The Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1-10)

Jeremiah was one of the Four Major Prophets of Israel and he lived in the Kingdom of Judah (c. 650-570 BC). God called him to be a prophet during the reign of King Josiah and his ministry lasted around 40 years. He was from a priestly family but he never married.

At the royal court in Jerusalem, he campaigned for religious reform with five of Judah’s kings. He foresaw and witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 587 BC. Jeremiah warned the people that after the city was captured, they would have to spend seventy years exiled in Babylon.

And that is exactly what happened. Just before the city fell, Jeremiah’s secretary Baruch helped him to write down his visions and prophecies (Jeremiah 36:1-32). After the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah lived on in Egypt for a number of years. Near Mount Nebo, he hid the Ark of the Covenant (2 Maccabees 2:1-8).

Jeremiah’s book contains a mix of material – poetry, sermons, prophecies, songs and historical accounts. It starts by describing his call and mission, then includes his prophecies about the upcoming fall of Jerusalem. The book ends with a series of prophecies for the Jews in Egypt and about ten other nations in the Middle East.

Jeremiah is often known as ‘the weeping prophet’ because of his tears over the catastrophes facing Jerusalem. However, his messages of doom and gloom did not go down well among the people. There were attempts on his life, he was beaten, put in the stocks and even imprisoned during the reign of King Zedekiah.

Amid his messages of judgment, Jeremiah’s book does contain glimmers of hope. He spoke of the eventual return of the people from exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. After that, he said, God would make a new covenant with his people (31:1-40). He also wrote about the future coming of the Messiah (23:5-6).

This stained glass window picturing Jeremiah is found within the Cathedral of St Michael and St George, Aldershot. Dating to 1903, it was produced by the Heaton, Butler & Bayne studio and is part of a series of windows in the sanctuary picturing the Four Major Prophets and the Four Evangelists.

This particular scene is of the Call of Jeremiah. When he appointed Jeremiah as prophet to the nations, God touched his lips and said: “Behold, I have placed my words into your mouth. This day I have established you over nations and kingdoms.” (Jeremiah 1:9) This meant that his message was not just for Jews, but for foreigners too.

See the full image:

Where to find this work of art
The Cathedral of St Michael and St George, Aldershot

Read the relevant passage
Jeremiah 1:1-10

On a similar theme

• From the Old Testament: The Lamentations, as mourning songs about the fall of Jerusalem, were traditionally associated with the Prophet Jeremiah.
• From the New Testament: Like Jeremiah, Christ told the women of Jerusalem to mourn over the destruction of their city (Jeremiah 9:17-21).