The Lord told Jeremiah: "I have this day set thee over the nations and the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant." (v. 10) Brother illustrates this passage as a gardener preparing the soil before planting. Root out the rocks and debris, pull down vines and thistles, break up the clay chunks, and prepare the seedbed.  Like the church today, Judah often backslid. They immeshed themselves in paganism, defying the Lord. God rebuked His people frequently sending them into captivity or severely judging them. Before chastising them, Jeremiah was to root out their pagan practices, pull down the altars and heathen idols, and throw down the arrogance of the priests.