Jeremiah 1:13
Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, "What do you see?" "I see a boiling pot," I replied, "and it is tilting toward us from the north."
Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, 'What do you see?'
Again the word of the LORD came to me
This phrase emphasizes the continuity and persistence of God's communication with Jeremiah. The Hebrew word for "word" is "dabar," which signifies not just a spoken message but a dynamic and active force. In the context of the prophetic tradition, this underscores the authority and divine origin of the message. The repetition of God's word coming to Jeremiah highlights the importance of the message and the ongoing relationship between God and His prophet. It serves as a reminder that God is actively involved in guiding His people through His chosen messengers.

asking, 'What do you see?'
This question is a divine invitation for Jeremiah to engage with the vision God is presenting. The Hebrew verb "ra'ah" for "see" implies not just physical sight but also spiritual insight and understanding. God is not merely testing Jeremiah's ability to perceive the vision but is inviting him to discern its deeper meaning. This interaction reflects the prophetic role as one who not only receives messages from God but also interprets them for the people. It is a call to spiritual awareness and attentiveness to God's revelations.

I replied, 'I see a boiling pot, and it is tilting away from the north.'
The imagery of a "boiling pot" is rich with symbolic meaning. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a boiling pot often represented impending disaster or judgment. The Hebrew word "napach" for "boiling" conveys a sense of seething or bubbling over, indicating a situation that is about to overflow with consequences. The direction "tilting away from the north" is significant historically and geographically. The north was the direction from which invasions typically came to Judah, particularly from Babylon. This vision foreshadows the coming judgment and invasion that would befall Jerusalem, serving as a warning to the people of the consequences of their disobedience to God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah. He is known for his prophecies of judgment and restoration.

2. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who communicates directly with Jeremiah, guiding him in his prophetic ministry.

3. Boiling Pot
A symbolic vision given to Jeremiah representing impending judgment and disaster. The pot's direction indicates the source of the threat.

4. The North
Symbolically represents the direction from which danger and invasion would come, historically associated with Babylon's threat to Judah.

5. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which is the primary audience of Jeremiah's prophecies, facing imminent judgment due to their disobedience.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Judgment
The vision of the boiling pot signifies God's control over nations and His ability to use them as instruments of judgment.

The Certainty of Prophetic Fulfillment
Just as the boiling pot tilts from the north, God's warnings through His prophets are sure and will come to pass.

The Importance of Spiritual Vigilance
Judah's failure to heed warnings serves as a reminder for believers to remain spiritually alert and responsive to God's word.

The Role of Prophets
Jeremiah's vision underscores the critical role of prophets in communicating God's messages, even when they are difficult or unwelcome.

Repentance and Restoration
While judgment is imminent, God's ultimate desire is for His people to repent and return to Him, highlighting His mercy and grace.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the boiling pot symbolize in Jeremiah's vision, and how does it relate to the historical context of Judah?

2. How does the direction "from the north" enhance our understanding of the threat facing Judah, and what can we learn about God's warnings?

3. In what ways does the imagery of the boiling pot in Jeremiah 1:13 connect with other prophetic symbols in the Bible?

4. How can we apply the lessons from Jeremiah's vision to our own lives in terms of spiritual vigilance and responsiveness to God's word?

5. Reflect on a time when you felt God was warning you about a particular situation. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How does this relate to the message in Jeremiah 1:13?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 4:6
This verse further elaborates on the threat from the north, emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of the impending disaster.

Ezekiel 24:3-5
Similar imagery of a boiling pot is used to describe judgment, highlighting the consistency of prophetic symbols in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 29:1-4
Describes the siege and distress coming upon Jerusalem, connecting the theme of judgment due to disobedience.
The Dread CommissionS. Conway Jeremiah 1:4-19
The Almond Tree and the Seething PotD. Young Jeremiah 1:11-14
Jeremiah's VisionsS. Conway Jeremiah 1:11-16
Natural Objects Setting Forth Divine DispensationsJeremiah 1:11-16
Spiritual VisionJ. Parker, D. D.Jeremiah 1:11-16
The Almond Tree's MessageJ. P. Gladstone.Jeremiah 1:11-16
The Rod of the Almond Tree and the Seething PotSermons by a London MinisterJeremiah 1:11-16
Tree EmblemsProfessor Post, F. L. S.Jeremiah 1:11-16
Hastening IllsA.F. Muir Jeremiah 1:12-16
People
Amon, Anathoth, Benjamin, Hilkiah, Jehoiakim, Jeremiah, Josiah, Zedekiah
Places
Anathoth, Jerusalem
Topics
Blown, Boiling, Caldron, Face, Facing, North, Pot, Saying, Seeing, Seest, Seething, Seething-pot, Thereof, Tilting, Towards
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 1:11-14

     5548   speech, divine

Jeremiah 1:11-16

     1431   prophecy, OT methods

Jeremiah 1:13-15

     4842   north

Jeremiah 1:13-16

     5607   warfare, examples

Library
May the Fifteenth God is Wide-Awake
"Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree." --JEREMIAH i. 7-19. And through the almond tree the Lord gave the trembling young prophet the strength of assurance. The almond tree is the first to awake from its wintry sleep. When all other trees are held in frozen slumber the almond blossoms are looking out on the barren world. And God is like that, awake and vigilant. Nobody anticipates Him. Wherever Jeremiah was sent on his prophetic mission the Lord would be there before
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord."--Jeremiah i. 8. The Prophets were ever ungratefully treated by the Israelites, they were resisted, their warnings neglected, their good services forgotten. But there was this difference between the earlier and the later Prophets; the earlier lived and died in honour among their people,--in outward honour; though hated and thwarted by the wicked, they were exalted to high places, and ruled in the congregation.
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Writings of Jerome.
The following is a list of the writings arranged under various heads, and showing the date of composition and the place held by each in the Edition of Vallarsi, the eleven volumes of which will be found in Migne's Patrologia, vols. xxii. to xxx. The references are to the volumes of Jerome's works (i.-xi.) in that edition. I. Bible translations: (1) From the Hebrew.--The Vulgate of the Old Testament, written at Bethlehem, begun 391, finished 404, vol. ix. (2) From the Septuagint.--The Psalms as used
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

