NOTES for Иер 1:1-19
Jeremiah was called to prophetic ministry from his mother's womb. Does this mean that it was predetermined in advance that the prophet would be invulnerable to sin, that he was free from the temptations that tested and still test other people? No, of course not. He is the same kind of person as everyone else; he is just as weak and capable of stumbling. That is true, but not the whole truth: Jeremiah agreed to rely on the strength given by the Lord, and in doing so proved able to receive it.
Calling the prophet to ministry, the Lord compares him to a fortified city. It is a little strange for us to see such a comparison, since we remember sayings and familiar phrases such as "one man does not make an army" or "a lone voice is thinner than a squeak." But the one whom the Lord has called becomes a warrior even when alone. And very often, when forced to stand against hostile or simply deceived crowds, such a person turns out to be stronger than whole armies. And even when thrown down, when he appears to have suffered defeat, he remains the victor. For victory still belongs to the One who appointed the prophet to his ministry.