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Jeremiah – Words from the Heart (4 of 4)

Focus Text: Jeremiah 26

Courage and perseverance go hand in hand and Jeremiah was well acquainted with both virtues; notice the following example.

“So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, ‘You will surely die! 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. When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and sat down in the entry of the New Gate of the LORD’S house. And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and all the people, saying, ‘This man deserves to die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.’” (Jeremiah 26.7-11).

Talk about a stacked deck, Jeremiah faced one; the entirety of the social, political, and religious communities were against him; in fact they were so opposed to him that they advocated his death. “Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying: ‘The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard. Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; then the LORD will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you. As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you. But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.” (Jeremiah 26.12-15).

If there ever was a time to back down, this was the time. However, rather than back away or go silent, Jeremiah just stood his ground and proclaimed the truth more loudly than before. The opposition did not server to silence him, but it did serve to energize him even more than before. Jeremiah expressed his own determination in an earlier text when he said, “For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, ‘Violence and plunder!’ Because the word of the LORD was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.” (Jeremiah 20.8-9). The compelling force of compassion and conscience in Jeremiah combined to form motivation so strong that even his own will was seemingly overridden! He simply had to preach regardless of the consequences!

A wise professor used to say, “Boys, don’t preach unless you have to!” This seems strange at first, but rings truer and truer with time. Jeremiah HAD to preach; he had no choice! If one consults the biblical hall of fame for men of great courage, Jeremiah heads the line!

Questions:

1. Where does Jeremiah 26.7-11 say that the people gathered together against Jeremiah?

2. What did they want to do to him? What had he done to them?

3. How did Jeremiah respond to the threats of violence against him?

4. What did Jeremiah say the word of God was like in his heart and bones? Why that analogy?

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Inerrancy