“…I am watching over my word to perform it.”—Jeremiah 1:12
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” —Jeremiah 1:4-8
The LORD created Jeremiah for a purpose—to be His prophet. Jeremiah protested he was too young. God addressed Jeremiah’s initial protest by simply admonishing him to not say he is too young, but that he will obey—he will go—he will speak what God commands. God then reveals Jeremiah’s deeper heart problem—his fear of man… Jeremiah, don’t be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you…. How could he be afraid if God is with him?
The LORD then put out His hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” He tells reluctant, fearful Jeremiah that he will have authority over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.
To any of us, and certainly to a young Hebrew boy, this would sound incredulous, but God gives His reassurance: “I am watching over My word to perform it.” This had to be the moment Jeremiah’s pulse began to slow down. Now he could see… all of what God says will take place, not because God’s young prophet is strong, articulate and capable, but because God is watching over His word to perform it.
The attention we give something is evidence of how deeply we value it. Husbands and wives love and cherish each other. Fathers and mothers are highly attentive to their precious children. We are watchful of our church and its teaching. We are guarding our hearts and watchful for Christ’s return.
Knowing how valuable God’s word is to each of us who believe, it is infinitely, eternally more precious to Him than we could ever grasp or imagine as it reveals His qualities and attributes, actively holds all things together, and goes forth to accomplish His will. (Below are listed verse references that will help you learn more of what God says concerning His word.)
Let this verse help you to fully place your confidence in God and not in yourself. Whether you are being sent to take His word to the far reaches of the globe or to the neighbor across the street, He has promised to fulfill His word. It is astonishing that God would include us and work through us to bring His word to a dark world. But the very fact that we are weak and not strong, not noble, not wise intellectuals is fitting for the people who have been saved to glorify the One who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is at work in us to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 4:13). And so, we can be utterly confident in God that the fruit of our obedience to His call on our lives is borne not by our efforts, but by His watchful care over His word in the perfection of His will. He is watching over His word to perform it.
For Reflection
Write down in a journal what you learn from these passages:
Genesis 1
Deuteronomy 4
Psalm 19:7-11
Psalm 119
Isaiah 40:8
Isaiah 55:11
Isaiah 66:2
Jeremiah 15:16
Mark 13:31
John 1:1, 14
John 12:48
Romans 10:17
Romans 12:1-2
Ephesians 1:13
Hebrews 4:12, 11:3
James 1:18
Revelation 3:8