Day 242: Sheep for slaughter – Jeremiah 11 vs 18 – 23

18-19 Then the Lord told me about the plots my enemies were making against me.  I was like a lamb being led to the slaughter. I had no idea that they were planning to kill me! “Let’s destroy this man and all his words,” they said. “Let’s cut him down, so his name will be forgotten forever.” 20 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you make righteous judgments, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see your vengeance against them,   for I have committed my cause to you.

21 This is what the Lord says about the men of Anathoth who wanted me dead. They had said, “We will kill you if you do not stop prophesying in the Lord’s name.” 22-23 So this is what the  Lord of Heaven’s Armies says about them: “I will punish them! Their young men will die in battle, and their boys and girls will starve to death.  Not one of these plotters from Anathoth will survive, for I will bring disaster upon them when their time of punishment comes.” Jeremiah 11:18-23 New Living Translation (English Standard Version link)

How would you feel if you found out some people were plotting to assassinate you? That's what happened to Jeremiah. Earlier in the chapter God had spoken of a conspiracy taking place in Jerusalem. Jeremiah now discovers that he was the target! (vs 18-19) In some way God let Jeremiah discover the plot by some men from Anathoth. Why did they want to kill him? (vs 21)

They hated Jeremiah's message that God was going to judge the people for their terrible sins, and that Jerusalem would be destroyed. They preferred prophets who falsely told them that God was ‘all peace and love’ and there would be no punishment of sin. They reacted as many still do today when we tell them that the Bible speaks of hell as well as of heaven. Due to their plot Jeremiah felt as helpless as a sheep being led away to slaughter. So what did he do? (vs 20)

He put his case (and his life) into God's hands. He asks God to be judge of their actions. In a way he did what the apostle Paul said to Christians hundreds of years later when he wrote: “Do all you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For Scripture says, 'I will take revenge; I will pay them back, says the Lord.'” (Romans 12:18-19) And that's exactly what we see in vs 21-23. God said that those who plotted to kill Jeremiah would lose their own lives when Jerusalem fell.

Throughout the ages many of God's prophets and messengers faced the same hostility Jeremiah was facing. Men like Daniel and Paul, and especially the Lord Jesus Christ, were targets of conspiracies and plots because people hated how the light of God's word of truth exposed their sinfulness. What does this say about what might happen to us if we truly follow Jesus and warn people (even family and friends) of the coming judgement of God?

They might not go as far as plotting to kill us, but we shouldn't be surprised if some mock us and become hostile. It wasn't only Jeremiah who was like a lamb being led to slaughter, it was spoken of the Messiah as well by Isaiah when he said “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7) The apostle Paul applied it to Christians in general when he wrote: “Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will we be separated by trouble, distress, harassment, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword? As it is written 'We are being put to death all day long for your sake. We are treated like sheep for slaughter'. No - in all these things we are more than conquerors through the one who loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37)

So if we should face hostility let's remember what Jesus said to His followers: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)