Jeremiah 27:1-22.\u00a0 In yesterday\u2019s reading we saw the conclusion of a trial of Jeremiah early in the reign of Jehoaikim (probably 609-608 BC). \u00a0 \u00a0Jeremaih dodged the bullet (or sword) in that one but his fellow prophet, Uriah, was not so lucky.\u00a0 Jeremiah didn\u2019t survive by compromising though, he was faithful to all God had told him to say and do (as was Uriah).\u00a0 We learned that serving God can be dangerous.\u00a0 We also learned that serving God and being a part of his forever kingdom are choices that each one of has to make.\u00a0 We don\u2019t get \u201cgrandfathered\u201d in just because our Grandfather, or father, or mother loved God.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s reading is kind of interesting.\u00a0 In chapter 27 Jeremiah jumps right back in, confronting a new king about submitting to God.\u00a0 Although this follows immediately the story of the trial, action in chapter 27 is actually 16 years later. \u00a0Zedekiah\u2019s reign began in 597 BC.\u00a0 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. \u00a0Tomorrow we will find out that this message was actually 4 years into Zedekiah’s reign or 594 BC. \u00a0In this chapter Jeremiah uses a symbolic act to get across God\u2019s message.\u00a0 He makes a yoke for himself and puts it around his neck.\u00a0 A yoke is the \u201ccollar\u201d 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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
In verse 3 Jeremiah is told send messages to several kings of surrounding areas.\u00a0 The kings themselves are not in Jerusalem but representatives of them are.\u00a0 These representatives had come to Jerusalem to meet with the new king, Zedekiah.\u00a0 In 597 BC Babylon was in control\u00a0 of the area and had been for 8 years.\u00a0 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 \u201ctribute\u201d.\u00a0 If you know someone who like older music you ma have heard of \u201ctribute\u201d bands.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Money given in \u201ctribute\u201d 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.\u00a0 These representatives may have been in Jerusalem to try to get Zedekiah to rebel against Babylon.\u00a0 Zedekiah face this sort of pressure for the 10 year that he reigned and eventually gave in, but not here in 597.<\/p>\n
In verses 4-7 Jeremiah basically tells them to tell their kings, \u201cDon\u2019t even think about it.\u201d\u00a0 In verse 4 God identifies himself in several ways.\u00a0 He calls himself \u201cthe LORD of hosts\u201d.\u00a0 The word translated \u201cLORD\u201d is Yahweh in Hebrew.\u00a0 That is the personal name of the one true God.\u00a0 The idea of \u201chosts\u201d is armies, often this idea is that God controls a heavenly army of angles.\u00a0 That may be the meaning here or it could mean that armies on the earth can be controlled by him too.\u00a0 He also calls himself the \u201cGod of Israel\u201d.\u00a0 God is a general term meaning mighty being, in this case he is the<\/span> \u201cmighty being of Israel\u201d, which brings us full circle to Yahweh, the one true God.\u00a0 Although these kings might have been skeptical about listening to the god of another people they should have seen through history that this \u201cgod\u201d was the one God.\u00a0 If there was any doub\u2019t as to Yahweh\u2019s 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.\u00a0 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).<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 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\u2019s army is really from God (so in a way he is the LORD of those hosts).<\/p>\n In verse 9-10 Jeremiah warns them no to listen to the guys they would usually go to, to see what their gods wanted.\u00a0 Jeremiah tells them their prophets and others are liars.\u00a0\u00a0 He then repeats in verse 11 that if they let Nebuchadnezzar rule over them that they will have safety in their land.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 Two difference stand out to me though.\u00a0 In the first message Jeremiah challenged prophets, fortune tellers or astrologers, dreamers, those who talk to spirits, and magicians.\u00a0 In the message to Zedekiah he only challenges \u201cprophets\u201d.\u00a0 The other difference is that in the message to Zedekiah the \u201cprophets\u201d speak falsely in the name of Yahweh while the other group makes no claim to be representing Him.\u00a0 All of these guys, in both groups, though had the \u201cear\u201d of their leaders and Yahweh wanted them to hear him, hear the truth, instead.<\/p>\n In verses 16-22 the message is to the priests and people.\u00a0 From theses verse we see that he is talking to the priests and people in Judah and Jerusalem.\u00a0 In 597 BC when Nebuchadnezzar came to put down the revolt by Jehoiakim, he instead found Jehoaichin (Jehoaikim\u2019s 18 year old son) on the throne.\u00a0 Jehoaikim had died the previous winter.\u00a0 Jehoiachin was taken captive and many item in the Temple were also take back to Babylon.\u00a0 Also 10,000 of the \u201cleading\u201d citizens of Judah were take captive too.\u00a0 That was when Zedekiah was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar.\u00a0 Evidently the prophets in Judah were telling the people that it wouldn\u2019t be long until they had their stuff back.\u00a0 Maybe they were listening to the representative of the surrounding kingdoms and were convinced that they could band together and beat Nebuchadnezzar.God\u2019s message to all of them, through Jeremaiah was, \u201cThink again, your not going to be Nebuchadnezzar, I\u2019m on his side for now.\u201d<\/p>\n In verse 18 Jeremiah issues sort of a challenge.\u00a0 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\u2019t be taken away to Babylon.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Clearly the prophets were not speaking for God or the stuff never would have left Jerusalem.\u00a0 At the end of verse 22 we see that the stuff will eventually be returned to Jerusalem and to the Temple.<\/p>\n Its awesome how Jeremiah speaks not only to the people of Judah but also to all the nations that he has access to.\u00a0 In Jeremiah 1:5 he is called a \u201cprophet to the nations\u201d.\u00a0 Yahweh is not only the God who created and controls everything that is he is also the God who cares<\/span> about all that is.\u00a0 God is in the process of drawing people into his forever kingdom but he doesn\u2019t 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).\u00a0 It is also cool how God works it out to punish people that continually reject him without violating his promises.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 One final thing I noticed as I was reading this was how consistent God is.\u00a0 The warnings to the nations and to Judah and to the individuals in Jerusalem were all the same.\u00a0 God doesn\u2019t play favorites he has one way to make things right; one plan, and it involves Jesus.\u00a0 That \u201cfix\u201d is the same for everyone and we see his fairness in the three warnings that are really just one warning.<\/p>\n God thank you for being fair.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 Instead of leaving each of us to pay our own way, you paid for all of us (1 John 2:2).\u00a0 It is sad that many won\u2019t listen and turn to Jesus, the only way back to you (John 14:6).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Help me show many that Jesus is the path back.\u00a0 Thank you for being patient toward me and not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9-10).\u00a0 Help me trust and honor you regardless of the situation I find myself in.\u00a0 Thank you for a place in your forever kingdom.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jeremiah 27:1-22.\u00a0 In yesterday\u2019s reading we saw the conclusion of a trial of Jeremiah early in the reign of Jehoaikim (probably 609-608 BC). \u00a0 \u00a0Jeremaih dodged the bullet (or sword) in that one but his fellow prophet, Uriah, was not so lucky.\u00a0 Jeremiah didn\u2019t survive by compromising though, he was faithful to all God had 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