Year of Exposure Day 34: Silencing the prophet won’t stop the word from coming to pass.

“Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.””

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬

All over the world, even in our own country, we find efforts to label the word of God as “hate speech.”

You see, it seems to be a common response that people who don’t want to honor God, or His commands, seem to think the problem is what the Bible says, rather than the problem being their own sinful state.

As we have discussed (see Day 31), this way of thinking: the “kill the messenger” mentality, is as old as the Old Testament prophets. Those who faithfully conveyed God’s messages, often messages of warning, were regularly met with hostility, scorn, even death threats.

As we have been discussing, such was the case with Jeremiah.

God‘s people had fallen into idolatry, no longer honoring what the Lord had told them to do. So, of course, the “solution” to their sinful backslidden state, was to abuse, slander, and even try to kill Jeremiah.

Although the Lord repeatedly urged the people to change their ways, they repeatedly refused.

One of the many messages God spoke through Jeremiah, urged the people to get off the path that was leading them to destruction, and return to the path God had prepared before them.

“This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ I posted watchmen over you who said, ‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’ But you replied, ‘No! We won’t pay attention!’”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As we see, the people predictably rejected God’s urgent plea.

Yesterday we considered the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah for the people, after having sent him to the potter’s house.

““Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’””

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭18‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Tragically, the people, yet again, chose their own wicked ways.

“But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.””

‭‭ ‭18‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In our opening scripture we see that the people’s solution, the people‘s action plan, was to get rid of Jeremiah.

Again, we know that didn’t end well for them.

Child of God don’t deal with the conviction that the word, the prophetic word, and/or the Holy Spirit of God, provokes in you, by attacking the word of instruction. Rather, let us repent and ask the Lord to help us get back on His track. He is faithful; and He will do it, if we ask Him from a pure heart.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!