Put yourself in Jeremiah’s sandals. Things aren’t going well in Judah. Faithfulness to God is weak as they chase after the wickedness of the world and its empty promises. Captivity in Babylon is on the horizon. And God wants you to speak up, say hard things, and not hold back. The LORD commands Jeremiah to “speak all the words I command you, do not hold back a word” (Jeremiah 26:2). The hope in this bold confrontation is to get through to stubborn sinners. The command continues, “It may be they will listen, and everyone 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 26:3). So Jeremiah does what he is commanded. After all, maybe they will finally repent.
Well, it seems that the words that the LORD commanded Jeremiah to speak were a classic turn-or-burn message about how God was going to destroy their city:
“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’?” (Jeremiah 26:9)
Can you imagine how that message might go over at a city council meeting? Now, if you are thinking, “Jeremiah could have been nicer. He probably would have been more effective if he had better people skills.” Let’s not forget he is speaking all the words the LORD commanded him, and doesn’t hold back a word. This wasn’t Jeremiah’s message, it was God’s. Deep, entrenched, ongoing sin often needs to be met with a bold dose of truth. And the more severe the illness, the more intense the treatment. But let’s be honest, sometimes the most helpful medicine is hard to swallow.
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! (Jeremiah 26:7-8)
So that’s how that went. “Say everything I command you, maybe they’ll repent….Oops, I guess not.” I suppose the phrase, “Don’t kill me, I’m just the messenger,” doesn’t apply here. Although, I do find it oddly comforting to know that being obedient to God doesn’t also carry with it the burden of earthly success. We just need to do what we are told, no matter what. No matter the message. No matter the cost. And in this case, being obedient to God put Jeremiah on death row.
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.” (Jeremiah 26:10-11)
Jeremiah went from the pulpit to the prison, but as we have it, the prison turned out to be a more effective pulpit.
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.” (Jeremiah 26:12-15)
It is one thing to make bold proclamations for God, but another thing to live with bold confidence in God. How we face the consequences of our beliefs may be our strongest message to the world. When we don’t care if they alienate us, or slander us, or make fun of us, or punish us, or even kill us, that too says something—something often louder than what we actually speak. I’m not saying “Don’t speak up, just live boldly.” Nor am I saying, “Just speak up and you're done.” It is the combination of the two that brings the impact. Jeremiah told them, “Do with me as seems good and right to you. Only know….” He wanted them to know. They needed to be informed. But the message of Jeremiah’s words was also illustrated with his life. He really believed in God—and when someone sees another’s genuine belief in God, that will make them stop and think.
Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” (Jeremiah 26:16)
Why the sudden change of heart? Jeremiah’s message didn’t change. But now it was accompanied with the boldness of his life. His lack of fear of their judgment, of even death itself.
The LORD commands boldness and faithfulness, and together those are a powerful combination. Jeremiah’s words made people want to kill him, but Jeremiah’s willingness to die for those words made everyone rethink it.
Do we really believe what we preach? Does it show in the face of consequences? If so, that is a powerful message. Church family, we believe in the greatest news ever in history: God has declared his love for us and sent his Son to redeem us back to himself, forgiving our sins and adopting us into his family to enjoy him forever. We need to proclaim this good news. Proclaim it boldly, but what power comes when our lifestyles are no longer bound to this life because we actually believe what we proclaim? When we can say to this world, “Do with me what seems good and right to you. Only know….”
Father, grant us boldness, because we truly want to see people repent. And grant us faithfulness even when they don’t. Because maybe that is the message they need.