Be Still And Know

Jeremiah 1:9-10 Then the LORD reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.” Being a prophet is a tough job, and Jeremiah was just about to learn how demanding it was going to be for him. We all love sharing good news and saying nice things about people, but much of Jeremiah’s job was almost the complete opposite. He had to declare words of judgment to a nation that had abandoned God’s way. It was going to be a hard road for him, so he needed to be absolutely clear that what he was passing on was from God himself. In a moment which reminds us of the call of Isaiah, the Lord reached out and touched his mouth as he gave him his marching orders. God’s words are always full of love, but they are often tough both to hear and to share. It is tempting for a preacher or prophet to say what people want to hear. Peopl