:7MAT 13:57LUK 4:24Shane Idleman emphasizes the profound impact of Jesus, who, despite lacking worldly status, was revered as master, teacher, and healer. He calls for repentance and warns of the impending judgment, urging believers to flee to the cross for salvation. Idleman reflects on the challenges of preaching hard truths in a culture that often prefers comfort over conviction, likening the role of a preacher to that of the Old Testament prophets who faced rejection. He stresses the importance of humility and love in delivering the message of repentance, while also highlighting the need for a church that seeks God earnestly. Ultimately, he encourages a return to fervent prayer and genuine faith to transform the community.
A New Type of Preacher
By A.W. Tozer0Prophetic LeadershipRevival in the ChurchISA 6:8JER 1:7ACT 20:24A.W. Tozer emphasizes the urgent need for a new type of preacher in Christianity, one who is not bound by the conventional roles of the past but is instead a prophet who has encountered God and is willing to stand against societal norms. He argues that the current models of leadership have failed to rejuvenate the Church, and what is needed is a leader who is rugged, blunt, and passionate about Christ and the salvation of souls. This new preacher will face opposition and hatred from many but will remain steadfast in their mission to testify to the gospel of grace. Tozer calls for a revival of such leaders who have truly seen visions of God and heard His voice.
Letter 72
By James Bourne0PSA 126:5JER 1:7LUK 18:12CO 12:9JAS 5:16James Bourne encourages the recipient to continue in prayer and faith despite facing trials and rejection, drawing parallels to the experiences of Elias and Christ. He emphasizes the importance of fervent prayer, patience, and dependence on the Lord Jesus in times of heaviness and temptation. Bourne shares personal experiences of receiving divine guidance, assurance, and consolation through prayer, highlighting the need to remain humble and mindful of the sinfulness of sin. He urges the recipient to persevere in prayer, reminding them of the enduring nature of God's word and the promise of joy after sowing in tears.
The Bible: Inspired of God
By Lewis Sperry Chafer0EXO 34:272SA 23:2PSA 45:1PRO 30:6ISA 6:5JER 1:7JER 36:1ZEC 7:7MAT 8:17MAT 10:14JHN 8:47JHN 14:10JHN 16:12JHN 17:8JHN 17:171CO 2:42TI 3:16HEB 2:32PE 1:21JUD 1:17Lewis Sperry Chafer emphasizes the divine nature of the Bible as God's message to humanity, highlighting the unique inspiration of the Scriptures where human authors were directed by God to record His complete and connected thoughts without losing their individuality. He discusses various theories of inspiration including the Naturalistic, Partial, Gracious, and Verbal theories, with the Verbal theory asserting that the Bible, even to its very words, is inspired. Chafer points out the importance of recognizing the Bible's claim to be inspired in its very words, as supported by Christ's affirmation of the Old Testament and the provision for the New Testament's inspiration. He underscores that inspiration ensures the exact divine message is conveyed, aiming at inspired writings rather than inspired men, and upholding the infallibility of God's Word.
Seek Him in Everything
By Mary Wilder Tileston0PSA 16:8JER 1:7ACT 17:27COL 3:171TH 5:16Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of being obedient to God's commands and being in His presence at all times, regardless of the circumstances. She highlights the need to seek and find God in every moment and every situation, as true peace and fulfillment come from following His will. Tileston stresses that God is pleased not just by our actions, but by the spirit in which they are done, with a constant readiness to obey His will in even the smallest details.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
This excuse God holds of no account. As prophet to the nations, Jeremiah was not to make known his own thoughts or human wisdom, but the will and counsel of God which were to be revealed to him. This is signified by the clauses: for to all to whom I send thee, etc. The על belonging to תלך stands for אל, and does not indicate a hostile advance against any one. כל after על is not neuter, but refers to persons, or rather peoples; since to the relative אשׁר in this connection, עליהם is quite a natural completion; cf. Isa 8:12, and Ew. 331, c. Only to those men or peoples is he to go to whom God sends him; and to them he is to declare only what God commands him. And so he needs be in no anxiety on this head, that, as a youth, he has no experience in the matter of speaking.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
to all that--to all "to whom" [ROSENMULLER]. Rather, "to all against whom"; in a hostile sense (compare Jer 1:8, Jer 1:17-19) [MAURER]. Such was the perversity of the rulers and people of Judea at that time, that whoever would desire to be a faithful prophet needed to arm himself with an intrepid mind; Jeremiah was naturally timid and sensitive; yet the Spirit moulded him to the necessary degree of courage without taking away his peculiar individuality.
John Gill Bible Commentary
But the Lord said unto me, say not, I am a child,.... This excuse will not be admitted: for thou shall go to all that I shall send thee; either to "every place", as the Targum paraphrases; or "to all persons to whom" he should be sent, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions render the words; or "to all things for which" he should send him, as the Syriac and Vulgate Latin versions. The sense is, that he should go everywhere, and to every person, and on every errand and message he should be sent unto and with: and whatsoever I command thee, thou shall speak; out and openly, and keep back nothing through the fear of men; as follows:
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:7-8 God urged Jeremiah to look beyond himself to the importance of the task he was called to fulfill. He had to meet God’s requirements for a royal messenger, which included willingness to travel and the faithful delivery of the Lord’s messages.