Call to Commitment

 

Wesley on father's tomb

Chapter 26

 

God is patiently compassionate 

 1.      In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of  Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying, 

 2.      "Thus says the LORD: 'Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word. 

 3.      Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.' 

 4.      And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: "If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, 

 5.      to heed the words of My servants the prophets whom I sent to you, both rising up early and sending them (but you have not heeded), 

 6.      then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth." ' " 

7.      So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. 

 Do you get confused, as I do, over the last kings of Judah? One reason for confusion is because of similar names, each beginning with “Jeho”. Another reason is because two of their reigns were for only three months and the other two were both 11 years long. Let’s try to end the confusion here, giving a brief summary of each of them. 

 

 1.      JOSIAH: Good king Josiah, began his reign at eight years of age and reigned for 31 years. He was the father of three kings, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah.

 2.      JEHOAHAZ: Jehoahaz, also called Shallum, began to reign at 23 years of age. He was the youngest of the brothers, but he was the people’s choice to reign, when his father died. He reigned only three months and was deposed by Pharaoh Necho, taken to Egypt and died there.

 3.      JEHOIAKIM: Jehoiakim, also called Eliakim, was 25 years of age, when he began to reign. He was placed on the throne by Necho, in place of his brother Jehoahaz. He reigned for 11 years.

 4.      JEHOIACHIN: Jehoiachin, also called Jeconiah, was Jehoiakim’s son and was 8 years of age, when he began his reign, along with his father. At 18, he began his sole reign, and reigned only three months. He and his mother, Nehushta, were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. Later in life, he was treated well by the new emperor, Evil-merodach.

 5.      ZEDEKIAH: Zedekiah was brother to Jehoikim, and he was 21 years old when he began to reign He was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar, and reigned for 11 years. His sons were killed before his eyes and his eyes were removed. He was the last king of Judah before the final captivity.

 Jeremiah receives this prophecy at the beginning of Jehoiakim´s reign, so that it came before chapter 25, which he received in the fourth year of his reign. Look above and see that Jehoiakim is the second king after the death of Josiah, his father. The prophecy received then is a word to the worshipers from all Judea. The strict command to Jeremiah can certainly apply to all teachers and preachers today: “Do not diminish a word” (2). 

 A compassionate God waits for his people to repent, so that He can spare them calamity. We learn this about our God, not only in verse 3, but throughout the Bible. The good desire from the heart of God is repentance, rather than judgment. Twice in the book of Ezekiel, He makes it clear. First in Ezekiel 18:23: “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” Then in Ezekiel 33:11: “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?”

 For this passionate desire in the heart of Christ, He reached out to sinners, in spite of the scorn and criticism from the Pharisees. He said to them: “But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Mt.9:13). The Bible is truly a revelation of the character of the Lord and, we certainly should know that this means that God is mightily compassionate. Peter taught that the Lord delayed His second coming, not due to slackness, “but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance” (2 P.3:9 AMP). Notice that in every case, repentance is absolutely necessary, but God withholds judgment, waiting on people to repent.

 God set His law before Israel, placed it in the Ark of the Covenant and commanded the people to walk in it (4). He promised the Jews that there would come a day, when “I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts” (Jer.31:33). It is in the New Testament that, through a new birth, the law of God is placed in the heart. Christians walk according to it, willingly, from the heart. Paul called the believer “an epistle of Christ… written not… on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart” (2 Co.3:3).

 We have lately learned that Jeremiah was among other prophets that God sent in a timely and faithful fashion (25:4), whom the people had consistently refused to hear (5). That being the case, He would follow the example of Shiloh, where the tabernacle was raised and the Ark of the Covenant was kept. Because the people were wicked, the Philistines stole the Ark and Shiloh never again had the honor of keeping the Tabernacle, served by the priests. He is saying now, that Jerusalem and its temple would experience the same fate (6).

