JEREMIAH 26A

Message of hope regarding Jerusalem verse 1- 3

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah
            came the word of the LORD – saying – 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
                        If so be they will hearken
and turn every man from his evil way
                                                THAT I may repent ME of the evil
                                                            which I PURPOSE to do unto them
BECAUSE of the evil of their doings

Message of warning regarding Jerusalem verse 4- 7

You shall say unto them – Thus says the LORD
IF you will not hearken to ME – to walk in MY law
which I have set before you
to hearken to the words of MY servants the prophets
whom I sent unto you both rising up early
and sending them
BUT ye have not hearkened
THEN will I make this house like Shiloh
            and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth
So the PRIESTS and the PROPHETS and all the PEOPLE heard
            Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD

Message of the LORD rejected verse 8- 9

Now it came to pass
when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD
had commanded him to speak unto the people
THAT the PRIESTS and the PROPHETS
and all the PEOPLE took him – saying
YOU SHALL 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

Court met to decide fate of Jeremiah verse 10- 11

When the PRINCES of Judah heard these things
            THEN they came up from the king’s house
unto the house of the LORD and sat down in the
entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house
THEN spoke the PRIESTS and the PROPHETS unto the PRINCES
and all the PEOPLE – saying
This man is WORTHY to DIE
for he has prophesied against this city
                              as you have heard with your ears

Jeremiah’s defends himself verse 12- 15

THEN spoke Jeremiah unto all the PRINCES
and to all the PEOPLE – saying
                        The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house
and against this city all the words that you have heard
THEREFORE now amend your ways and your doings
            and obey the voice of the LORD your God
                        and the LORD will RELENT HIM of the evil that HE
has pronounced against you
As for me – BEHOLD – I am in your hand
do with me as seems good and meet unto you
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

Princes rule in Jeremiah’s favor verse 16

THEN said the PRINCES and all the PEOPLE unto the PRIESTS
and to the PROPHETS
This man is NOT WORTHY to DIE
            for he has spoken to us in the name of the
LORD our God

Elders give history of revival in Hezekiah’s time verse 17- 19

THEN rose up certain of the ELDERS of the land
and spoke to all the assembly of the people – saying
Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of
Hezekiah king of Judah and spoke to all the
PEOPLE of Judah – saying
Thus says the LORD of hosts
Zion shall be plowed like an field
and Jerusalem shall become heaps
and the mountains of the house
as the high place of a forest
            Did Hezekiah king of Judah and ALL Judah
put him at all to death?
            Did he not fear the LORD – and besought the LORD
and the LORD REPENTED HIM of the evil
which HE had pronounced against them?
Thus might we procure great evil against our souls

Uriah the prophet killed for speaking the truth verse 20- 23

And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD
Urijah son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-hearim
who prophesied against this city and against this land
according to all the words of Jeremiah
And when Jehoiakim the KING with all his mighty men
and all the PRINCES – heard his words
                        the KING sought to put him to DEATH
                                    BUT when Urijah heard it – he was afraid – and fled
and went into Egypt
And Jehoiakim the KING sent men into Egypt – namely
            Elnatian the son of Achbor and certain men with him into Egypt
                        and they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt
                                    and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king
                                                who slew him with the sword
                                    and cast his dead body into the graves of the
                                                common people

Ahikam stood up to defend Jeremiah verse 24

NEVERTHELESS the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah
            that they should not give him into the hand of the
PEOPLE to put him to DEATH

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 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; diminishnot 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.)

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 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.)

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: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)

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Hezekiah feared the LORD and besought HIM verse 18, 19

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Worship in the house of the LORD verse 2, 7, 9, 10, 12

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Word from the LORD verse 1
Law of the LORD verse 4

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 2, 4, 7- 10,
12, 13, 15, 16,
18- 20
House of the LORD verse 2, 7, 9, 10
LORD can relent of HIS judgment verse 3, 13, 19
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 13, 16
LORD your God verse 13
LORD our God verse 16
LORD of hosts verse 18

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Nations of the earth verse 6
Egypt verse 21- 23

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Evil verse 3, 13, 19
Not hearkening to the LORD verse 4, 5
False priests wanted to kill Jeremiah verse 8, 11, 16
False prophets wanted to kill Jeremiah verse 8, 11, 16
Murder verse 8
Shed Innocent blood verse 15
Afraid verse 22
Killing of prophet Urijah verse 23

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Worship the LORD verse 2
Commands of the LORD verse 2, 8
Don’t diminish word of the LORD verse 2
Hearken to the LORD verse 3- 5
Turn from evil way verse 3
Walk in the law of the LORD verse 4
Servants verse 5
Prophets verse 5
Sent of the LORD verse 5
Speak for the LORD (prophecy) verse 12, 16, 20
Amend ways verse 13
Amend doings verse 13
Obey voice of the LORD verse 13
Truth verse 15
Fear of the LORD verse 19
Besought the LORD (prayer) verse 19

