Introduction
Among all prophets of the Old Testament, Jeremiah stands as a considerably important figure. His messages to the people were designed to change the minds of individuals and highlight the importance of God in their lives. As a prophet, Jeremiah had a mission “to uproot, to plant, to build and to destroy.”
While such a calling may seem contradictory, it aligns with the nature of his prophesies, and his work has a role in early believers. It comes at a time of political and social turmoil, as Judah faced considerable pressure from the outside. Friendly relations with Babylonia and Egypt crumbled, opening the nation up to outside influence and meddling (Roat, 2020). Jeremiah was indispensable at this time by creating a stricter code of morality and voicing his own opinions regarding Judah’s future political decisions.
Jeremiah’s Mission
To Uproot
One of the central responsibilities relied upon Jeremiah by God is to put individuals on the path of righteous worship and criticize those who adhere to unwanted, old practices. This tendency to challenge established norms of faith and culture is likely connected with the “uproot” part of his mission. He acts as a gardener, pruning away the unwanted, impure rituals and creating a better-cultivated religious field (Roat, 2020).
While this activity can be understood as solely destructive in nature, it is essential to consider the culling of ideas as a necessary part of helping individuals move past their deeply held beliefs. The importance of Jeremiah came from being capable of giving people a better answer, engaging them on an emotional level, and awakening their sense of responsibility.
In addition to being an essential figure in transforming the early faith, Jeremiah also criticized the clergy and reforms brought by the ruler at the time, Josiah. This process came in the form of praise and disillusionment, as the reforms slowly failed to meaningfully address the church’s central issues and the people’s perceived corruption (Roat, 2020).
To Plant
As the one who “plants,” Jeremiah created the initial trust in Josiah’s reforms and spent a major part of his writing calling for adherence. This process was necessary, as it built better faith in the ruler of the period and strengthened his grasp on the population. At the same time, it imbued the decisions of Josiah with a certain level of power and authority that would not be present otherwise.
To Build
Prophet Jeremiah helped build a system that was capable of addressing the central concerns of individuals in that era. The position of a planter can also be connected with Jeremiah’s warnings about an invasion that is about to occur. He planted the idea of outside danger into people’s minds, desiring those in positions of power to take his warnings seriously (Roat, 2020). There were a number of specific peoples that have been connected with Jeremiah’s warnings, but no specific group has been identified. However, the enemy that the man warned about failed to materialize itself, which contributed to his lack of prophecies at the time.
After the change in leadership, the attitudes of the prophet Jeremiah toward the king shifted. This fell in line with his mission and with his previous efforts to enforce it. Acting as a judge of moral worth and character, Jeremiah harshly criticized the new king, Jehoiakim. Jeremiah focused on promoting the value of selflessness, righteousness, charity, and other religious virtues (Roat, 2020). Just as in his previous work, this connects with his position as a gardener of sorts, establishing certain standards of acceptable practice and cutting off unwanted ideas.
To Destroy
The conflict with the Babylonians contributed to another change of leadership, where Zedekiah became the ruler and was more inclined to follow Jeremiah’s words in his leadership. This was a pleasant change of pace and an essential shift in Jeremiah’s power within society at the time. Instead of being persecuted, his prophecies became a more widely accepted part of the nation’s political and social growth.
In this period, Jeremiah becomes more closely associated with destruction as Jerusalem slowly loses power in the face of an outside opponent. Babylonia’s control over the territory brought a higher economic burden and displaced many individuals. Instead of arguing for rebellion or any type of resistance, Jeremiah continuously advocated for following Babylonia’s demands and practicing compliance (Roat, 2020). Considering the fall of Jerusalem that followed, Jeremiah could be closely connected to the destruction of Judah. He was responsible for adjusting the population’s attitudes to the turmoil, advising many to focus on faith and ceasing all forms of resistance.
Conclusion
It can be argued that Jeremiah best embodied the duality of spiritual guidance and gave the people many significant opportunities to grow and improve. He provided both praise and criticism, advocated for change, and was not afraid to speak the truth to power. In addition, he was genuinely devoted to his work and dedicated to eradicating outdated practices. His mission served as the much-needed revitalization of the faith and allowed many individuals in Judah to lead better, more pious lives.
Reference
Roat, A. (2020). All about Jeremiah in the Bible – The “Weeping prophet”. biblestudytools. Web.