Jeremiah 26 -- The Prophet Preached On

God is not loose with His words, He always speaks with purpose. By this point Jeremiah seems to have noticed this. So when another word comes to him, accompanied with the admonition “do not hold back a word,” he should have known something was up.

The message was typical. A charge against the people and the looming threat of judgment. (When you walked in during the middle of a Jeremiah sermon, you never had to ask the person next to you to catch you up to speed. Ever.) Equally predictable was the people’s response. Except this time the resentment seemed extra strong. As soon as he was done speaking his audience cried out “you shall die!”

Needless to say there was not a long line at media table after that service. No doubt as he was preaching, Jeremiah could feel the seeming brick walk of animosity being built by his hearers. To be honest, I don’t preach well enough to receive death threats, but I have preached some obvious duds. It is not uncommon during those messages to consider jettisoning sections of the message for the benefit of all involved. I wonder if Jeremiah did not face a similar temptation as he watched the anger and resentment growing.

But the LORD had warned him, “do not hold back a word.” So he preached on in the face of adversity. What should not have amazed Jeremiah (or us) is that they crowd waited till he had “finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him” before they rioted! It was the politest mob in history.

When God gives us a word we must not cower in the face menacing audiences. God is committed to His word being heard. And the reason is simple…“it may be that they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way.” With that as a possibility, the prophet preached on. (The extra nudge from God didn’t hurt either.)

Tim

Note -- Do all of these posts on the judgment words of Jeremiah reflect a blogger angry with his church? Not at all. Jeremiah simply is where I am spending time these days. The biggest impact the prophet has had on me is the priority and power of the Word. The best way I can care the church I love is speak most clearly and apologetically the word I understand that God has given me. I pray that Jeremiah is making me a stronger preacher.