November 3, 2006
From The Message Bible
1The Message of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah of the family of priests who lived in Anathoth in the country of Benjamin.
2GOD’s Message began to come to him during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amos reigned over Judah. 3It continued to come to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah reigned over Judah. And it continued to come to him clear down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah over Judah, the year that Jerusalem was taken into exile. 4This is what GOD said:
5″Before I shaped you in the womb,I knew all about you.Before you saw the light of day,I had holy plans for you:A prophet to the nations–that’s what I had in mind for you.”
6But I said, “Hold it, Master GOD! Look at me.I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”
7GOD told me, “Don’t say, “I’m only a boy.’I'll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it. 8Don’t be afraid of a soul.I’ll be right there, looking after you.”
GOD’s Decree.
9GOD reached out, touched my mouth, and said,”Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth–hand-delivered!
10See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do among nations and governments–a red-letter day!Your job is to pull up and tear down,take apart and demolish,And then start over,building and planting.”
