David Tatum

“To pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

Jeremiah 1:9-10
Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth,
and the LORD said to me,
"Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
"See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To pluck up and to break down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant."

The book of Jeremiah can be somewhat encapsulated or summed up by his initial call by YWHW. YWHW charges Jeremiah with the task of judgment and deliverance, a tearing down and building up, an uprooting and a planting. This theme spans the entire book and can be found in four strategically placed texts. Brueggmann in his book Like Fire in the Bones claims that these four texts are in fact “thematic for the entire book”. The theme that we find in Jeremiahs initial call remains vague and somewhat ambiguous but we find it is later articulated with more clarity. All we know from the beginning is that this judgment and deliverance will be addressed to the nations and kingdoms.

The Potter’s Vessel

In (18:7-10) we find YWHW using the analogy or metaphor of a potter’s vessel. YWHW states that at any moment he may choose to uproot or destroy a kingdom because of their evil ways. But this kingdom has a chance to “turn” (sub) and return to YWHW and if they do He promises to build and plant them. These four verses are contingent if then statements that revolve around the evil or good actions of the people who inhabit the kingdom. YWHW promises that they will always receive a fair warning and a chance to “turn” (sub) from their ways.

The Good and Evil Fig’s

In the next text (24:1-8) YWHW uses another metaphor, this time it is the metaphor of a basket of figs that are either good or bad. The good figs represent the exiles of Judah. They are promised three specific things; the protection of YWHW, a return to the land, and a building up and planting. Next, YWHW reestablishes the covenant with them by giving them a mind to know Him and a heart that seeks after Him. There is also an echo of the Shema in the text as YWHW says, “They shall be my people and I will be their God.” The bad figs according to Thompson are “comprised those who were left in the land or who had settled in Egypt”, and they will be uprooted and destroyed.

The Remnant of Judah

In our last text (42:7-22), we find again several contingent clauses that speak the choice of faithfulness or disobedience of the people. If the people choose to remain in the land and trust YWHW they will receive the promise of being build up and planted. Within this text we also find the deep emotional pain of YWHW as He is “grieved over the disaster, which I have brought upon you.” YWHW promise to both save and deliver the people from the power of the Babylonians. The text then ends with another contingent clause. YWHW says, “but if you say ‘we will not remain in the land.’ not obeying the word of YWHW your God” leaving the choice up to the people weather or not they will choose to remain faithful.
This theme is also revealed in several other places through out the book of Jeremiah. The theme of “plucking up and pulling down” can be found in; the prophetic lawsuit that punishes Judah, the Lamentations of Jeremiah, the metaphor of wound and sickness, and the family relationships between husband and wife, parent and child
The theme of “building up and planting” can be seen in; God’s judgment which remains contingent upon Judah’s response of faithfulness to the covenant, Jeremiah’s addresses to the exiles with a word of hope for the future, and the fact that even after Jerusalem and Judah are destroyed there remains a promise of a remnant that will bring hope for the future.

Deuteronomy and Jesus

This theme also resonates with the general theme of the book of Deuteronomy, which has had a large influence in the writing of Jeremiah. The general theme of the book of Deuteronomy is the choice of life or death. Moses continually urges the people of Israel to chose covenant faithfulness, blessing and life, over idolatry, curse and death. This choice also continues through the rest of the biblical story. Breuggemann keenly reveals that there is a counterpoint in the Christian tradition to the theme we find in Jeremiah. The crucifixion of Jesus can be seen as the “plucking up and tearing down” and the resurrection can be understood as the “planting and building”. In Christ we see the life, death, resurrection and hope for the future as we choose covenant faithfulness and embrace the promise of God to be built up and planted in righteousness.