Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” (1:12).

Today begins a more than fifty-day journey through the prophetic writings of the man who has come to be known as “the Weeping Prophet.”  The book of Jeremiah is “the longest book in the Bible, containing more words than any other book,” NIV Study Bible.

Much of this book is poetic in its literary style, utilizing poetic devices such as symbolism, alliteration, assonance and cryptograms (encrypted text). This will definitely present challenges in the interpretation of Jeremiah’s writings.

I recently heard one of my Bible teachers quote Alister Begg, “The plain thing is the main thing and the main thing is the plain thing.” So while we know there will be much we may not understand about the prophecies, we will keep the goal of The Planting Place always at the forefront. As we look for the Lord God to increase in the writings of Jeremiah, we will seek to consider that which He has plainly revealed about Himself each day.

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As we begin our digging into this profound book written by the man who prophesied on behalf of God for more than fifty years, some background will be helpful (from NIV Study Bible):

Jeremiah, a member of the priestly household of Hilkiah, began prophesying in Judah halfway through the reign of Josiah (640-609 B.C.) and continued throughout the reigns of Jehoahaz (609), Jehoiakim (609-598), Jehoiachin (598-597) and Zedekiah (597-586). It was a period of storm and stress when the doom of entire nations —including Judah itself—was being sealed…

Jeremiah’s closest companion was his faithful secretary, Baruch, who wrote down Jeremiah‘s words as the prophet dictated them (36:4-32).

Jeremiah loved the people of Judah in spite of their sins, and he prayed for them (14:7, 20) even when the Lord told him not to (7:16; 11:14; 14:11).

Judgment is one of the all-pervasive themes in Jeremiah‘s writings, though he was careful to point out that repentance, if sincere, would postpone the otherwise inevitable…

God‘s judgment of his people (and the nations), though terrible, was not to be the last word, the final work of God in history. Mercy and covenant faithfulness would triumph over wrath. Beyond the judgment would come restoration and renewal. Israel would be restored, the nations that crushed her would be crushed, and the old covenants (with Israel, David and Levites) would be honored. God would make a new covenant with his people in which He would write His law on their hearts…

Jeremiah’s message illumined the distant as well as the near horizon… the very God who compelled Jeremiah to denounce sin and pronounce judgment was the God who authorized him to announce that the divine wrath had its bounds, its 70 years. Afterward forgiveness and cleansing would come…”

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And in light of what was going on, as His chosen people followed hard after the ways of the surrounding pagan nations, as His Word was being ignored and as His people chose darkness over the Light of His Word, He called one to be a beacon of Truth, one He knew from the beginning of time, one who would proclaim His Truth, not only to the Jews, but to all the nations.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations,” (1:5).

Jeremiah immediately objects, with great emotional despair; for how could one so young, so untrained, speak as a prophet during such a time as this?

Then I said, “Alas, Lord God!
Behold, I do not know how to speak,
Because I am a youth,” (1:6).

“This implies nothing very definite about Jeremiah’s age. Still the long duration of his prophetic mission makes it probable that he was very young when called to the office, as also were Isaiah, Hosea, Zechariah, and others,” Barnes’ Notes on the Bible.

Jeremiah’s age was of no concern to God; for it is His Word He put in Jeremiah’s mouth that would be proclaimed, and He Watches Over His Word to Perform It.

Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth,” (1:9).

Consider Him Who Watches Over His Word to Perform It

The word of the Lord came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” ¹² Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” (1:11-12).

Watch: “8245. שָׁקַד šāqaḏ: A verb meaning to watch; to guard. It means to keep a close watch on something or someone… It indicates an intent or attitude of a person set on doing something… a state of being vigilant… especially of God’s watching over His word to do it (Jer. 1:12; 31:28; 44:27),” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

Perform:” 6213. עָשָׂה ʿāśāh: A verb meaning to do, to make, to accomplish, to complete. This frequently used Hebrew verb conveys the central notion of performing an activity with a distinct purpose, a moral obligation, or a goal in view,” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

This verse will set the tone for our entire time in Jeremiah. Every Word He speaks He vigilantly guards, intent to accomplish His purpose of all He has said. And because He is faithful, He is faithful to Watch Over His Word to Perform It.

