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.