Read Jeremiah 26
Jeremiah Threatened With Death
26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. 4 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you, 5 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), 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city a curse among all the nations of the earth.’”
7 The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. 8 But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! 9 Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?” And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.
10 When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate of the Lord’s house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”
12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. 13 Now reform your 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. 14 As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 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 it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“‘Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.’
19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the Lord and seek his favor? And did not the Lordrelent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster on ourselves!”
20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim and all his officers and officials heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death. But Uriah heard of it and fled in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men.23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)
24 Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Go Deeper
To fully understand this chapter, it’s important to begin with a refresher on Judah’s history. As Jeremiah is prophesying in this chapter, Jehoiakim (the son of the late King Josiah) was on the throne. Why is the family tree important here? King Josiah was one of the few righteous and noble kings of Judah’s past that we read about in 2 Kings 23. During his reign, idols were purged and destroyed. God’s people, under Josiah’s leadership, turned from their wickedness and renewed their covenant with God. As a result, God relented from punishing them in the way that they deserved.
Josiah’s son Jehoahaz then took over and, after a reign of only three months, Jehoahaz was taken captive by the king of Egypt. In steps Johiakim to lead the people of Judah, but it is evident early on that his father’s legacy of faithfulness wasn’t passed down to the new king. As Jeremiah preached a message for all who would listen, there was immediate pushback and hostility from the priests, prophets, and the audience listening (v. 7-9). But why? Perhaps they thought Jeremiah wanted these things he was preaching about to happen. We know that it was meant to be a somber warning, not a celebratory, hopeful prediction.
As Jeremiah defends himself (v. 12-15), we see on display a humble servant courageously living out God’s call on his life. Even as he’s under scrutiny and publicly defending himself, he continues to speak the truth boldly. He reminds everyone that he’s not there by his own volition, but that he’s doing as God had instructed him to do. Even as the people wanted him put to death, Jeremiah called them to repentance once again.
Jeremiah’s words ultimately won the crowd over. They reflect back on the times in the past that they had listened to the words of the prophets and concluded that Jeremiah must be communicating on God’s behalf. This passage is a helpful reminder to us of what it looks like to speak the truth with both love and courage. Had Jeremiah cowered and compromised, the crowd wouldn’t have heard the message of repentance that they needed to hear. Today, let’s be people of courage who carry the Gospel forth with boldness.
Questions
- What stuck out to you on your first read through this chapter? Why?
- Why is it important to understand the lineage of the kings of Judah? Why are those words preserved in scripture?
- Are you a naturally bold and courageous person? If not, what can you do to grow in your courage today?
Did You Know?
The reference to Uriah son of Shemaiah in verses 20-23 is the only mention of this prophet Uriah in all of scripture.
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6 thoughts on “Jeremiah 26”
Once again we see parallels of Jeremiah and Jesus. When people do not want to hear truth, they try to silence it. Both were speaking on the authority of God and boldly spoke truth regardless of a personal cost of doing so. Both received backlash from religious leaders refusing to cower to them when delivering God’s message. Today, we can wrestle well and count the cost of following Jesus and find him worthy of ridicule or pushback, seeking most of all to please God rather than others. We can take up our cross and follow him wherever we go, leaving the fragrance and knowledge of Christ along the way.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
What would I have done in this instant of being taken captive because I was speaking God’s truth? I would love to say I would be like Jeremiah but sadly I think I would have been immensly afraid and would turn tail and run. I am NOT a confrontational person EVER. So this all would be so completely out of my comfort zone 1000%. BUT GOD wants me/us to meditate on Him. He desires us to delight in what He delights in. To be obedient to what He is asking. When we read scripture we should ask in these passages,that I am meditating on, seeing and hearing from God, what is the take away that I can do/obey, put my flesh and blood into action? Today would be to continue to be bold. God knows the end from the beginning. He has and has had a plan that is has been put into motion. Say what He says to say. It will not be easy. Stand firm. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Success comes from wisdom of God. 1Cor 2:12-14 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
God thank You for my obedience. God thank You that I am not afraid when You ask me to speak. You have given me Your Holy Spirit to speak Your words. God thank You that I can meditate on this scripture all day and have a better understanding of You. God I want to delight You in all I say and do. Thank You for these minutes of this day to hear, listen, speak, and delight in Your word, in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!
Questions:
1. Humble obedience to the Word of God. Jermiah displayed this and continued to serve God faithfully no matter the consequences.
2. Repeated warnings of what is more important, God or our selfish desires. Holy fear of God or fear of man.
3. I am naturally bold and courageous, sometimes in error, but I am learning to humbly study God’s word, follow Jesus’ example and accept Holy Spirit’s correction.
The path of righteousness is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18
16 “This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
Wow, that was a close call for Jeremiah!