Pam Padgett ... teacher
Jeremiah spoke what God gave him to speak, warning the people of
judgment of God to come upon them unless they turned from their evil
ways ...
Jeremiah 26:1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the
son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lord, saying, 2
Thus saith the Lord; Stand in the court of the Lord 's house, and speak
unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord' s
house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish
not a word: 3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his
evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto
them because of the evil of their doings. 4 And thou shalt say unto
them, Thus saith the Lord; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my
law, which I have set before you, 5 To hearken to the words of my
servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and
sending them, but ye have not hearkened; 6 Then will I 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.
As a result of speaking these things, they
were against Jeremiah and took him to be put to death ...
Jeremiah 26:8
Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that
the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the
priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt
surely die. 9 Why hast thou 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.
The princes of Judah heard the accusations against Jeremiah and Jeremiah's response, and found no cause for Jeremiah to be put to death ...
Jeremiah 26:10
When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from
the king's house unto the house of the Lord, and sat down in the entry
of the new gate of the Lord 's house. 11 Then spake the priests and the
prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is
worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have
heard with your ears.
12 Then spake Jeremiah
unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to
prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye
have heard. 13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey
the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil
that he hath pronounced against you. 14 As for me, behold, I am in your
hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. 15 But know ye for
certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent
blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants
thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all
these words in your ears.
16
Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the
prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the
name of the Lord our God.
While
reading of those seeking to have Jeremiah put to death without cause, for doing what God told him to do, I recalled how the
chief priests looked for a way to have Jesus put to death without cause, for speaking truth from God ...
Luke
22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the
Passover. 2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill
him; for they feared the people. 3 Then entered Satan into Judas
surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went his
way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might
betray him unto them. 5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him
money. 6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them
in the absence of the multitude.
Luke 23:1 And the
whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2 And they
began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation,
and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is
Christ a King. 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the
Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 4 Then said Pilate
to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5
And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people,
teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
As Jesus and Jeremiah did and spoke according to the will of God to turn His people from their sins and to deliver them, they were accused without cause, the devil stirring up hatred against them.
Although most of us don't face physical death today as a result of obeying God, we face hatred and ridicule without cause, the devil trying to stop us from doing and speaking according to the will of God.
I was reminded that Paul told us that we don't wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness,
spiritual wickedness in high places ...
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in
the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
And Paul counseled us to be strong in the Lord, putting on the whole armor of God, daily preparing (arming)
ourselves and purposing to walk in those things which allow us to
stand against what the devil uses to stop us, that we might do the will
of God ...
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all,
to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel
of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may
open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For
which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I
ought to speak.
We
arm ourselves with truth, determining to not deal in lies or deception
and to speak those things we are led to speak by the Holy Spirit,
letting it shine as light to those around us. We keep ourselves in
peace, controlling our flesh which would rise up in conflict and hatred,
and turning to God with those things that disturb us seeking His way to
restore peace in our lives. We believe and live by the word of God,
and deal with thoughts brought by the devil by turning to God and
replacing the devil's lies with God's truth in our hearts. We trust in
the blood of Jesus, not our own works, for our salvation. We read and
meditate in the word of God. We pray, turning to God with all of our
cares and depending on Him.