Transcript
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Hello everyone.
>> [music]
>> We've reached the haftarah of parshat
Pinchas.
Our haftarah introduces the book of
Yirmiyahu and describes the beginning of
the prophet Yirmiyahu's mission. This
was a very sensitive [music] period for
the Jewish people. It was during the
days of the last kings of Yehuda leading
up to the difficult [music] time of the
exile of Jerusalem.
In such a reality, God appoints [music]
a prophet whose role is to speak God's
word with faith, courage, and precision.
At the beginning, [music] it is told who
Yirmiyahu is, the son of Hilkiyahu from
the priests in Anatot [music]
in the land of Binyamin.
The word of God began to come to him in
the days of Yehoshiyahu, [music] king of
Yehuda, in the 13th year of his reign,
and continued through the days of
Yehoyakim and [music] until the days of
Tzidkiyahu, up to the exile of Jerusalem
in the fifth month.
Even in the introduction, you can
[music] sense that this is not a short
or simple mission, but a long one that
accompanies [music] an entire era of the
Jewish people.
And then comes the big moment. [music]
The word of God comes to Yirmiyahu.
God tells him that [music] even before
he was formed in his mother's womb, he
already knew him. And even before he
came out of the womb, he [music] was
already set apart for his role.
Yirmiyahu was not chosen by chance, nor
was he sent [music] because the timing
was convenient. His mission was
determined from above, and he is
destined to be a prophet to the nations.
[music]
But Yirmiyahu is frightened and turns to
God saying, "I do not know how to speak,
for I am just [music] a youth." He feels
very young, quite powerless, perhaps not
entirely [music] suited to stand before
people, kings, ministers, and an entire
nation.
This is a very human reaction. Anyone
who [music] understands the weight of
such a mission feels how much greater it
is than him.
God immediately replies to him,
"Do not say I am just a youth. Neither
age nor personal feelings [music] are
what matter here. Wherever God sends
him, that's where he will go. And
whatever God commands him, that is what
[music] he will speak." Yirmiyahu is not
coming to share his own ideas, but the
word of God.
Therefore, he has [music] nothing to
fear.
God tells him explicitly, "Do not be
afraid [music] of them, for I am with
you to save you."
Afterwards, a special act is described.
[music]
God stretches out his hand and touches
Yirmiyahu's mouth, saying to him, "See,
>> [music]
>> I have put my words in your mouth." This
is a moment when the mission becomes
very tangible. His speech [music]
becomes a vessel for conveying the word
of God.
From this point on, [music] he is
appointed over the nations and kingdoms
to uproot, to pull down,
>> [music]
>> to destroy, and to overthrow, as well as
to build and to plant. In other words,
the words of prophecy are not only about
rebuke and destruction, but also about
preparing for [music] renewal and new
growth.
Later, God presents Yirmiyahu an initial
vision and asks him, "What do you see?"
Yirmiyahu answers that he sees an almond
[music] branch. God says to him, "You
have seen well, for I am watching over
my word to fulfill it."
Just as the almond [music] tree blossoms
quickly, so too is the word of God not
empty. [music] What God says occurs
exactly at the time he determines.
After that, comes a second vision.
[music] Again, Yirmiyahu is asked what
he sees, and he replies that he sees a
boiling pot, its face [music] turned
towards the north. God explains to him
that from the north disaster will be
unleashed upon all the inhabitants of
the land. [music] The kingdoms of the
north will come. They will set their
thrones at the entrance of the gates of
Jerusalem, by its [music] walls, and
around all the cities of Yehudah.
This is a harsh description [music] of
impending judgment and it is connected
to the evil of Israel who abandoned God,
burned incense [music] to other gods,
and worshipped the work of their own
hands.
>> [music]
>> And after all this, God returns to
Yirmiyahu and empowers him for the task
ahead.
He tells him, "Prepare yourself, rise,
and deliver everything I command [music]
you. Do not be afraid of them." In other
words, don't break, don't be afraid,
don't back down. The prophet must stand
firm even in [music] the face of
opposition. God promises him that he
will make him like a fortified [music]
city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls
against the entire land,
against the kings of Yehuda, [music]
its officials, the priests, and the
people of the land. There will be those
who fight him and oppose his [music]
words, but they will not prevail against
him because the Lord is with him to save
him.
>> [music]
>> The message that emerges from the
Haftorah is very powerful. A true
mission does not rely solely on
self-confidence, but on the word of God.
Even someone who feels small and
incapable, when sent by God, receives
the strength to stand firm. [music]
Yirmiyahu is sent on a difficult
mission, but he is not alone.
God accompanies [music] him, empowers
him, and puts his words in his mouth.
