Jeremiah 27:1-22.  In yesterday’s reading we saw the conclusion of a trial of Jeremiah early in the reign of Jehoaikim (probably 609-608 BC).    Jeremaih dodged the bullet (or sword) in that one but his fellow prophet, Uriah, was not so lucky.  Jeremiah didn’t survive by compromising though, he was faithful to all God had told him to say and do (as was Uriah).  We learned that serving God can be dangerous.  We also learned that serving God and being a part of his forever kingdom are choices that each one of has to make.  We don’t get “grandfathered” in just because our Grandfather, or father, or mother loved God.

Today’s reading is kind of interesting.  In chapter 27 Jeremiah jumps right back in, confronting a new king about submitting to God.  Although this follows immediately the story of the trial, action in chapter 27 is actually 16 years later.  Zedekiah’s reign began in 597 BC.  In chapter 26 similar language was used and I mentioned that it was usually a technical term that indicated that first partial year of a kings reign.  Tomorrow we will find out that this message was actually 4 years into Zedekiah’s reign or 594 BC.  In this chapter Jeremiah uses a symbolic act to get across God’s message.  He makes a yoke for himself and puts it around his neck.  A yoke is the “collar” worn by horses or other animals so that they can pull plows, wagons, or other items. Most of our yokes here in the United States are made of leather but in other places they are made of wood.  Jeremiah seems to be describing a yoke made of two pieces of wood with leather straps between them. Yokes represent being under the control of another.

In verse 3 Jeremiah is told send messages to several kings of surrounding areas.  The kings themselves are not in Jerusalem but representatives of them are.  These representatives had come to Jerusalem to meet with the new king, Zedekiah.  In 597 BC Babylon was in control  of the area and had been for 8 years.  Often times a controlling nation would let the individual kingdoms sort of run themselves but would require then to send money to it; this money is usually referred to as “tribute”.  If you know someone who like older music you ma have heard of “tribute” bands.  These are bands who put on shows, singing and sometimes acting like the original band, it is a way of honoring them and showing respect for their music.  Money given in “tribute” is sort of the same thing, it is supposed to show honor and appreciation, but often it was paid grudgingly to keep from being attacked.  These representatives may have been in Jerusalem to try to get Zedekiah to rebel against Babylon.  Zedekiah face this sort of pressure for the 10 year that he reigned and eventually gave in, but not here in 597.

In verses 4-7 Jeremiah basically tells them to tell their kings, “Don’t even think about it.”  In verse 4 God identifies himself in several ways.  He calls himself “the LORD of hosts”.  The word translated “LORD” is Yahweh in Hebrew.  That is the personal name of the one true God.  The idea of “hosts” is armies, often this idea is that God controls a heavenly army of angles.  That may be the meaning here or it could mean that armies on the earth can be controlled by him too.  He also calls himself the “God of Israel”.  God is a general term meaning mighty being, in this case he is the “mighty being of Israel”, which brings us full circle to Yahweh, the one true God.  Although these kings might have been skeptical about listening to the god of another people they should have seen through history that this “god” was the one God.  If there was any doub’t as to Yahweh’s credentials verse 5 make it very clear that Yahweh claims to be the one true creator God who has authority and power over all of creation.  In verse 6 we learn that he has decided to give Babylon authority over the area but verse 7 makes it clear that it will only be for a certain amount of time (in Jeremiah 25:11 we learned it would only be for 70 years).

In verse 8 these surrounding kingdoms are warned not to resist Nebuchadnezzar (the king of Babylon) the yoke represents his control, control that was given to him by Yahweh.  Resisting Nebucahdnezzar is basically the same as resisting God and the trouble that will come their way (sword, famine, and disease) although in the form of Nebucahdnezzar’s army is really from God (so in a way he is the LORD of those hosts).

In verse 9-10 Jeremiah warns them no to listen to the guys they would usually go to, to see what their gods wanted.  Jeremiah tells them their prophets and others are liars.   He then repeats in verse 11 that if they let Nebuchadnezzar rule over them that they will have safety in their land.

Verses 12-15 are basically a repeat performance of what he had said to the other kings but this time he was speaking to Zedekiah, the new king of Judah.  Two difference stand out to me though.  In the first message Jeremiah challenged prophets, fortune tellers or astrologers, dreamers, those who talk to spirits, and magicians.  In the message to Zedekiah he only challenges “prophets”.  The other difference is that in the message to Zedekiah the “prophets” speak falsely in the name of Yahweh while the other group makes no claim to be representing Him.  All of these guys, in both groups, though had the “ear” of their leaders and Yahweh wanted them to hear him, hear the truth, instead.

