Approaching studies within Jeremiah, instead of trying to follow chronologically, which is difficult with this book, for roughly the first half of the book, the first 29 chapters, we will instead only produce studies within their appropriate chapters, theming them as follows:

• Jeremiah’s Calling                     Ch.1
• Jeremiah’s Main Message        Ch.2,3,5,7,21,22
• Jeremiah’s Action Parables      Ch.13,18,19,27
• Jeremiah’s Opposition              Ch.11,12,14,18,20,26,28
• Jeremiah’s Message of Hope   Ch.3,23,24,25,29

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

Jeremiah’s Opposition: 6. Jeremiah Threatened

Jer 26:1-16

1 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: ² “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. ³ Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. ⁴ Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you, ⁵ and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), ⁶ then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city a curse among all the nations of the earth.’”

⁷ The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. ⁸ But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! ⁹ Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?” And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

¹⁰ When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate of the Lord’s house. ¹¹ Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”

¹² Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. ¹³ Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. ¹⁴ As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. ¹⁵ Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

¹⁶ Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

A. Find Out:

1. Where did the Lord tell Jeremiah to prophesy? v.2
2. What was he to say? v.4-6
3. Who got upset? ? v.7,8
4. Who came to judge? v.10
5. What did the others demand? v.11
6. Who stood up for Jeremiah? v.16

B. Think:

1. Who seized Jeremiah first of all?
2. Who eventually spoke out for him?
3. Summarise who it was who remained against Jeremiah?

C. Comment:

Jeremiah gets instructions from the Lord to go and prophesy in the house of the Lord and tell them that if they didn’t repent then the temple would be destroyed, just as the worship place at Shiloh had been destroyed.  In the temple at that time were many priests, prophets and other people. When they heard what he was saying they became very upset and said he ought to be killed.  The news of this quickly spread to the royal palace and a number of officials soon came.  The priests and prophets demanded Jeremiah’s death. When Jeremiah simply defended himself, his words had effect and the ordinary people and the officials from the palace sensed that what he had said was true. The word of God is truly a sword that sometimes penetrates even those against us (Ephesians 6:17) and may at times even be the means of delivering us!

The “religious” people, the priests and so-called prophets were the ones who did not relent.  It should have been these people who were leading the nation to God and hearing God’s voice, but instead their hard, self-centred hearts were doing nothing of the sort.  Instead they were actually opposing the one bringing God’s word and demanding his death. “Religious people” often dislike the truth from God!

D. Application?

1. Are you more concerned with religious ritual than with a living relationship with the Lord?
2. Do you find it difficult to receive God’s word and let is apply to you?

Jeremiah’s Opposition : Jeremiah Supported

Jer 26:17-24

A. Find Out:

1. Who stepped up to defend Jeremiah? v.17
2. How did they do it? v.18,19
3. Who else had been similarly prophesying? v.20
4. What had happened to him? v.21-23
5. Who else supported Jeremiah? v.24

B. Think:

1. How has the Lord been seen to be not relying on just one prophet?
2. How had other prophets been accepted or rejected?
3. How may we as “lone voices” be encouraged by this passage?

C. Comment:

The officials and the people have just spoken out for Jeremiah’s life to be spared.  Now some of the elders step forward with wisdom (similarly seen in Gamaliel in Acts 5:33-40). There is a glimmer of hope for Jeremiah.

They cite Micah who had prophesied against Jerusalem previously in Hezekiah’s reign and that king had responded so that Jerusalem was saved. This, they say, they feel is the same sort of thing, and to ignore it will bring destruction.

We are then told of another prophet who had been saying the same things as Jeremiah. Jeremiah is obviously not a lone prophet of the Lord in the land. Unfortunately this other prophet had been put to death by Jehoiakim.  That just highlighted the sort of king he was!  Being reminded of this man was perhaps not good news for it simply emphasised what COULD happen.

Finally we see yet more support from Ahikam who is probably an elder by now. He is seen in Josiah’s time as son of the secretary to the king (see 2 Kings 22:10-12). His voice seems to sway the rest and Jeremiah is reprieved. This last voice was just what it needed to carry the day, one voice to tip the balance and ensure Jeremiah is saved!

D. Application?

1. Do we have the courage to speak out for what is right even when the odds are against us?
2. Ask the Lord to help you be one who speaks for what is right.