-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)
Jeremiah had a pretty tough go of it. His prophecies spanned 5 kings, and occurred from about 627BC to 586BC. In chapter 25, verse 1 gives us a very solid understanding of exactly when this bit is occurring during that span. The thing that I find really poignant about Jeremiah’s entire ministry is that almost all of the people that he’s trying passionately to save reject him. Every now and then you’ll see an ally come out of the woodwork, but for the most part he’s spurned, ridiculed, and ignored, beaten and jailed, even though he is constantly pleading on God’s behalf for a return to God.
In Jeremiah 25:2-7 you can almost hear the pleading in his voice as he begs the nation to repent and return to God, but they continue to ignore him and “do their own thing”. As a result, he tells them of the punishment that is about to be inflicted upon them (The Exile), and actually tells them how long it’s going to last (when Daniel is reading the scripture in Daniel 9:2, Jeremiah 25:12 and Jeremiah 29:10-13 are likely the verses from which he discerns that the allotted time is up and starts praying to God about it). Once again, they don’t listen.
Moving on to Jeremiah 26 in verse 3, we see again a heartfelt pleading from both Jeremiah and God: “It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way. Then I will change my mind about the evil that I am planning to do to them because of the evil of what they are doing. “(REV) So then, the people finally listened and…
No, just kidding. They absolutely did not listen. Instead, in Jeremiah 26:8: “Now when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking everything that Yahweh had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold on him, saying, “You must die, yes, die. ” (REV). Man, talk about ungrateful. Thanks fellas. This is a guy who has put his own life on hold in order to obediently do what Yahweh God has commanded him, to try and redeem this nation, and his reward? They all grab him and talk about murdering him, and later they probably do.
There were a number of relevant historical events that occurred during this timespan of Jeremiah’s ministry, as follows:
- King Josiah rediscovers the Book of the Law (621BC), and does extensive religious reforms across the land (good).
- The Battle of Carchemish (605BC) was a decisive win for the Babylonians against the Egyptians, establishing Babylonian dominance in the region.
- Three major Babylonian deportations: the first in 605 BC (including Daniel), the second in 597 BC (including Ezekiel), and the third following the final siege.
- The destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple by Nebuchadnezzar’s forces in 586 BC after a prolonged siege. (THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE!!!!)
- The assassination of Governor Gedaliah and the subsequent forced flight of the remaining Judeans to Egypt, where Jeremiah likely died around 570 BC.
Now here is an interesting bit about that last bullet point. It doesn’t say in the Bible when and how Jeremiah died specifically, but strong Jewish and Christian tradition asserts that he was stoned to death in Egypt around 570 BC. According to these extrabiblical sources, such as the writings of Tertullian and the Lives of the Prophets, Jeremiah was forcibly taken to Egypt by Jewish rebels who disobeyed his warnings. Enraged by his continued rebukes of their idolatry and rebellion, his fellow countrymen martyred him in Daphne (identified as Tahpanhes in Hebrew). This tradition is often linked to the reference in Hebrews 11:37 regarding saints who “died by stoning.” It’s not in scripture though, so that’s all speculative and based on tradition (and I view most tradition in the church very, very warily, and with good reason).
In Luke 11, we see a disturbing similarity, a historical repetition. Jesus has come to the nation of Israel, to turn the hearts of the children back to the Father, and is met with a similar response by the religious and political authorities of that time. This chapter has a couple important bits in it before we get to the Pharisees: notably, in verses 1-4 we have another account of the Lord’s Prayer, and in verse 28 he reiterates that it’s not who you know (even if it’s Jesus) that makes you blessed, but “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
In Luke 11:37-52, Jesus really lays in to the Pharisees. He talks about being clean, and the law, and pride, and what’s important, and just really points out a couple of fatal shortcomings on their part. Now, keep in mind: Jesus says only the things that God told him to say (John 12:49), so when he’s chastising these authorities and warning them about their behavior, it’s just like Jeremiah, it’s for a reason: to change their actions and return them to good favor with God. They’ve gotten a little off track, have been going in that direction for centuries, and he’s just trying to get them back on course because these are the things that God commanded him to speak. How do they respond?
Luke 11: 53-54: “And when he had come out from there, the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to press upon him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things, laying in wait for him in order to catch something that he might say.” (REV). We know how this turns out later. “He must die!”…sound familiar?
If Jesus had come in smiling benevolently and saying “God loves you!”(true), “and God is love!” (also true) “and you guys are doing great!” (not true at all) they would have welcomed him with open arms. Much like we love to hear similar things from our religious figures. Everyone likes to be flattered, and to have their ears tickled. When people tell us pretty lies, we love it. Nom nom nom, we just eat it up.
We’ve gotten a little off track too. So why is it that we tend to scorn and despise anyone who tells us that we need to change our behavior? Why do we wish bodily harm on anyone who is offering constructive criticism, or pointing out an error in our thinking? I mean seriously, it’s a huge character flaw, in all of us. This isn’t just ancient days stuff, even today I don’t know anyone who just absolutely yearns for correction…but we should. David, a man after God’s own heart prays to God and asks in Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Examine me and know my anxious thoughts. Yes, see if there is any idolatrous way in me, then lead me in the everlasting way!” Search me. Check me. Correct me when needed, and lead me…in the everlasting way.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- How do you react when told that you aren’t meeting expectations in “X” area?
- How do you react when told you’re amazing in “X” area, even though you know you’re not?
- Which is truly more loving: pointing out a flaw for potential correction, or ignoring flaws and using flattery?
- Isn’t it ironic that on the above question, our perceptions of which is more loving are flip-flopped with the reality most of the time?
- Why do you think that is, and how can we change it?
PRAYER
Father God, Please search my innermost parts and help me to know my own shortcomings. Show me how I can do better. Please help me and guide me, forgive me when I fall short, and discipline me. Please mold me into the person you want me to be. Help me to listen more, and to speak less. In Jesus name, Amen.