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Jehoiakim verse 1, 21 – 23
Josiah – king of Judah verse 1
Judah verse 2, 18, 19
LORD’S house verse 2
Shiloh verse 6, 9
Jerusalem verse 6, 9, 11, 12,
15, 18, 20
Jeremiah verse 7, 9, 12, 20, 24
Princes of Judah verse 10, 12, 16, 21
Elders verse 17
Micah verse 18
Hezekiah – king of Judah verse 18, 19
Zion verse 18
Urijah verse 20, 21, 23
Elnathan verse 22
Ahikam verse 24

Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)

QUOTES

26:3–5These verses imply that we are free to accept or reject God’s words, but we will suffer the consequences. God blesses obedience and punishes disobedience. God’s attitude toward sin and disobedience does not change, but we can change. The disobedient can become obedient; the obedient can become disobedient (18:1–12; cf. Ezek 18:21, 24). Judah refused to listen to the Lord’s prophets, though he had sent prophets to them “again and again” (lit., “rising early and sending,” a favorite expression of Jeremiah; it is found elsewhere in the OT only in 2 Chr 36:15). (Huey, F. B. (1993). Jeremiah, Lamentations (Vol. 16, p. 235). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

4–6Here we have a kind of precis of the longer address in chapter 7. Perhaps because of their very succinctness, vv.4–6 convey a clearer note of pleading than chapter 7 does. In the precis three things stand out: (1) the necessity of obeying God’s law (v.4) if the coming punishment is to be averted; (2) Jeremiah’s alignment with other prophets in Judah who had preached repentance or judgment (v.5); and (3) the unrelieved gravity of the sentence on the temple and on the city of Jerusalem (v.6). Shiloh was not far from Jerusalem; the people could see the evidences of its destruction (c. 1050 b.c.)—a destruction that overtook it even though it had been the first resting place of the ark of the covenant in the land. Even worse, Jerusalem and Judah would become notorious among the nations as an example of God’s execration. Debased before the nations, Jerusalem would be an object lesson of the consequences of incurring God’s wrath. What a contrast to the promise in Genesis 12:3! (Feinberg, C. L. (1986). Jeremiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 538). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

26:4–6. The content of the message was one of judgment for disobedience. If the people refused to follow God’s Law and to listen to God’s servants the prophets (cf. 7:21–26), God would make the temple (this house) as desolate as the tabernacle that once stood at Shiloh (cf. 7:14). Also people would curse the city of Jerusalem (cf. comments on 24:9). (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Jeremiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1162–1163). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

This chapter should be studied in connection with chapter 7, because they both deal with Jeremiah’s courageous sermon given in the temple. The sermon is summarized in verses 3–7, and you will note the emphasis on hearing the Word of God (see 25:3–8). Jeremiah preached exactly what God commanded him to preach and didn’t alter the message in order to please the people. The false prophets preached what the people wanted to hear, but Jeremiah preached what the people needed to hear. “Whatever I command thee thou shalt speak” (1:7).
The people in the temple, however, encouraged by the priests and false prophets, rejected Jeremiah’s message and treated him like a false prophet who deserved to die. To them, it was blasphemous for Jeremiah to declare that Jehovah would allow the holy city and His holy temple to fall into the defiling and destructive hands of the heathen the way the ark at Shiloh fell into the hands of the Philistines (1 Sam. 4). Since God’s covenant with David protected the city and the temple, Jeremiah was actually denying the covenant! He was leading the people astray and deserved to die (Deut. 18:20).
Receiving a report about a tumult in the temple, the officials left the palace and came to the temple to see what was occurring. (This reminds us of Paul’s experience recorded in Acts 21:27–40.) After hearing the people, priests, and prophets charge Jeremiah with blasphemy, they gave the prophet opportunity to speak. Jeremiah then presented three arguments in his defense.
First, what he had spoken was commanded by the Lord because the Lord had sent him (Jer. 26:12, 15). If they killed him, they were killing one of God’s prophets, and he would rather be faithful to God and die than unfaithful and live. Second, they were the ones in danger; he was the one seeking to rescue them! (v. 13) If they repented and obeyed God’s Word, the Lord would relent of His plans to judge the nation and would deliver them. Third, if they killed him, they would shed innocent blood, and that would only make their impending judgment worse. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Decisive (pp. 116–117). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

He had been commanded by the Lord to stand in the temple courts, evidently on the occasion of some one of the yearly feasts; for he was to “speak unto all the cities of Judah which come to worship in the Lord’s house.” He had no choice as to the matter of the discourse, for he was told to speak “all the words” (not merely the thoughts or ideas clothed in language of his own choosing, as the opponents of verbal inspiration would fain have us believe) that the Lord commanded him—diminishing nothing (ver. 2). See 1 Cor. 2:13. Notice that the very words spoken by the apostle were, as in Jeremiah’s case, those which the Holy Ghost taught.
If the people of the cities of Judah would hearken, and turn from their evil way, the Lord might repent Him of the evil which He purposed to do unto them because of their iniquities. If they refused to heed the message, and persisted in their wilful course, He would make His house desolate like Shiloh, where He had dwelt of old, and Jerusalem should become “a curse to all the nations of the earth” (vers. 3–6). (Ironside, H. A. (1906). Notes on the prophecy and Lamentations of Jeremiah (pp. 126–127). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)