Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Three Points:

1.God knows us before birth

Foreknowledge - knowledge of an event before it occurs (WordNet). God knows, not decrees, the future. It is one of those amazing things about God. This is the basis of prophecy. This is why God's prophecies and prophets are 100% accurate. We can take comfort in God's many promises and prophecies, for they will happen.

2. God knows what our response to Him will be, so God sanctified, that is, separated Jeremiah to be a prophet.

When God sanctifies someone, He sets that person apart to be a servant for His purpose. Exodus 28:41 And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. Our prayer should be that we are sanctified wholly. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. A prophet to the nations, not just Israel.

God has concern for all people, not just a certain group. The Lord Jesus came to die for all nations. Revelation 7:9 After these things, I looked and lo, a great multitude, which none could number, out of every nation, and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands. He cares for you.

Jeremiah 1:16

Jeremiah 1:16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

Their sins

1. Forsaken me.

That is, they have known but turned away. Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

2. Burned incense

This is to please the gods. There is only one God. We should seek to please Him. Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

3. Worshipped the work of their own hands.

Basically we worship what we want to worship--ourselves. We choose what to worship--what is comfortable, pleasing, appealing, and serves us well. It will leave us without guilt, sorrow, or troubles.

This is all false. We will a slave to this type of god. We will still have guilt, sorrow, and troubles, for "(Isaiah 57:21) There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

Will we turn away, be unthankful, and worship idols?