Jeremiah 26:8-9

Jeremiah 26 is placed before the previous two chapters chronologically. It is set at the start of Jehoiakim’s reign. It’s like it has said: this is what eventually happened, now this is why it happened – this is what led up to it. The LORD tells Jeremiah to go speak in the court of the Temple to everyone that goes in and out and all the priests and prophets. However, the words he says don’t exactly go down that well:

‘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.’ (Jeremiah 26:8-9)

The Temple was very important to the Jews, but it had become more an aspect of pride on their behalf, rather than a true place of worship. They felt superior because of their massive Temple and their rather unique theology (though apparently that theology didn’t affect their lives, hence the coming destruction). Thus, anyone prophesying against the Temple and against their beloved city of Jerusalem must be wrong. It was an act of treason to proclaim the downfall of the Temple or Jerusalem, such a high place did it hold in their hearts. But it was high in their hearts for the wrong reasons.

Sometimes there are things in life that we treasure, and sometimes they definitely ought to be treasured. However, the way we pride ourselves on these things can sometimes get in the way of truth. Like for Jeremiah, the truth was that God would destroy the Temple and Jerusalem (given the people did not repent), and yet the priests and ‘prophets’ could not see that because they treasured the Temple too much – and for the wrong reasons. Be careful what you love, and for what reason. Everything must be for the glory of God. Sometimes we have traditions that we love and automatically think it is wrong to against them – but in the end tradition is only man made, not God-appointed. Let us be wary of this.

Now, the priests and prophets were adamant about killing him, and the princes of the land came to the Temple when they heard about it. The priests told them that he should die, and Jeremiah responds courageously that he had spoken the truth only, and that they could do with him as they wished, but if they did kill him, then innocent blood would be on their hands. The princes decided no to kill him. Here, God’s promise to protect Jeremiah, made in the very first chapter (and reinforced later on), is kept. We can count on God to keep His promises. That is what makes life bearable!