Jeremiah 26  The Lord gave Jeremiah another message.. oh how patient our Lord is... "Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak... Do not omit a word!.. Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of their evil deeds." 

And so, Jeremiah spoke everything the Lord told him to say.. and the result was that they sentenced him to die!  They did not heed the warnings.. they didn't even consider their need to repent.. or be thankful that God was giving them another chance.. they just wanted to kill the messenger.. and ignore the warning.  They certainly did not consider repenting from their evil ways..

Yet, there were some who intervened on Jeremiah's behalf.. the "princes of Judah"  came to hear the charges against Jeremiah.. They listened to Jeremiah's defense.. "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. But as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing." ( v13-15)

Jeremiah stood on the Word of the Lord.. even in the face of a death sentence.  He did not waver or omit a word. The princes listened and revoked the sentence against Jeremiah. They told of the time that Hezekiah listened to the prophet Micah and the Lord answered that prayer.. and of the time that Jehoiakim heard from the prophet Uriah and did not listen but killed him. A choice needed to be made.. and they chose to listen this time.. 

"But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hands of the people to put him to death." One man stood with Jeremiah. Sometimes one person can make all the difference in the hands of the Lord! 

Father, there is a message here for us from Your holy Word today.. as there is always!  May we be as Jeremiah.. standing firm on the Word in spite of the anger and threats and accusations of the world.. those who want to ignore the warnings of scripture to repent and turn from evil ways.  May we be like Ahikam.. standing with those who speak the truth.. when you give us the opportunity to make a difference.  Lead us in Your ways, Lord... in paths of righteousness and truth and grace.. in the ways of Jesus Christ our Great Shepherd and King.  Father, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem today.. and we pray with great urgency that they would heed Your Holy Word and turn from sin and rebellion.. to call upon the Name of Yahweh, their God.. and Yeshua, the Messiah.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.