2.03. Chapter 3 - Persecution
Chapter 3 - Persecution
During Josiah’s lifetime Jeremiah enjoyed a measure of protection. Even if the people did not listen to his preaching, it appears that he was not openly resisted. After Josiah’s death, things changed.
1. His Family (Jeremiah 11:18-19, Jeremiah 11:21; Jeremiah 12:7-11) At first Jeremiah was not aware of his family’s hostility. But then God warns him, “For even your brothers, the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you ... Do not believe them, even though they speak smooth words to you” (Jeremiah 12:6). Along with the inhabitants of Anathoth, they were seeking the life of the prophet and wanting to put an end to his preaching (Jeremiah 11:26). Jeremiah was ignorant of these plots (Jeremiah 11:19) until he was informed of them by God.
How painful it is to have to live in a divided family! The Lord Jesus warns his disciples in this respect: “I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes will be those of his own household” (Matthew 10:35-36). How many tensions arise when one member of a family turns to the Lord and the others are opposed: lack of understanding, sometimes overt acts of hostility, and in some countries even persecution. We should be very grateful if the grace has been granted to us to live in a closely-knit family where each member loves the Lord and seeks to serve Him! A beautiful example is offered us by “the house of Stephanas … the firstfruits of Achaia” who had “devoted themselves to the saints for service” (1 Corinthians 16:15). They all belonged to the Lord, and each one desired to serve Him.
Having been unsuccessful in carrying out their plans, Jeremiah’s relatives destroy his heritage and his vineyard. He was forced to give up his house and the small plot of land which he had received from his father. A graphic picture is drawn of Jeremiah as with sadness he considers his destroyed vineyard and his portion trodden under foot (Jeremiah 12:7-11). * We may even wonder when Jeremiah speaks of the “beloved of my soul” (Jeremiah 12:7) whether the person alluded to is perhaps a betrothed bride, whom he had to forsake because his hostile family had won her over to their side. Whatever the case, the word of the Lord which came to him a little later was definite: “You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place” (Jeremiah 16:1-2). In loneliness the prophet goes away, forsaking his heritage and his hopes - yet in spite of everything, standing firm in his purpose to proclaim the word of the Lord.
2. The People The people, indignant at Jeremiah’s preaching on the occasion of the vessel remodeled by the potter, contrived against the prophet. They decided to “smite him with the tongue”, and to spread false rumours about him. Backbiting and slander would effectively stop his preaching and prevent anyone from listening to any of his words. When David had a similar experience he prayed to God, saying, “Hide me from the secret counsel of the evil- doers ... who have sharpened their tongue like a sword, and have aimed their arrow, a bitter word” (Psalms 64:2-3). The “scourge of the tongue” is mentioned in Job 5:21.
Consider the words of the apostle Peter. Before exhorting the saints to exercise their holy priesthood by drawing near to the Lord and offering spiritual sacrifices, he urges them to lay aside “all evil speaking” (1 Peter 2:1). How much harm is done among the people of God by spreading rumors, perhaps true in themselves, which disparage and belittle others. Is it done to enhance one’s own image? And what shall we say of the negative criticism which is aimed at the servants of God - and which risks interfering with their ministry and discrediting their message? Even Paul had this sad experience, especially at Corinth and in Galatia. And was not the Lord Himself accused by false witnesses, and by Pharisees who asserted that He was casting out demons by the prince of demons! What a painful experience for servants of God who are attacked in this way; and what serious consequences will face those who “smite with the tongue” when they stand before the Lord to answer for their words.
Jeremiah had stood before God in order to speak for his people in an attempt to avert the wrath of Jehovah from them (Jeremiah 18:20). Confronted by slander and criticism, the prophet can only say in his prayer. “Lord, give heed to me, and listen to the voice of those that contend with me” (Jeremiah 18:19).
3. Pashur (Jeremiah 20:1-3) On his return from the Valley of Hinnom where he had broken the vessel in the sight of the elders and priests, Jeremiah again stands in the court of the Temple and warns the people of coming judgment. Hearing him prophesy these things, Pashur, a priest and chief officer in the house of God, strikes him and puts him in the stocks at the upper gate of Benjamin. The stocks were instruments of torture. Jeremiah on this occasion has to endure them for the rest of the day and the following night. These were hours of physical and mental sufferings. Their effects on his soul are expressed in Jeremiah 20:10-18.
All through the centuries many believers have been subjected to torture. Stephen was stoned at Jerusalem. Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned at Philippi. There were many martyrs in the first centuries of the church. We also think of the Huguenots and others at the time of the Reformation. Even today many children of God are tormented in various countries. As we read in Hebrews 11:33-38, some are delivered and escape the edge of the sword; others are tortured, undergo trials, are slaughtered, or wander about. The mystery of God allows John the Baptist to perish in prison while Peter is rescued. To Smyrna it is said: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” To Philadelphia the message is: “I also will keep you out of the hour of trial, which is about to come” (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:10).
It is interesting, however, that the New Testament does not record the violent deaths of the Lord’s servants except in the case of Stephen in Acts 7:1-60, and only incidentally in the case of James in Acts 12:2. In this way pre-eminence is given to the death of the Lord Jesus, to His sufferings and His being forsaken that He might receive all the attention of our hearts.
