Year 3, Day 79: Jeremiah 26

Out of Time

Jeremiah 26 is a little out of place according to its own chronology.  According to the opening verse of this chapter, this oracle was given at the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim.  Jehoiakim came to the throne in 609 B.C.  This really means that this chapter was given somewhere around the messages spoken in Jeremiah 7-10.

Another Voice of Truth

Jeremiah’s message at the beginning of this chapter is something that quite honestly we’ve heard before.  If the Hebrew people repent, God will relent.  If the Hebrew people continue to follow after their foreign gods, God will bring about their destruction.

What’s Different…

There is something that is different here in this chapter.  In the prior chapters of Jeremiah, the content of the warnings were the focus.  However, in this chapter the focus isn’t as much on the message as it is on the people’s response to the message.  We find their response in verses 7 and following.

In verse 9, the religious leaders grab Jeremiah and threaten him with death.  They do not particularly care for his message of prophecy.  While I may not agree with them, I certainly can understand why they would be angry.  Who would want to hear Jeremiah’s prophecy?  Who ever really wants to hear that you have to change your ways and quit focusing on ourselves?  Human beings naturally want to fulfill their own desires.

Of course, that doesn’t make it right.  We may not naturally want to hear God’s ways, but we certainly need to hear God’s Word and change our ways.  We need to humble ourselves to God and become obedient to Him.  It may not be natural, but we need to recognize that it is better for us.  Our nature may be corrupted by sin, but God can change us.

But this is not the course that this chapter of Jeremiah gives to us.  The leaders drag Jeremiah before the governors and demand that he be killed.  They demand that he be killed because he uttered a prophetic oracle against the town.  They demand that he be killed because he is true to God. 

Jeremiah’s Response

Jeremiah’s response in the verses that follow are absolutely marvelous.  Once more they display Jeremiah’s patience and his wisdom.  Of course, this is wisdom and patience that ultimately comes from God.  Even still, it is rather amazing.

Think about what has just happened.  God tells Jeremiah to speak an unfavorable message to the people.  Jeremiah gives the message faithfully.  The people don’t listen – which is probably no surprise to Jeremiah.  They demand that he die.  If I were Jeremiah, I don’t think I would have responded with as much poise as Jeremiah displays.  I would have likely lashed out in anger against either the people or God – or perhaps both.

But this is not what Jeremiah does.  Jeremiah says, “Deal with me however you will.  But if you kill me, know that you are shedding innocent blood.”  Talk about poise.  Jeremiah is willing to put his own life aside for the sake of God.  What an incredible testimony!

There is an ever greater part of Jeremiah’s testimony.  Jeremiah reminds the people of the condition of his message.  Jeremiah didn’t tell them they would be judged.  Rather, he told them that they would receive the consequences of their choices if they didn’t obey but that God would relent if they repented.  I think this is absolutely astounding.  In the face of persecution, Jeremiah gave an option of grace to the people who threatened his life.  That is God working within mankind right there!

Jeremiah Spared

Jeremiah is spared for three reasons.  First of all, Jeremiah is spared because there was a precedent for not killing a prophet who came before the king with a bad message so long as it was in the name of the Lord.  Jeremiah’s honesty with the Lord and honesty with the people about the source of his message helped save him.  His reliance upon God’s word comes through.

Second, Jeremiah had internal support.  Jeremiah had Ahikam son of Shaphan on his side.  Ahikam was one of three faithful sons of Shaphan, who had four sons.  Shaphan was King Josiah’s secretary who reported finding the Law to Josiah.  (See 2 Kings 22:3-13)  Through the finding of the Law, Josiah was able to help make reforms in Judah.  Through the Law, Shaphan was able to help raise up three faithful sons.  One of those sons is in a place to help Jeremiah now.  God goes before us and provides what we need.

Third – and most importantly – God provides.  Jeremiah is fundamentally saved because of God’s action in Jeremiah’s life.  God is with Jeremiah, providing what Jeremiah needs when he needs it.  From the ability to speak honestly and through faith to the placement of allies where Jeremiah needs them – God will provide.  What a great chapter of faith!

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