Chapter 1

Very specific information given as to when Jeremiah prophesied.  From the 13th year of Josiah to the end of the 13th year of Zedekiah, until Judah's captivity in the fifth month.  This is about 627-570 BC.  (Isaiah is believed to have "stopped" in 686 BC, 60 years before Jeremiah started.)

5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." [Jer 1:5 ESV]

I believe this verse says that NO Christian, no one with any belief and understanding of God AT ALL, can say that abortion is ok.  God knows children before they are even formed into human appearance.  MSB says God knew Jeremiah before he was even conceived.

Jeremiah protests his office as prophet based on his youth.  God over rides that and says He will protect him.  God's commission to Jeremiah, in so many words:

9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." [Jer 1:9-10 ESV]

In vs 11, Jeremiah's first vision, of an almond branch, and God says it symbolizes how He watches over His word, making sure that what He says comes to pass.  The connection is that the word "almond" in Hebrew sounds a lot like the Hebrew word for "watching". 

In vss 13-16, Jeremiah's second vision.  A boiling pot facing away from the North.  God tells Jeremiah that Jerusalem will be besieged by all the tribes of the kingdom of the north.  Not just that Jerusalem will fall, but to siege.

In vss 17-19, God tells Jeremiah that He will protect him from those who come to hate him for his prophesies - from kings, officials, priests, and people.  Is there comfort in this?  Knowing that the whole world will oppose you but God will protect you through it?  It certainly anticipates a difficult life.