“God gave Jeremiah a view of the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. The almond-tree, which is more forward in the spring than any other, represented the speedy approach of judgments. God also showed whence the intended ruin should arise. Jeremiah saw a seething-pot boiling, representing Jerusalem and Judah in great commotion,” Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary.

And every Word He spoke, both His blessings and salvation, as well as His curses and condemnation, are Perfectly Performed in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. ²⁰ For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us, (2 Corinthians 1:19-20).

• He Watches Over His Word to Perform His Promised Direction and Deliverance.
  • But the Lord said to me,
    “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
    Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,
    And all that I command you, you shall speak.
    ⁸ “Do not be afraid of them,
    For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord, (1:7-8).

• • • “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand,” (John 10:27-28).

• He Watches Over His Word to Perform His Pledged Appointments.
  • “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
    To pluck up and to break down,
    To destroy and to overthrow,
    To build and to plant,” (1:10).

• • • “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you,” (John 15:16).

• • He Watches Over His Word to Perform His Precise Timetable.
    The word of the Lord came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” ¹² Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it,” (1:11-12).

• • • Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, ³¹ because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead,” (Acts 17:30-31).

•  He Watches Over His Word to Perform His Pronounced Judgments.
  • The word of the Lord came to me a second time saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” ¹⁴ Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north the evil will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land. ¹⁵ For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” declares the Lord; “and they will come and they will set each one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls round about and against all the cities of Judah. ¹⁶ I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands,” (1:13-16). 

• • • “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸ He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day,” (John 12:47-48).

• He Watches Over His Word to Perform His Prophesied Protection.
  • Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them. ¹⁸ Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land. ¹⁹ They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord, (1:17-19).

• • • But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. ⁴ We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ, (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5).

How do we respond to Him Who Watches Over His Word to Perform It?

Every Word God has spoken He will Watch Over to Perform, both His blessings and salvation, as well as His curses and condemnation. And we do not have the option to cherry pick what we think should be included in His Word. For we must always remember that all His promises (the sweet and the scary) are Perfectly Performed in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us, (2 Corinthians 1:19-20).

And in thinking of what is coming in this book, there will be days that are scary and difficult to consider. Today, let’s close with some meditative thoughts from the chapter written as a devotion to God’s Word and the God of His Word, to guide us in our response to Him Who Watches Over His Word to Perform It.

• Let us commit to Know His Word that we would grow in gratitude and integrity.
  • I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
    When I learn Your righteous judgments, (Psalm 119:7)
• Let us commit to Treasure His Word that we would grow in holiness.
  • Your word I have treasured in my heart,
    That I may not sin against You, (Psalm 119:11)
• Let us commit to Follow His Word that we would grow in discernment.
  • Remove the false way from me,
    And graciously grant me Your law, (Psalm 119:29)
• Let us commit to Obey His Word, that we would grow in understanding His Ways.
  • Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
    And I shall observe it to the end.
    ³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
    And keep it with all my heart. (Psalm 119:33-34).
• Let us commit to Trust His Word, that we would grow in boldness to defend His Truth.
  • May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O Lord,
    Your salvation according to Your word;
    ⁴² So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me,
    For I trust in Your word, (Psalm 119:41-42).
• Let us commit to Hope in His Word that we would grow in His Reviving Comfort.
  • Remember the word to Your servant,
    In which You have made me hope.
    ⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction,
    That Your word has revived me, (Psalm 119:49-50)
• Let us commit to Love His Word, that we would grow in His Great Peace.
  • Those who love Your law have great peace,
    And nothing causes them to stumble, (Psalm 119:165).

While these commitments are impossible in and of ourselves, we can rest in His Word, for He has promised to Perform a heart transplant in all who seek Him by faith, that He would supernaturally enable us to seek Him Who Watches Over His Word to Perform It with our whole heart.

“I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart,” (Jeremiah 24:7).

Oh, that we would cooperate with His Spirit to commit to know, treasure, follow obey, trust, hope in, and love His Word; for as we do, we will come to know, treasure, follow obey, trust, hope in, and love Him Who Watches Over His Word to Perform it.

Let’s Grow Together!