Prophet on the Move!

From another read-through of the Bible book, Jeremiah, it occurs to me that he stayed on the move!  He was active, compelled by the Word of the Lord to not only speak.  Clearly he was “on the go”!

Reference                   what                                                                           where

1:17     Stand up and say whatever I command you                         

2:2       Go and proclaim… this is what the LORD says                   in the hearing of Jerusalem

3:12     Go, proclaim this message                                                     toward the north

5:1       Go up and down, look around and consider                          the streets of Jerusalem

5:5       [So] I will go and speak to                                                     the leaders

7:2       Stand… proclaim this message:                                            at the gate of the LORD’s house

            Hear the word of the LORD

13:1     Go, buy a linen belt

17:19   Go, stand and say                                                                   gate of the People

18:2     Go, (watch and listen) say                                                      potter’s house

19:1-2  Go, buy a clay jar; proclaim                                                  Valley of Ben Hinnom

22:1     proclaim                                                                                  palace of the king

22:20   Go up and cry out; let your voice be heard                            Lebanon

26:2     Stand up, speak everything I command                                 courtyard of the LORD’s house

27:2     Make a yoke

28:13   Go and tell                                                                              Hananiah

32:6-ff Go and buy a field                                                                  territory of Benjamin

35:2-3  Go to the Rekabite family and invite…                                 house of the LORD

            went to get Jaazaniah…Brought them                                   into the room of the of Hanan

35:13   Go and tell                                                                              people of Judah and those living                                                                                                                                in Jerusalem

36:2     Take a scroll and write

36:28   Take another scroll

39:16   Go and tell                                                                             Ebed-Melek

48:19   Stand and watch                                                                     by the road

What do I observe from all this activity?   

Contrary to some peoples’ conceptions of what prophets do, i.e. stand on street corners and speak what nearly all passersby hear as nonsense or irrelevant religious jargon, this prophet’s position changed often and in diverse ways.  His message, like that of his contemporary Ezekiel, was often an enacted message or an object lesson.  Obviously, his prophetic office did not allow the luxury of merely writing opinion editorials for the local or national media.  Jeremiah was out there, likely the recipient of unkind feedback from listeners.  It was doubtful that he heard affirmation or encouragement from hearers.  But he stayed true to his calling to proclaim what the living LORD God impressed him to communicate.