1. JEREMIAH’S BACKGROUND Sunday April 2

a. By nature, what kind of person was Jeremiah? Jeremiah 9:1, 2. “Naturally of a timid and shrinking disposition, Jeremiah longed for the peace and quiet of a life of retirement, where he need not witness the continued impenitence of his beloved nation. His heart was wrung with anguish over the ruin wrought by sin. [Jeremiah 9:1, 2 quoted.]”–Prophets and Kings, pp. 419, 420. b. Despite Jeremiah’s timid nature, why did the Lord call him? Jeremiah 15:20, 21. What lesson do we thus learn? “In the youthful Jeremiah, God saw one who would be true to his trust and who would stand for the right against great opposition. In childhood he had proved faithful; and now he was to endure hardness, as a good soldier of the cross.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 407.“We must meet troubles and sorrows. Temptations and wearisome toil will afflict the soul, but we must patiently wait in faith to reap with joy. In the final victory God will have no use for those persons who are nowhere to be found in time of peril and danger, when the strength, courage, and influence of all are required to make a charge upon the enemy. Those who stand like faithful soldiers to battle against wrong, and to vindicate the right, warring against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, will each receive the commendation from the Master: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord’ (Matthew 25:23).”–Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 327. [Author’s italics.]

---

2. THE CALLING OF JEREMIAH Monday April 3

a. What important office did Jeremiah’s father hold in the temple? 2 Kings 22:4. What unusual double office was Jeremiah called to occupy? Jeremiah 1:1, 5. “Among those who had hoped for a permanent spiritual revival as the result of the reformation under Josiah was Jeremiah, called of God to the prophetic office while still a youth, in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign. A member of the Levitical priesthood, Jeremiah had been trained from childhood for holy service. In those happy years of preparation he little realized that he had been ordained from birth to be ‘a prophet unto the nations.’ ”–Prophets and Kings, p. 407. b. For what specific mission did the Lord choose Jeremiah, even before his birth? Jeremiah 1:9, 10. “Thank God for the words, ‘to build, and to plant’ (Jeremiah 1:10). By these words Jeremiah was assured of the Lord’s purpose to restore and to heal.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 409.

---

3. LESSONS FROM THE CALLING OF JEREMIAH Tuesday April 4

a. When the Lord called Jeremiah, what warning did He give him? Jeremiah 1:17. What can we learn from this call, and how are we included in the commission? Isaiah 43:10 (first part). “The same God who gave His messages to Moses and Jeremiah will give His word to His witnesses in this generation. ‘For it is not ye that speak,’ Christ declares, ‘but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you’ (Matthew 10:20). This word of the Lord has been verified in all ages, and it will be verified to the close of time in all who hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end.”–The Review and Herald, May 24, 1898.“Each has his place in the eternal plan of heaven. Each is to work in cooperation with Christ for the salvation of souls. Not more surely is the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 326, 327.“In this closing work of the gospel there is a vast field to be occupied; and, more than ever before, the work is to enlist helpers from the common people. Both the youth and those older in years will be called from the field, from the vineyard, and from the workshop, and sent forth by the Master to give His message. Many of these have had little opportunity for education; but Christ sees in them qualifications that will enable them to fulfill His purpose. If they put their hearts into the work, and continue to be learners, He will fit them to labor for Him.”–Education, pp. 269, 270. b. How is the faithful watchman instructed to labor for those under his care? Ezekiel 33:7; Acts 20:28. What should God’s ambassadors always remember? “We are Christ’s ambassadors, watchmen unto the house of Israel, to see the dangers that await souls, and give them warning. The pastor is a shepherd of the sheep, guarding them, feeding them, warning them, reproving them, or encouraging them, as the case may require. There is visiting to be done, not to have a pleasant chat, but to do the work required of a watchman. There should be earnest conversation and prayer with these souls. This is the kind of work that gains valuable experience in the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom.“But if this work is neglected, the wolves will find access to the flock. They will work for their master, as the watchman has failed to work for his. The sheep will be wounded and bruised, owing to the cold indifference and irresponsible course pursued toward them by the shepherd. “God has enjoined upon the watchmen to watch for souls as they that must give an account.”–The Review and Herald, October 20, 1896.

---

4. GOD’S TRUE SERVANT Wednesday April 5

a. How did Jeremiah react when the Lord called him? Jeremiah 1:6, 7. What did the Lord say to His servant concerning the spiritual condition of His professed people? Jeremiah 1:14, 16. “Stern were the messages to be borne in the years that were to follow. Prophecies of swift-coming judgments were to be fearlessly delivered. From the plains of Shinar ‘an evil’ was to ‘break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.’ ‘I will utter My judgments against them,’ the Lord declared, ‘touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken Me’ (Jeremiah 1:14, 16). Yet the prophet was to accompany these messages with assurances of forgiveness to all who should turn from their evil-doing.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 409.“God does not send judgments upon His people without first warning them to repent. He uses every means to bring them back to obedience and does not visit their iniquity with judgments until He has given them ample opportunity to repent.”–Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 179. b. For how long was Jeremiah to be a faithful spokesman? Jeremiah 1:3. “For forty years Jeremiah was to stand before the nation as a witness for truth and righteousness. In a time of unparalleled apostasy he was to exemplify in life and character the worship of the only true God. During the terrible sieges of Jerusalem he was to be the mouthpiece of Jehovah. He was to predict the downfall of the house of David and the destruction of the beautiful temple built by Solomon. And when imprisoned because of his fearless utterances, he was still to speak plainly against sin in high places. Despised, hated, rejected of men, he was finally to witness the literal fulfillment of his own prophecies of impending doom, and share in the sorrow and woe that should follow the destruction of the fated city.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 408.

---

5. PROMISES AND ASSURANCES OF GOD Thursday April 6

a. Facing a very difficult time, what comforting promise did Jeremiah receive from the Lord? Jeremiah 1:8, 19. “Cruel were the mockings [Jeremiah] was called upon to endure. His sensitive soul was pierced through and through by the arrows of derision hurled at him by those who despised his messages and made light of his burden for their conversion. . . .“But the faithful prophet was daily strengthened to endure. ‘The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible One,’ he declared in faith; ‘therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.’ ‘Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for He hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers’ (Jeremiah 20:11, 13).”–Prophets and Kings, p. 420. b. What prophetic view did God give to Jeremiah? Jeremiah 31:12. “Amid the general ruin into which the nation was rapidly passing, Jeremiah was often permitted to look beyond the distressing scenes of the present to the glorious prospects of the future, when God’s people should be ransomed from the land of the enemy and planted again in Zion. He foresaw the time when the Lord would renew His covenant relationship with them. [Jeremiah 31:12 quoted.]”–Prophets and Kings, pp. 408, 409.

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS Friday April 7

1. Describe the character possessed by God’s true servants. 2. What did God promise to those whom He called? 3. Whom will the Lord call in these last days? 4. Before judgment comes, what does the Lord send? 5. What should God’s servants always remember?