 Jeremiah had been speaking in the court of the temple to the worshipers, who came from the entire area of Judah. Of course, the priests were present, officiating the activity, and the false prophets were among them, to hear the word, as Jeremiah prophesied (7).

 

Jeremiah threatened

8.      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! 

 9.      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. 

 10.  When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD and sat down in the entry of the New Gate of the LORD's house. 

 11.  And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and all the people, saying, "This man deserves to die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears." 

 12.  Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying: "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard. 

 13.  Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; then the LORD will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you.   

        14.  As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you. 

15.    But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing." 

 There are two basic principles that I want to bring to our attention. First, is the fact that lies and deceit form the basis of the world around us. Secondly, the physical world is under the control of the spiritual world. The truth is an uncomfortable friend, so much so that the priests, prophets and the populace in general move to kill Jeremiah for speaking the truth. A spiritual enemy, the father of lies, is behind this uprising.

 The world is the enemy of God and James says, “Whosoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (Jm.4:4). Turn to the apostle John’s first letter to hear this advice: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn.2:15). The Christian can only expect opposition from it.

 He who is the embodiment of the Truth was taken to a Roman cross, used for the execution of criminals. The bearer of truth can expect no less, therefore the entire force of religious worshipers, complete with their priests and prophets seize Jeremiah in the court of the temple and intend to put him to death (8). The opposition to Christ was led by the religious world, wasn’t it? Yes, and it formed the resistance to revival through the centuries. I will just mention one case - that of John Wesley, who was not allowed to preach in the church, where his father had been pastor. He went to the churchyard to his father's grave and preached there. Religiosity continues to challenge every appearance of spiritual power in our times.

 It seems strange that those who pretend to be godly leaders should be the enemies of truth. It is not so strange, when we know that Paul said, “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Co.11:14). In that passage, he is describing “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ” (2 Co.11:13). Really, it could not be clearer, as to from where we can expect opposition. They hold to well-established tradition and material, visible buildings, which are monuments in “holy cities” (9).

 Enter the civil authorities to see an interesting development, the phrase “from the king’s house to the house of the Lord” being significant. Throughout the Old Testament, judicial matters were tried at the cities’ main gates. However, this time it will take place at the New Gate of the temple (10). The priests and prophets come forth to present their accusatory case, inspired by the accuser of the brethren (11). “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world… the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night…” (Rv.12:9, 10). The same pattern follows between the religious leaders and Pilate, accusing the Messiah, the Son of God (Mt.27:19-20).  

 Jeremiah offers the only justification necessary for his words: “The Lord sent me.” The case is in the hands of Him who sent the prophet and He will ultimately decide Jeremiah’s fate (12). The prophet does not relent at all, but continues his message in the face of death. He compassionately keeps calling the people to repentance, thinking more of their fate, than his own (13). In the same way, Jesus faced His opponents, proclaiming, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (Jn.8:24).

 Jeremiah knows that the God of mercy will relent from His punishment, if they will turn from their ways and doings. He says nothing in His own defense; life and death hangs in the balance, as far as his ministry is concerned. He is committed to whatever consequences result and nothing will stand in the way of his message (14). However, they stand before God in judgment and with danger of the highest magnitude, lying in their decision. They are at far higher risk than that of the prophet. They are about to condemn themselves, the city and the entire populace, not only at this time, but for all eternity. God supports His prophet and woe to the ones, who step in to do him harm (15). God’s most ominous threats are against those, who touch His servants: “Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you… in flaming fire taking vengeance… when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints…” (2 Th.1:6-10).  

 

The civil authorities defend Jeremiah

 16.  So the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve to die. For he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God." 

 17.  Then certain of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying: 

 18.  "Micah of Moresheth 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 a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest." ' 

 19.  Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah ever put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and seek the LORD's favor? And the LORD—relented concerning the doom which He had pronounced against them. But we are doing great evil against ourselves." 

 20.  Now there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath Jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah. 

 21.  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 to Egypt. 