Out of Sectarian Confusion
I was still a Methodist. The Methodist did not license women to preach; but when the preachers found out that God was using me in the salvation of souls and that I was not especially interested in building up any certain denomination, I had an abundance of calls. God had already begun talking to my brother Jeremiah about the sin of division, and he was beginning to see the evils of sectarianism. The winter after I was healed, he had attended the Jacksonville, Illinois, holiness convention, and had
Mary Cole—Trials and Triumphs of Faith

How those are to be Admonished who do not Even Begin Good Things, and those who do not Finish them when Begun.
(Admonition 35.) Differently to be admonished are they who do not even begin good things, and those who in no wise complete such as they have begun. For as to those who do not even begin good things, for them the first need is, not to build up what they may wholesomely love, but to demolish that wherein they are wrongly occupied. For they will not follow the untried things they hear of, unless they first come to feel how pernicious are the things that they have tried; since neither does one desire
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Servant's Inflexible Resolve
'For the Lord God will help Me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set My face like a flint.'--ISAIAH l. 7. What a striking contrast between the tone of these words and of the preceding! There all is gentleness, docility, still communion, submission, patient endurance. Here all is energy and determination, resistance and martial vigour. It is like the contrast between a priest and a warrior. And that gentleness is the parent of this boldness. The same Will which is all submission
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents.
We have gone "to the Law and to the Testimony" to find out what the nature and benefits of Baptism are. We have gathered out of the Word all the principal passages bearing on this subject. We have grouped them together, and studied them side by side. We have noticed that their sense is uniform, clear, and strong. Unless we are willing to throw aside all sound principles of interpretation, we can extract from the words of inspiration only one meaning, and that is that the baptized child is, by virtue
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

That Sometimes Some Laudably Desire the Office of Preaching, While Others, as Laudably, are Drawn to it by Compulsion.
Although sometimes some laudably desire the office of preaching, yet others are as laudably drawn to it by compulsion; as we plainly perceive, if we consider the conduct of two prophets, one of whom offered himself of his own accord to be sent to preach, yet the other in fear refused to go. For Isaiah, when the Lord asked whom He should send, offered himself of his own accord, saying, Here I am; send me (Isai. vi. 8). But Jeremiah is sent, yet humbly pleads that he should not be sent, saying, Ah,
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus Christ;
SHEWING, TRUE GOSPEL-HOLINESS FLOWS FROM THENCE; OR, MR. FOWLER'S PRETENDED DESIGN OF CHRISTIANITY, PROVED TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN TO TRAMPLE UNDER FOOT THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF GOD; AND THE IDOLIZING OF MAN'S OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS AS ALSO, HOW WHILE HE PRETENDS TO BE A MINISTER OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, HE OVERTHROWETH THE WHOLESOME DOCTRINE CONTAINED IN THE 10TH, 11TH, AND 13TH, OF THE THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES OF THE SAME, AND THAT HE FALLETH IN WITH THE QUAKER AND ROMANIST, AGAINST THEM. BY JOHN BUNYAN
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Letter Xlv (Circa A. D. 1140) to the Canons of Lyons, on the Conception of S. Mary.
To the Canons of Lyons, on the Conception of S. Mary. Bernard states that the Festival of the Conception was new; that it rested on no legitimate foundation; and that it should not have been instituted without consulting the Apostolic See, to whose opinion he submits. 1. It is well known that among all the Churches of France that of Lyons is first in importance, whether we regard the dignity of its See, its praiseworthy regulations, or its honourable zeal for learning. Where was there ever the vigour
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Epistle iv. To Cyriacus, Bishop.
To Cyriacus, Bishop. Gregory to Cyriacus, Bishop of Constantinople. We have received with becoming charity our common sons, George the presbyter and Theodore your deacon; and we rejoice that you have passed from the care of ecclesiastical business to the government of souls, since, according to the voice of the Truth, He that is faithful in a little will be faithful also in much (Luke xvi. 10). And to the servant who administers well it is said, Because thou hast been faithful over a few things,
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Sin-Bearer.
A COMMUNION MEDITATION AT MENTONE. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 24, 25. THE SIN-BEARER. THIS wonderful passage is a part of Peter's address to servants; and in his day nearly all servants were slaves. Peter begins at the eighteenth verse: "Servants, be subject
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

John the Baptist's Person and Preaching.
(in the Wilderness of Judæa, and on the Banks of the Jordan, Occupying Several Months, Probably a.d. 25 or 26.) ^A Matt. III. 1-12; ^B Mark I. 1-8; ^C Luke III. 1-18. ^b 1 The beginning of the gospel [John begins his Gospel from eternity, where the Word is found coexistent with God. Matthew begins with Jesus, the humanly generated son of Abraham and David, born in the days of Herod the king. Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist, the Messiah's herald; and Mark begins with the ministry
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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