The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. (Jeremiah 1:1)
The name Jeremiah is a Hebrew name which means "May Jehovah exalt/uplift" or "Exalted of the Lord." If we look at the life of Jeremiah the prophet, he was indeed exalted or uplifted of the Lord in the sense that he was a prophet of God Almighty and had the honor of proclaiming God's messages and prophecies to the rebellious people of Judah, denouncing idolatory, announcing calamity and exile. This did not make him popular with the masses and he was often ridiculed and persecuted. But God had promised him to save him from the persecutions that he went through and he was able to fulfil the ministry that God had given him. He lived in close fellowship with God Almighty who had called him to his service. When we think of exaltation, what we mostly imagine is a high position in society, material riches and family blessings, none of which Jeremiah experinced, but regarding knowing the Creator intimately, he definitely could be considerd blessed and exalted of the Lord. What about you? Do you pray for a better relationship with your Creator? Do you speak to him often? Does he speak to you? Are you doing his bidding? Can you be called Jeremiah, meaning "exalted of the Lord"?