4. Priests and Princes (Jeremiah 26:7-16, Jeremiah 26:24)
Years have gone by; Josiah is dead; the brief reign of Jehoahaz has come to an end. Jehoiakim has just ascended the throne. Once more Jeremiah prophesies “in the court of The Lord’s house.” On hearing him the priests, the prophets, and all the people seize him and say, “You will surely die” (Jeremiah 26:8). Attracted by the commotion, the princes of Judah approach the house of the Lord and hear the unhesitating demand of the priests and prophets, “This man deserves to die!”
Given the opportunity to be heard, Jeremiah reminds the princes of how he has followed God’s injunction to speak “against this house and against this city.” Then he repeats his exhortation, “Amend your ways and your doings, and hearken to the voice of The Lord your God.” If they come back to Him, He will certainly repent of the evil that He has pronounced against them. “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” (Jeremiah 26:14-15). The princes listen to Jeremiah and declare to the priests, “This man is not worthy to die.” Some elders of the land recall Micah’s prophecy in the time of Hezekiah, to whom the king had listened with the result that judgment was suspended. Ahilam, the son of Shaphan (the scribe who with Hilkiah had discovered the book of the law) intervenes on Jeremiah’s behalf, so that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death. (Jeremiah 26:24). This time the prophet is delivered.
5. Captains and Princes (Jeremiah 37:11-21) A few years later, during a temporary interruption of the siege of Jerusalem, Jeremiah takes the opportunity to leave the city in order to try to get some provisions in the land of Benjamin. As he is going through the gate, a captain arrests him, accusing him of deserting to the Chaldeans. In vain Jeremiah protests against the untrue accusation. Irijah brings him to the princes. They become very angry and beat the prophet and put him in prison in “the vaults” where he has to remain “many days.” This time no one delivers him.
We do not know how long Jeremiah stayed in the dungeon before King Zedekiah sends for him and secretly asks him if there is “any word from the Lord.” The anxious king hopes to hear a word of relief. It is a tense moment as the prophet, having already suffered so much, ponders that Zedekiah has the power to either free him or send him back to the dungeon. Then he answers: “There is.”
Again there is a brief silence. We can surmise the emotions mingling in Jeremiah’s mind: his compassion for the young king vying with his determination to faithfully declare the Lord’s message. Again he speaks, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon!”
Zedekiah, however, in answer to Jeremiah’s supplication does not send him back to the vaults, but has him committed into the court of the guard; “and they gave him daily a loaf of bread ...until all the bread in the city was spent.”
6. Responsible Men - Princes (Jeremiah 38:1-6) In spite of everything, Jeremiah continues to proclaim the word of the Lord. However, he no longer urges them to “Amend your ways, repent and the judgment will be suspended.” The time of chastisement has arrived. Already Nebuchadnezzar has besieged the city. Therefore the message from God is to accept the judgment from His hand and surrender to the Chaldeans. Upon hearing Jeremiah’s words, certain men whose names have been preserved in the Scriptures (Jeremiah 38:1) say to the king, in agreement with the princes, “Please let this man be put to death.” In their eyes Jeremiah is a mere traitor - an ally of Nebuchadnezzar. Zedekiah, who lacks strength of character, delivers him into their hand, realizing that he is powerless before them. These men seize the prophet and cast him into the pit in the court of the guard. “And in the pit there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.” In Lamentations the prophet recalls the distress of his soul in this terrible situation: “They that are mine enemies without cause … have cut off my life in a pit, and cast a stone upon me. Waters streamed over my head; I said, I am cut off” (Lamentations 3:52-54). Feeling that he is perishing, he cries to God: “I called on your name, O Lord, from the lowest pit. You have heard my voice. You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, ‘do not fear!’ O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life” (Lamentations 3:55-58). In answer to the ardent supplication of His servant, the Lord directs Ebedmelech, an Ethiopian eunuch in the king’s house, to draw Jeremiah out of his predicament. This man takes it upon himself to go to Zedekiah to intercede for the prophet, obtaining the authorization to deliver him. The king provides thirty men to assist him. Ebed-melech, with much regard for the prisoner, takes old shreds and rags and asks Jeremiah to put them under his armpits beneath the ropes. “And they drew up Jeremiah with the ropes, and brought him up out of the pit.”
Once more God delivers His servant. Before the end of the siege, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard, a special word from God was given to him for Ebed-melech. The Ethiopian will be delivered on the day when the city will be taken; he will not be given into the hands of the men he fears; he will have his life for a prize, “because you have put your trust in me, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 39:15-18). God does not forget to reward the instruments that He uses on behalf of those He sends (Matthew 25:34-45).
Thinking Things Through 1. Describe briefly the persecution which Jeremiah suffered from his own family.
How did he respond?
How should we respond when those nearest to us reject us because of the Lord?
2. List some of the ways Jeremiah suffered at the hand of people, priests, princes, and others.
How do all these sufferings typify the sufferings of Christ?
3. Who were some of those who showed kindness and help to Jeremiah in all his distresses?
Consider some of the people you know and situations you face wherein you might follow their good examples.