In verses 16-22 the message is to the priests and people.  From theses verse we see that he is talking to the priests and people in Judah and Jerusalem.  In 597 BC when Nebuchadnezzar came to put down the revolt by Jehoiakim, he instead found Jehoaichin (Jehoaikim’s 18 year old son) on the throne.  Jehoaikim had died the previous winter.  Jehoiachin was taken captive and many item in the Temple were also take back to Babylon.  Also 10,000 of the “leading” citizens of Judah were take captive too.  That was when Zedekiah was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar.  Evidently the prophets in Judah were telling the people that it wouldn’t be long until they had their stuff back.  Maybe they were listening to the representative of the surrounding kingdoms and were convinced that they could band together and beat Nebuchadnezzar.God’s message to all of them, through Jeremaiah was, “Think again, your not going to be Nebuchadnezzar, I’m on his side for now.”

In verse 18 Jeremiah issues sort of a challenge.  He says that if those guys are real prophets then let them beg God to protect the stuff that is left in the Temple so that it won’t be taken away to Babylon.  In verses 19-20 Jeremiah lists some of the stuff and in verses 21-22 he confirms that they will be taken away to Babylon.  Clearly the prophets were not speaking for God or the stuff never would have left Jerusalem.  At the end of verse 22 we see that the stuff will eventually be returned to Jerusalem and to the Temple.

Its awesome how Jeremiah speaks not only to the people of Judah but also to all the nations that he has access to.  In Jeremiah 1:5 he is called a “prophet to the nations”.  Yahweh is not only the God who created and controls everything that is he is also the God who cares about all that is.  God is in the process of drawing people into his forever kingdom but he doesn’t limit it to one family or kingdom or nation, his offer forgiveness is to anyone who will turn their rebellion and disobedience over to Jesus (John 3:16).  It is also cool how God works it out to punish people that continually reject him without violating his promises.  Some day Jerusalem will be the political and worship center of the universe and we see his seriousness about Jerusalem in his restoring worship there time and again in history.  One final thing I noticed as I was reading this was how consistent God is.  The warnings to the nations and to Judah and to the individuals in Jerusalem were all the same.  God doesn’t play favorites he has one way to make things right; one plan, and it involves Jesus.  That “fix” is the same for everyone and we see his fairness in the three warnings that are really just one warning.

God thank you for being fair.  More than fair actually, because it would be fair for all of us to have to did and be separated from you for eternity for our own rebellion (sin).  Instead of leaving each of us to pay our own way, you paid for all of us (1 John 2:2).  It is sad that many won’t listen and turn to Jesus, the only way back to you (John 14:6).    Help me show many that Jesus is the path back.  Thank you for being patient toward me and not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9-10).  Help me trust and honor you regardless of the situation I find myself in.  Thank you for a place in your forever kingdom. 

Jeremiah 26:16-24.  In yesterday’s reading Jeremiah warned the prophets, priests, and people about the destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem if they would not return to him and start listening to the true prophets.  This happened “at the beginning” of the reign of Jehoiakim.  Some scholars think that that term is a technical term that means between the time the king is crowned and the next New Year’s celebration.  If that is correct then chapter 26 happened in between September 609 BC and March 608 BC.  Perhaps this was a warning to the incoming king as well to change police and turn the kingdom back to God.  Instead of listening the people wanted Jeremiah executed and put him on trial.  In yesterdays part of the trial The people made it clear that they wanted Jeremiah executed and why; he had predicted the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem.  The people saw this as a contradiction of what God would surely want, so Jeremiah must be a false prophet deserving death.  Jeremiah’s response or defense was basically, “Yep.  That’s what I said because Yahweh (the personal name of the God of the Israeiltes, the one true God) told me to.  If you decide to kill me you will be the guilty ones because I am innocent (of being a false prophet.”  In today’s reading we will see the verdict by the “officials”, the political leaders, and also get a glimpse of how serious this trial was for Jeremiah.