 22.  Then Jehoiakim the king sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor, and other men who went with him to Egypt. 

 23.  And they brought Urijah from Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. 

 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. 

 We can describe something as a spiritual principle, when we see it upheld consistently throughout the word of God. The civil authorities come to Jeremiah’s defense, in defiance to the religious authorities. In chapter 36, we will study the same, as the princes listen in fear to the reading of Jeremiah’s scroll. They advise the prophet and his friend to hide, promising to present the scroll before the king (36:12-19). Jesus told Pilate that he bore less guilt than the Sanhedrin (Jn.19:11).  In the book of Revelation (17:16), ten kings oppose the religious force of “Babylon”: As the religious entity often does, she also bears financial and political power: “The ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot.” We often see these two worlds at odds against one another today, don’t we?

 The people stand with the princes as they deliver Jeremiah’s verdict, recognizing his divine appointment, noticing that he would rather face death, than fail to give his message. May we never leave a lesser impression… “He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God” (16). One of the civil elders stands to affirm their decision (17). He tells of the word of destruction of Jerusalem by the prophet Micah (1:1), contemporary of Isaiah, in the days of good King Hezekiah. It literally was fulfilled, “Zion shall be plowed like a field…” (18). The words of the elder are cited from Micah 3:12. The king responded in the fear of the Lord and sought the Lord’s favor. “And the Lord relented,” the elder continued. Speaking for all Judah, he says that they are responding with great evil. With good discernment, he understands that their sin is only harming themselves (19).

 In the worst of times, you have men of God delivering truth to the people and, at least, a few good men in civil leadership, who fear God. Commentators do not credit the elder with the following story, but that it was probably inserted later by Jeremiah. He meant it to contrast the favorable response to the prophecy of Micah, showing the consequences to the rejection of Urijah, contemporary to Jeremiah (20). He showed that king Jehoiakim was capable of putting a prophet to death, with the backing of the army and the princes. He saw himself exposed to the same possibility as Urijah, who fled to Egypt (21).

 Jehoiakim was an immensely evil king, who sent a commission to look for Urijah, beyond the borders of Israel. He stood defiantly against the Lord, going beyond his agenda, which he may have regarded to be protection for his kingdom (22). Even though Urijah was no threat to him in Egypt, he persecuted him and had him brought back to Judah. He executed him and dishonored him by burying him in the graveyard of the commoners. Such was his hatred for God and truth (23).

 Considering the deceitfully wicked hearts of those, who hate truth, it is no wonder that God Himself takes steps to bury them deeply in deceit, beyond hope of recovery. Those, who persist, not loving and believing the truth of the gospel, are destined to eternal condemnation (2 Tes.2:9-12). While the case of Urijah stood as a contemporary witness, as a possibility of the same happening to Jeremiah, he had a powerful friend, by the name of Ahikam, who had been a counsellor to good king Josiah.

 Ahikam was the son of the royal secretary, Shafan, therefore of the nobility in government. Both Shafan and Ahijam were part of the committee sent from Josiah to the prophetess, Huldah, to inquire concerning the future of Judah. Her husband was also of the nobility, as the keeper of the wardrobe. Ahikam was the father of Gedaliah, representing a minority of righteous men, whom God kept in Jerusalem. We read a little of Gedaliah’s history at the end of the book of 2 King, chapter 25:22-25.

 We will study more from their lives later in this book and perhaps cover the account in 2 Kings. Ahiakim, in the will of God, protected Jeremiah, so that he was spared from death. I find it immensely reassuring and thrilling to see God’s people in place at the worst of times, to carry out His purposes. 

 

Of the same caliber were the non-conformists in London, when England was in decay. I mentioned that Wesley launched his ministry from his father's tombstone outside the church. That was the beginning of a revival that shook the nation. I can think of no time of equal moral corruption in the history of the entire planet than we are experiencing today. But God has His people and He can do the impossible, raising a mighty move of the Holy Spirit again.