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The period was one of the worst times in the history of Judah.
Not long before, the people witnessed the destruction of their Northern brothers by the Assyrians and this judgement came after they persistently ignored the warnings of God given by the prophets.
It was a similar situation with Judah. The people mocked the messengers of God, despising His word and scoffed at the prophets (2 Chron 36:16).
It was in this backdrop that God called Jeremiah.
From the human perspective, it is easy to see why Jeremiah initially declined the calling of God. Sure he was a young man (he was approx. 20 years old when the calling of God came) but he wasn’t stupid. . He had witnessed the gross idolatry of the people and knew the messages that prophets before him had for the people. Jeremiah must have seen how harshly the prophets were treated. So, for a young man, the call to the office of a prophet wasn’t exactly desirable. Indeed, God’s assurance to him in verse 8 and once again in verse 18 gave us clues that Jeremiah was afraid of the people.
Let’s not fail to see the heart of God.
Despite the persistent disobedience of the people, and the eventual exile of the people to Babylon, God promised hope in that a remnant will be restored (23:3). More importantly, through the remnant, the Righteous Descendant will come and be the ultimate Saviour of the people. It is all in the plan and purpose of God, from the beginning.