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Chapter 26:1-15 (ESV) - In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: “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 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. You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.’”
The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall 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 inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the LORD. Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”
Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”
Question to consider: Why did the people think Jeremiah should be put to death?
Now that the time of judgment had come upon Jerusalem, Jeremiah for the last couple of chapters has reminded us of the word given to the kings and people years before. Jeremiah reiterated the intention of the LORD behind these warnings, “Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you.”
If you ever want to know whether a person is demonstrating remorse rather than repentance, you need only witness their reaction to a declaration of judgment against an unrighteous action. Someone who shows remorse will often express regret after his action is exposed for what it is but get angry about the consequence that results from it. A person who repents owns up to their actions and desires to take responsibility for them and make things right.
The people of Jerusalem showed neither remorse, nor repentance. They wanted to kill Jeremiah for bringing the message of judgment without ever considering the truth of his claims or how they had violated their covenant with the LORD. Jeremiah spoke with boldness in letting them know that whatever they decided to do to him didn’t change the fact that the message of judgment came from the LORD.
His boldness demonstrated his faith in the LORD’s promise, “ And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.” (Jeremiah 1:18-19) Even though they wanted to kill Jeremiah, he knew that they would not prevail in doing so.
Even though they neither showed remorse, nor repentance, but a stubbornness of heart and pride that they were still at peace with the LORD despite all evidence to the contrary, the LORD still gave them many years of such warnings before their time of judgment came. As Peter wrote in his second epistle, “The LORD is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
Even though Peter was speaking about the judgment which came by the Romans in AD 70, the same held true for the judgment by the Babylonians, and the same holds true today for the final judgment to come.
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for continuing to give us life and breath and every chance to repent and turn to You. Please soften our hearts to recognize our own sin and need for the righteousness given by Christ. Help us to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Amen.