TOPIC:
DIVINE PROTECTION FOR THE GODLY
KEY
VERSE: Jeremiah 26:24
“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.”
TEXT:
Jeremiah 26:1-24
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
mountain 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 Kirjathjearim, 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.
MESSAGE:
God will definitely not be late in sending you help in time of trouble
if you faithfully serve him. This exactly was the case of Prophet Jeremiah who
declared the word of the Lord to the princes and people of Judah about the
impending destruction and captivity awaiting Jerusalem.
He hammered on the urgent need for repentance – a warning that fell on
deaf ears of the noble men who plotted to eliminate the prophet. Rebellion
breeds hardness of heart and God will definitely break every adamant heart, be
it the heart of Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod or whoever!
Our key verse relates a heart-warming testimony of God providing a
faithful man, Ahikam, son of Shaphan who resisted the princes of Judah and
ensured that Jeremiah was not martyred as planned. He will always send a
deliverer and helper to His true servants in the hour of need. Apostle Paul
declares, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will
preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18).
As God’s servants, our business is to faithfully pursue His programme
and assignments for us. As for the details of what happens to us and the
outcomes of our mission, all that belongs to Him. We must remember that Christ
is never too late; He will definitely perfect all that concern us and protect
His people during challenges. Only let us do our part diligently because He
will not fail in His.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY: His work cannot take you where His power cannot protect you.
THE
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 18-21
Daily Manna is the daily devotional of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Ministry (DCLM) by Pastor W.F. Kumuyi
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