THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may go to the archive below and find it.
Bruce McGee, Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for
the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
Jeremiah
CHAPTER 26
1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, 2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: 3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. 4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, 5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; 6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
This passage of Scripture particularly applies to pastors who preach God's Word and to people who listen.
God's Word is to be preached and not "diminished" by one little bit! (see vs 2) I must confess, as a pastor, at times I try to make God's Word more appealing to the hearers.
But the message is very clear: Repent TO God, or suffer the consequences FROM God! (see vss 3-6).
Think of our individual lives as "this house" (Vs 6). Unless we surrender our individual lives to God and follow His direction from His Word, we are headed for destruction.
Notice that God gave Jeremiah explicit instructions to preach this "word" in "the court of the Lord's house." (Vs 2)
It is the duty of the pastor to preach the Word of God. He is to be "instant in season," and "out of season." (2Timothy 4:2) He is to "reprove" and "exhort," and to do both with "longsuffering and doctrine."
In order for a pastor to deliver God's Word each time he preaches, he must do two things. He must first be attuned to what is happening around him. And, secondly, he must diligently pray and search the Bible for God's applicable Word.
Now church, and church people are notorious for reducing the pastor's time to perform his function. The pastor is expected to visit this person and that person. He is expected to be in every meeting, and attend every fellowship. He is expected to perform the day-to-day administrative tasks of the church. It is the expectation of the people that the pastor to be involved in civic affairs and especially with the local association of churches.
All these things detract from the specific function of the pastor. He is to diligently pray and search God's Word for the message God wants the people to hear.
And, I must admit, pastors are notorious for reducing their own time to perform the proper function. We, all too often, become involved in too many things to adequately have time for study and prayer.
May we pastors take an example from Jeremiah. He did not become sidetracked. He sought God diligently and received a "word" to preach. Then he preached the message exactly as God gave it to Him.
7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. 8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. 9 Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
WUPS!!!
When Jeremiah preached as God told him to, the people became angry and threatened his life! He became very unpopular!
Now, if a pastor is truly dedicating time to prayer and study, then he truly has a "word" from God for the people. And the people should LISTEN and be obedient to God's "word."
Basically, the "word" from God is always the same.
The truth is we are all sinners all the time! But God is gracious and always desires us to be restored to a right relationship with Him. God is also just in restoring our relationship through the atonement price paid by our Lord, Jesus Christ. But in order for God to restore us, we must repent and humbly turn to Him confessing sins and becoming obedient to His will.
Look in the Bible and you will see this message in virtually every book. Jesus Himself preached this message. ((See: Matthew 3:2, 4:17, Luke 13:3-5, Luke 18:17, Mark 10:15))
The message is the same at all times. Some people will receive it, and others will refuse it. Historically, some pastors have been popular and some have been unpopular. But the message remains the same throughout all ages.
10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house. 11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.
Is a prophet (or pastor) worthy of death when he speaks God's sure "word?" Looking back over Genesis through Deuteronomy (the law), God had never promised that Jerusalem would "ALWAYS" stand! He had, in fact, promised destruction if the people refused to follow Him!
But these people had taken God's Word out of context. They believed that Jeremiah was guilty of preaching against God's "chosen" people and city.
12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. 13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. 14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. 15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
Jeremiah did not "back up," or "crawfish" from God's "word!" He told the rulers that God had TOLD him to preach this message.
He also said they could do with him as they wished, but God's "word" would remain the SAME! (vss 14-15).
16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God. 17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountains of the house as the high places of a forest. 19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls. 20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: 21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt; 22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt. 23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. 24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
As is true at all times, some received the "word" and some refused it. Some wanted Jeremiah dead. Others said that it was not lawful to kill him because he had preached the same as other prophets. ((See Micah 1:1-4))
The same king that ruled now (Jehoiakim--vs1) had caused one prophet to be extradited from Egypt and killed (vss 20-23). This same king would unashamedly cut up Jeremiah's prophecy and throw it in the fire (Jeremiah 36:22-23).
But today, the king would not kill Jeremiah because Ahikam stood with Jeremiah. Ahikam had stood with King Josiah during his spiritual reformation of Judah (2Kings 22:12).
Yes. The preaching of God's true "word" is offensive to men's pride. Every preacher needs to understand that. Every Christian needs to realize that. The cross of Jesus Christ tells us that we are so sinful that only GOD can save us! And that is certainly offensive to man's pride.
However, the results of preaching God's Word are left to the hearts of the people. Some will "bow up" against God's Word, but some will become humble and submit to His Divine will for their lives.
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.