Day 486: Ultimate censorship - Jeremiah 26 vs 1 – 11
1-3 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds. 4-6 You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.’”
7-9 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.
10-11 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord. Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.” Jeremiah 26:1-11 English Standard Version
We live in times when powerful social media companies and even some Western Governments are censoring speech they don't like. But none of them have gone as far, yet, as what Jeremiah was threatened with for saying the things he did. Where, and to whom, did God tell Jeremiah to deliver the message of ‘repent or face disaster?’ (vs 1-3)
It was in the temple area where the general public from all over Judea would’ve often gathered. So it wasn't only to the policy makers of the land, but to the common people. This seems to be what angered and scared the nation's leaders. (vs 7-9) Corrupt leaders don't like the population hearing the truth. The 'Shiloh' they refer to was the place where the holy meeting tent had been set up before the temple was built, and where the godly man named Samuel had ministered. It had been destroyed by Philistine armies when Israel disobeyed God, so it was a painful memory and a sore spot for the leaders.
Hearing that trouble was brewing at the temple court officials from the king's house came to investigate. The priests and the false prophets brought their charge against Jeremiah and said he deserved to be put to death for saying the things he did. It was like what happened some 600 years later when Jewish Priests and Pharisees demanded that officials of their day execute Jesus Christ for preaching God’s true message.
God willing, we’ll look at what happened to Jeremiah in the next post. But the reaction of the religious leaders makes me think of the apostle Paul’s words to God's servant named Timothy. In 2 Timothy 4:2-3 Paul says: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people won't endure sound teaching but, having itching ears, will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” (2 Timothy 4:2-3) Human hearts find God's truth uncomfortable. It troubles their consciences. One response is to silence the messenger of that truth and to only allow people who say 'politically correct' or 'socially acceptable' things to be heard. But God said to Jeremiah: “Speak ALL the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. It may be they'll listen, and each one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.” May we do the same.