‘JEHOVAH TOUCHED MY MOUTH’

3. What meaningful gesture did God make toward Jeremiah at the beginning of his work, and how did the prophet feel about it?

³ Recall that at the start of his prophetic ministry, Jeremiah heard these words: “To all those to whom I shall send you, you should go; and everything that I shall command you, you should speak. Do not be afraid because of their faces, for ‘I am with you to deliver you,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.” (Jer. 1:7, 8) And then God made an unexpected gesture. Jeremiah tells us: “Jehovah thrust his hand out and caused it to touch my mouth. Then Jehovah said to me: ‘Here I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have commissioned you this day.’” (Jer. 1:9, 10) From then on, Jeremiah knew that he spoke for Almighty God.a With His full support, Jeremiah’s zeal for sacred service grew.​—Isa. 6:5-8.

4. What examples of outstanding zeal in preaching can you relate?

⁴ Jehovah does not physically touch any of his servants today. Yet, through his spirit, he does give them a strong desire to preach the good news. Many of them glow with zeal.