In verse 15 Jeremiah repeated his claim that his message was entirely from Yahweh.  In verse 16 we see that the leaders decided that he was telling the truth, his message was from Yahweh, and he would not be executed.  In verses 17-19 some elders step forward and remind the people about an event in their history that was very similar, and how one of their good kings handled it.  The people thought that the destruction of the Jerusalem and the Temple could never happen; they incorrectly thought that they had unconditional protection from Yahweh.  Jehoiakim was one of three sons of Josiah.  His younger brother, Jehoahaz, had been put on the throne by the people when Josiah died in a battle with Pharaoh Neco in 609 BC.   Jehoahaz was only king for three months when Pharaoh Neco removed him and put Jehoiakim ( also called Eliakim) on the throne instead.   Eventually the third brother Mattaniah (also called Zedekiah) would also rule Judah.  Josiah had been king from 640-609 BC and had tried to turn the people back to Yahweh.  It worked during his reign but they quickly turned back to their false gods after his death (see 2 Kings 23:32, 37).  Josiah’s family had been on the throne of Judah for a long time, a few of his ancestors had been considered good kings, faithful to Yahweh, but most were not.  Josiah’s great –grandfather, Hezekiah, was one of the good ones.  During his reign the prophets Isaiah and Micah brought messages to him from God, which helped him honor God during his reign.

Looking back to those days, some of the elders at Jeremiah’s trial remembered that Micah had made a very similar prediction about the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.  Depending on the translation you are reading verse 18 might say Temple or house, sometimes the Temple was called the house of the LORD, and Micah clearly was saying that the hill that the Temple was built on would one day would become overgrown like other hills in Judah. The good king, Hezekiah, and the people of Jerusalem didn’t execute Micah, instead they listened to him started to honor God with their lives.  And God did not destroy Jerusalem and the Temple at that time.  At the end of verse 19 the elders who had come into Jeremiah’s trial suggest that the people of their time do the same thing.  They seemed to recognize that the path they were on was evil and that it would have consequences; they probably recognized that Jeremiah’s predictions might come true if they didn’t change their ways.

In verses 20-23 we get a little picture of how dangerous what Jeremiah was saying and doing was.  In verse 20 we meet Uriah another prophet who was speaking for Yahweh.  We are told that his message was very similar to the one Jeremiah had delivered; Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed.  Maybe the officials running Jeremiah’s trial had heard him too and that helped convince them that Jeremiah was telling the truth.  One person who did not appreciate the message was Jehoiakim, the king.  According to verse 21 Jehoiakim, his soldiers, and all of the officials heard the prediction of Uriah and were very unhappy.  I’m not sure if the officials in charge of Jeremiah’s trial were part of this or not.  Either way it is really amazing that they had decided not to execute Jeremiah, as we will see.  The king decided he wanted Uriah dead.  Uriah ran away to Egypt but Jehoaikim sent a representative to bring him back.  Remember that Jehoiakim had been put on the throne by Neco the king of Egypt.  Basically Judah was a territory or province of Egypt at this time and Jehoiakim would have had authority to get Uriah back.

The representative Jehoiakim sent was named Elnathan and we are told he was the son of Achbor.  In the Bible there are a couple of guys named Achbor, one was a king of Edom long before the time of Jeremiah.  Another one was a spiritual leader or advisor to Josiah (Jehoiakim’s father) during his reign at the time when they found scrolls of the Old Testament that had been hidden in the temple (2 Kings 22:1-10).  It seems likely that Elnathan was the son of that same Achbor.  If so then the son of the advisor became an advisor and representative to the son (say that three times fast).  It also seems like, just as Jehoaikim had turned his back on his father’s love for God, that Elnathan had done the same.  Elnathan traveled to Egypt and brought Uriah back to Jerusalem.  In verse 23 we see that the king immediately executed Uriah, no trial here, no remembering former prophets and their messages.  As a further insult Jehoiakim had Uriah’s body thrown out where other unknown people’s bodies were disposed of.  According to 2 kings 23:6 this was in a valley near Jerusalem called the Kidron Valley.  It was a place where trash was dumped and burned.  People dumped there were usually quickly forgotten.  Uriah on the other hand has been remember down through history.

In verse 24 we return to the trial and see that Jeremiah is protected from the people (who still seem to want him dead in spite of the official’s decision and the elder’s advise) and he is not executed.  We are told that he was protected by Ahikam the son of Shaphan.  Back in the days of Josaih, when Achbor was one of his advisors, we see another one of the key people involved with the restoration of the Temple and the finding of the scrolls was a guy named Shaphan.  It seems pretty likely that this is the same Shapahn who’s son protected Jeremiah.

