Jeremiah 26
COMMENTARY:
: 2 Thus says the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak unto them; diminish not a word. (1639 “diminish” [gara] means omit, reduce, subtract, decrease, to scrape off, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold, clip, keep back, or make small.)
DEVOTION: The command throughout Scripture was not to add to or take away from the message of the LORD. False prophets added to or took away from the Word of God and were judged for it.
The two books were we find the commands not to add or take away are Deuteronomy and Revelation. Each time there was a warning of judgment that needed to be heeded. Jeremiah was to go to the temple and tell the leaders of the nation that this was a final warning. Jeremiah was given a hard assignment. The assignment was to prophesy that the land of Judah was going to go into captivity unless they amended their ways.
The people didn’t like what Jeremiah had to say. They wanted to kill Jeremiah. One man stood up to defend Jeremiah. He was an elder. They didn’t kill Jeremiah because one man was willing to stand in the way.
Jeremiah wouldn’t shave the message of the LORD to please the people. He wanted to be faithful to the LORD.
Do we sometimes hear shepherds or pastors shave the word of God to make it more acceptable to the people in the pews? Do we witness only part of the truth of the gospel being preached in the pulpits of our world? Are there pastors who want to preach on Heaven but not preach on Hell? Is the whole counsel of God being presented in our churches? Is the pastor of the church we attend systematically going through the Word of God, so that, we hear the complete message of the Word of God.
When was the last time there was a message on Obadiah preached in the church where you attend? We need to not withhold the word of the LORD when HE gives us an opportunity to share our faith. One man stood against the crowd and won. Praise the LORD! Are we willing to stand in the gap???
CHALLENGE: Present the whole counsel of God to those who are students of the Word of God. Each book has a message for our generation. Share that message.
: 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. (2717 “desolate” [charab] means waste, decay, to be in a state of ruin or destruction, to dry up, to be in ruins, to be dried up, or be devastated.)
DEVOTION: Can you image going to the house of the LORD and condemning someone who is speaking for the LORD. Jeremiah was a man that God had sent to his own people to warn them regarding their actions.
Most people don’t like people who want to help them help them. They think that there is nothing wrong with them that needs correction. So, they get mad at someone who had a message from the LORD to help them stay on the right track or get off their present track to the right track.
The children of Israel and the Christians of today are prone to wander from the commands of the LORD. The LORD usually uses HIS WORD the Bible to warn people about what they are doing but some people who claim to be followers of the LORD are not reading their Bibles or praying with the attitude that the LORD can speak to them about something they are doing wrong in HIS sight.
The children of Israel didn’t want t hear what Jeremiah had to say and so the answer was to kill him so they could have peace. The answer today is to find a church that makes you feel good and not have to think about changing.
We have to look for the warnings of the LORD when we are not worshiping HIM as we should. HE wants HIS genuine followers to listen and change. The children of Israel were not willing to listen.
CHALLENGE: Are you listening to the LORD each day for areas that HE wants you to improve on for your service to HIM? If not, start. If so, change! Our world is not heading in the right direction.
: 15 But know you for certain, that if you put me to death, you shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears. (5355 “innocent” [naqiy] means guiltless, blameless, clean, clear, pure, or free from obligation.)
DEVOTION: Here we find the third time that the people wanted to kill Jeremiah. First we found that his home townspeople wanted to kill him. Then we read that the people of Jerusalem wanted to kill him. Here again we find that they were thinking of killing him. They really wanted to end his life.
Jeremiah stated that if they killed him they would be killing someone who is blameless of any fault. He was just relaying the message of the LORD to them. This was true in all occasion where they wanted to kill him.
He had just stated that if they would amend their ways or change their ways the LORD would relent of what HE had planned for them.
What was the LORD’S plan? HE was sending an army from Babylon to conquer the area because of the sins of the people. They were going to utterly destroy Jerusalem. They were going to kill all those who wanted to stay in Jerusalem or run to Egypt. Only those who surrendered to the Babylonians would be spared. They were promised by the LORD that they would return to the Promised Land in seventy years.
Why seventy years? It is thought that the people stopped celebrating the Sabbath rest of the land and that was the time period it would take to correct this sin of the people.
Those who were willing to kill him were the ones who thought if they killed him his message would not come true. They were lying to themselves.
Sometimes there are people today who think if they don’t go to church and hear the true of the Word of God, it won’t happen. It is sad but true. The problem is that the LORD only changes HIS actions toward HIS people when they repent and turn in a different direction. If they don’t turn HE will send HIS judgment.
Believers have to examine themselves on the basis of the Word of God on a regular basis to make sure they are following the LORD. HIS presence needs to be evident in their lives. There has to be regular growth. There has to be obedience.
CHALLENGE: We need to ask ourselves if we would have been part of the plot to kill Jeremiah because we don’t want to hear the message of change the LORD wants to happen in our life.
: 24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: When God protects His word and workers, they are untouchable. Jeremiah proclaimed a message that was not received and the people wanted to kill him. Every time he spoke the anger and condemnation was evident against him. Yet he continued to speak and to be a public figure in spite of the hostility. Ahikam was a member of a very prominent Jerusalem family who held government office under Josiah and Jehoakim. Ahikam’s father, Shaphan, was royal secretary during the reign of Josiah (2 Kgs 22:3–20). Ahikam’s brothers, Elasah (Jer 29:3) and Gemariah (Jer 36:10–12, 25), and Gemariah’s son Micaiah (Jer 36:11–13), were also court officials. [The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 113.] This family apparently was able to keep Jeremiah from the people who desired to silence him.
We also have individuals and special guardians that the Lord brings into our lives and ministries to protect and place as buffers between us and the opposition. Sometimes we are aware of these individuals and sometimes they are at work in silent and obscure ways. Rest assured though that the Lord is watching over you and providing protection.
CHALLENGE: Christ calls us to proclaim His word in a harsh and cruel world. One that is opposed to his message and messengers! Take courage as He has promised that he would provide a comforter and people to protect and provide for us. Paul was reminded of this in Acts 18:9-10 when the Lord spoke to him and said, “…Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” Be strong and courageous as you minister for Him this week! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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