11 God's Message came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "A walking stick - that's all." 12 And God said, "Good eyes! I'm sticking with you. I'll make every word I give you come true." 13 God's Message came again: "So what do you see now?" I said, "I see a boiling pot, tipped down toward us." 14 Then God told me, "Disaster will pour out of the north on everyone living in this land. 15 Watch for this: I'm calling all the kings out of the north." God's Decree. "They'll come and set up headquarters facing Jerusalem's gates, Facing all the city walls, facing all the villages of Judah. 16 I'll pronounce my judgment on the people of Judah for walking out on me - what a terrible thing to do! - And courting other gods with their offerings, worshiping as gods sticks they'd carved, stones they'd painted. 17 "But you - up on your feet and get dressed for work! Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say. Don't pull your punches or I'll pull you out of the lineup. 18 "Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work. I'm making you as impregnable as a castle, Immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You're a one-man defense system against this culture, Against Judah's kings and princes, against the priests and local leaders. 19 They'll fight you, but they won't even scratch you. I'll back you up every inch of the way." God's Decree.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 1:11-19
Commentary on Jeremiah 1:11-19
(Read Jeremiah 1:11-19)
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. The mouth or face of the furnace or hearth, was toward the north; from whence the fire and fuel were to come. The northern powers shall unite. The cause of these judgments was the sin of Judah. The whole counsel of God must be declared. The fear of God is the best remedy against the fear of man. Better to have all men our enemies than God our enemy; those who are sure they have God with them, need not, ought not to fear, whoever is against them. Let us pray that we may be willing to give up personal interests, and that nothing may move us from our duty.