There are a couple of interesting parts to this whole story.  First it is interesting that Jeremiah (well actually probably Baruch at this point) puts the story of Uriah right in the middle of the story about Jeremiah’s trial.  I think the key to this is in the information that he includes.  First we are told that both of these prophets said pretty much the same thing.  Second the author includes information about two guys who had the two prophets lives in their hands.  The author also included information about both of these guys that tie them both back to the reign of Josiah; both of their fathers were guys who loved Yahweh and were involved in influencing the king and the  people in the same direction.  Unfortunately only one son followed his fathers good example, doing what was right (see Jeremiah 26:14), protecting God’s true prophet, and standing against the evil king, while the other sold out to the evil king and led another true prophet to be executed.  From this story I see that it can be dangerous to live for God.  Both prophets proclaimed the same message in basically the same place at the same time to the same people.  In one case the prophet was protected from execution in the other he lost his life.  It reminds me of Peter and John after the resurrection.  Jesus was having a pretty intense talk with Peter in which he challenges Peter about his love and devotion.  He instructs Peter that if he really does love Jesus that he needs to care for the people who have placed their eternity into Jesus’ hands.  Jesus then predicts that Peter will eventually die for his faith in Him.  At that point Peter looks over at John, another one of Jesus closest follower and basically asks, “Him too?”  Jesus answer is that Peter needs to walk the path Jesus has for him and John will walk the path Jesus has for him.  Not all servants of God live the same lives or die the same deaths.  The point is to trust God and be faithful to what ever he asks of us.  In Revelation 18 we see a picture of Heaven during the last 7 years of human history before Jesus take ultimate control of the earth; a period sometimes called the Great Tribulation.  In  Revelation 18:20 we see the saints (dedicated ones, believers in Jesus), apostles (including Peter and John, Matthew 10:2), and prophets (Do you think this included Jeremiah and Uriah?  Probably.) in heaven happy about the fact that evil is finally being dealt with.

Years ago 5 missionaries in South America were trying to help a tribe of Indians learn about Jesus.  They camped near the tribe and made some contact.  After some initial contact the Indians brutally killed all five.  The missionaries had weapons that they refused to use against the Indians.  Some of the wives stayed in the area and continued to try to reach the same Indians for God and eventually did.  At some point before his death one of the missionaries, Jim Elliot, was asked about risking his life to help others learn about Jesus.  He said, “No man is a fool who gives up what he cannot keep, in order to keep what he cannot lose.”  His point was that we die, no one can keep his here and now life forever.  But if we love Jesus and trust him with our eternity (as seen in honoring him with our lives like Jeremiah and Uriah did) then we are assured a place in his forever kingdom; we gain what we can never lose.

The other thing that I think is interesting is the two men who were involved with the two prophets.  Both men came from families who loved God, or at least had fathers who loved and honored God.   But the two sons lived completely different lives.  Ahikam chose to risk his own life to honor God and protect one of God’s messengers, Elnathan chose to “play it safe” and help the evil king Jehoiakim execute an innocent man.  It is clear that our relationship with God has noting to do with who our family is.  It’s not about who our parents are or who our children are.  Even in the line of kings of Judah we see a few good kings surrounded by extremely evil ones.  Hezekiah’s dad was evil, his son was evil, his grandson was evil, his great-grandson was good.  Each man had to make their own decision as god gave them a choice.  Peter had a choice, to follow Jesus where ever that led (and he was warned it would lead to his death).  John had a choice that had a different path. But all of these obedient lives led them, and others, to the same place eternity with God.  The question for us is will we follow the path before us that honors God and leads others to Jesus even if it is narrow and difficult or will we take the “easy” way out and find ourselves on the outside in eternity? (Matthew 7:13-14).

God help me chose the path that honors you.  Help me make the right  decisions even if they are hard or even seem impossible.  Let me keep eternity in mind.  Help my actions benefit those around me.  Thank you for giving me a choice and helping me see and make the right one.  Help me continue to make choices that honor you.  Help my children make the right choice and choices too.  Let my legacy be a dynasty of Christ honorers.  Let me show your goodness and mercy to all who meet me.  Thank you for Jeremiah and Uriah’s faithfulness.  Keep me faithful.