Jeremiah 26  Once again Jeremiah is given a message for the nation of Judah.  " Thus says the Lord, 'If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law, which I have set before you, to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened; the I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth.'" ( v4-5)

The priests, prophets, and the people were so angry at this message that they seized Jeremiah and wanted to kill him.  Shiloh had once been the place of the tabernacle.. the place of God's presence after Joshua finally brought Israel into the promised land.  It was in the days of Samuel that Shiloh was forsaken.  Eli's sons had taken the Ark of the Covenant into battle where it was taken by the Philistines.  Because of the terrible consequences of this action, the Philistines had to send it back.. but it did not ever return to Shiloh.  Shiloh became nothing but a wilderness.  To think that this would happen to Jerusalem was more than the people in Jeremiah's day could believe.  So they decided to shoot the messenger!

Jesus was accused of this same thing.  He told them that there would not be a stone left of the Temple in Jerusalem.  The religious leaders in His day also wanted to kill Him, using this message as their excuse. The temple meant more to them than the God Who's Presence it was meant to symbolize.

Jeremiah is rescued by Ahikam the son of Shaphan.  This family, one of very few, chose to believe and obey the Word of the Lord.  Later on Ahikam's son, Gedaliah, would take in Jeremiah and care for him. ( 39:14) God was preserving a remnant for Himself, a promise that He would always keep.

Jeremiah continued to listen to and speak the Word of God, even when it was met with such hostility.
I am reminded once again of how important it is that we do not omit, dilute, or in anyway diminish the Word.  It is not popular and is sometimes hated in our world today.. but it is the only Truth and we are responsible to speak it out as well as to live according to it.  In this chapter, one thing that we can speak out and live by is verse 13 , " Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you."   It is not too late to speak of God's grace.. of His willingness to forgive us our sins; of the truth that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse of from all unrighteousness.  He still is calling for His people to repent and turn back.  Jesus makes this all possible.... what a wonderful message we have.. even if others may want to hate us for it.

Father in Heaven, You are a loving God.  You are Mighty and Powerful and Holy.. yet You are gentle and merciful and kind.  How thankful we are to know You.  We bless Your Name. Father, empower us by Your Spirit to speak Your words of truth.. Your call of repentance to those whom we come into contact with.  May we be faithful to use every opportunity to speak truth and turn others back to You. We need Your Presence filling us to overflowing.. fill us now we pray, in Jesus' name. amen.