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August 14

Our Bible reading today is in Jeremiah 26-29. The reading begins with a very hard sermon by Jeremiah.

I remember some hard sermons that Jesus preached. One to his hometown, and one he preached on the Temple mount. Most in his audience would be confused, and many would be offended.

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:16-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah. You have to believe that some in His hometown knew exactly what he was claiming. “I am God”, and the year of the Lord’s favor is now, and it’s in and through me.

Wow, that was a lot to believe by those in the synagogue. No wonder most rejected their hometown boy...even His family.

“Later Jesus and his disciples came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he was “teaching” them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to “destroy him”, for they feared him because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11:15, 17-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Now back to Jeremiah. The Father sends Jeremiah out. He would be rejected by his hometown a few miles east of Jerusalem. They would try to kill him. But now the prophet preaches in the courts of the Temple... “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord “all the words” that I command you to speak to them; ...”DO NOT hold back a word.” It may be that they will “listen”, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭26:2-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God said to his preacher, ”Do not hold back a word”. No matter how hard it may seem, perhaps my word will touch hearts. Perhaps the people will repent and turn back to Me that I may turn from my judgment upon their evil ways.

Oh, that our preachers and pastor/teachers will be strengthened and steadied in their resolve enough to give us “every” word from God...” and not hold back a word...no matter what.

Jeremiah was indeed a picture of Christ in his ministry of preaching. But there is another picture worth dwelling on.

“But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭26:24

Jeremiah was on his way to death for his prophecy against Jerusalem. King Jehoiakim had already struck down Urriah for a similar prophecy. There seemed nothing would stop the King’s sword from taking Jeremiah’s life. And then a courageous elder of the city council advocated, interceded for Jeremiah.

“But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭26:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Just what Jesus does for us...“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an “advocate with the Father”, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The devil will accuse us before the Father for our sins. Jesus is our advocate and speaks up for us showing the Judge His hands and feet, says...” they are with me.”

Have a great day