Jeremiah is almost killed

JEREMIAH      CHAPTER 26

Early on in the reign of the king of Judah, the Lord told Jeremiah to stand out in front of the Temple and make an announcement to all the people gathered to worship. Perhaps, he said, they would listen and turn from evil and I can withhold the disaster I am planning to pour on them because of their sins.

He told Jeremiah to say to the people that the Lord is warning them. That they have not listened to his servant Jeremiah, so he would destroy the Temple and make Jerusalem an object of cursing in every nation. The priests and prophets were there listening to Jeremiah too, but when he finished they and the people mobbed him and tried to kill him. They shouted that he had no right to prophesy in the Lord's name that the temple would be destroyed.

When the officials of Judah hear what was  happening, they rushed over and sat down near the New Gate to hold court. They heard both sides including Jeremiah's claim that he was innocent, that the Lord sent him to speak every word he had uttered,  and if they killed him, the responsibility would be on them, the city and ever person living in it. Then the officials said Jeremih did not deserve to die because he spoke in the name of the Lord.

Some of the wise old men stood and spoke to the people and told them of the olden days when Micah prophesied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. Micah also prophesied that Jerusalem would be reduced to rubble. And the people turned from their sins and worshipped the Lord and the Lord held back the terrible disaster that he had pronounced against them. The wise men (including Ahikam son of Shaphan) urged the people not to kill Jeremiah.

At this time, Uriah, son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim was also prophesying for the Lord. And he predicted the same terrible disaster against the city as Jeremiah did. So King Jehoiakim heard what was being said and he sent someone to kill Uriah. But Uriah heard about the plot and escaped to Egypt.  King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan to Egypt to bring him back and the king killed Uriah with a sword and buried him in an unmarked grave.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: God reminded Jeremiah that he wanted his entire message given, every word- so Jeremiah could not leave out some of the violent parts that would turn his audience against him.  And like Jeremiah, we must never ignore or exclude important parts of God's word to please someone.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? The wise old men who remembered the words of the prophet Micah probably helped save Jeremiah's life. But when Micah called the people to repent, they did so and turned from their wickedness. In Jeremiah's time, these people did not kill him, but the also did not repent of their sns.

How would you feel hearing a prophet say the end was coming? I hope you would repent of your sins and try to get others to repent also. I hope you would be willing to risk your life for you God, like Jeremiah did.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our famers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.