Jeremiah 2:17

The LORD promises to be with Jeremiah to deliver him and tells him not to be afraid of the people's faces. Then, the LORD touches Jeremiah's mouth and puts His words in it. He sets Jeremiah over nations and kingdoms to root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build, and plant. The LORD shows Jeremiah a vision of a rod from an almond tree, signifying that He will hasten His word to perform it. In a second vision, Jeremiah sees a seething pot with its face toward the north, and the LORD explains that evil will break forth from the north upon all the inhabitants of the land. The LORD declares He will call the families of the kingdoms of the north to set their thrones at the gates of Jerusalem. He will utter His judgments against His people for their wickedness, for forsaking Him, burning incense to other gods, and worshipping the works of their own hands. The LORD commands Jeremiah to arise and speak all that He commands, making him a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, its kings, priests, and people, who will fight against him but not prevail, for the LORD is with him to deliver him. Jeremiah 2: Israel's Faithlessness The word of the LORD comes to Jeremiah, telling him to cry in the ears of Jerusalem. The LORD says He remembers the kindness of Israel's youth and their love when they followed Him in the wilderness. Israel was holiness to the LORD, the firstfruits of His increase, and all who devoured him would be held guilty. The LORD asks the house of Jacob what iniquity their fathers found in Him that they have gone far from Him, walking after vanity. They did not ask, "Where is the LORD who brought us out of Egypt?" The LORD brought them into a plentiful country, but they defiled His land and made His heritage an abomination. The priests did not ask where the LORD was, those who handle the law did not know Him, the pastors transgressed against Him, and the prophets prophesied by Baal.