SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 26
JEREMIAH THREATENED WITH DEATH (vs. 1-24)
The Lord told Jeremiah to speak to all the people of the town of Judah the following message:
“If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.”
After Jeremiah had finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priest, the prophets and all the people seized him and wanted to sentence him to death.
Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: (vs, 12-15)
“The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. Now reform you ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in in it, for in truth, the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
So, the officials and all the people told the priests and the prophets that Jeremiah should not be sentenced to death. Some elders said that Micah prophesied in the days of Hezekiah that Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mountain overgrown with thickets.” But king Hezekiah fear the Lord and did not put him to death. So the Lord relent and no disaster were brought against them.
Another man, Uriah prophesized same things against the city. Jehoiakim struck him down with a sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people. However, Ahikam, son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
THOUGHTS:
The leaders of Judah should have called for a time of fasting and prayer but instead, they called for the execution of God’s prophets. Fortunately, there were wise old men who remembered the words of prophet Micah which were similar to the words Jeremiah spoke. They have sparred Jeremiah. However, they did not repent of their sins.
Jeremiah was branded as a traitor because he prophesized the destruction of the city and temple. Are you courageous enough to never exclude important parts of God’s Word in order to please someone?