Do those who preach God’s word faithfully sometimes face threats from even religious officials? Let’s begin in Jeremiah 26.
What did Jeremiah prophesy about Jerusalem if the people failed to turn from evil?
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from Yahweh, saying, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Stand in the court of the house of Yahweh, and you shall speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the house of Yahweh all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not take away a word! Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the evil which I am devising to bring against them because of the evil of their deeds.’
And you will say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have given before you, to listen to the words of My slaves the prophets, whom I have been sending to you, rising up early and sending, but you have not listened, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’” (Jer 26:1-6 LSB)
What threats were made to Jeremiah after his prophecy about Jerusalem?
The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. Yet when Jeremiah finished speaking everything that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You must die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be in ruins, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered to Jeremiah at the house of the Lord. (Jer 26:7-9 NASB)
What did the priests and false prophets urge the officials to do to Jeremiah?
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. 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!” (Jer 26:10-11 NIV)
What did Jeremiah say to the people in his own defense?
Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard. Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; then the Lord will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you.
As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you. But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.” (Jer 26:12-15 NKJV)
Did the officials rebuke the priests and false prophets?
Then the officials and the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” (Jer 26:16 NLT)
What did some of the elders say about the prophet Micah?
Then certain of the elders of the land rose up, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, “Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies says: “‘Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.’
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn’t he fear Yahweh, and entreat the favor of Yahweh, and Yahweh relented of the disaster which he had pronounced against them? We would commit great evil against our own souls that way!” (Jer 26:17-19 WEB)
What did some of the elders say about the prophet Uriah?
There was another man who prophesied in the Lord’s name: Uriah, Shemaiah’s son from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied the same things that Jeremiah did about this city and against this land. When King Jehoiakim and all his warriors and officials heard his words, the king sought to kill him. Uriah heard of this and fled in fear to Egypt. But King Jehoiakim dispatched Elnathan, Achbor’s son, and others to Egypt. They brought Uriah back from Egypt to the king who had him killed, and his body was thrown into the common burial ground. (Jer 26:20-23 CEB)
Whose hand was with Jeremiah to protect him from his persecutors?
But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death. (Jer 26:24 ESV)
Did Stephen face a similar kangaroo court from religious leaders?
They turned the people and their leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses against Stephen. Then they all grabbed him and dragged him in front of the council. Some men agreed to tell lies about Stephen, and they said, “This man keeps on saying terrible things about this holy temple and the Law of Moses. We have heard him claim that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses gave us.” (Acts 6:12-14 CEV)
Do those who preach God’s word faithfully sometimes face threats from even religious officials? You decide!
