Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 267
26:10-23
J eremiah
255
Jerusalem will be destroyed and left with no inhabitants?” And all the
people threatened him as he stood in front of the Temple.
When the officials of Judah heard what was happening, they rushed
over from the palace and sat down at the New Gate of the Temple to hold
court. The priests and prophets presented their accusations to the officials
and the people. “This man should die!” they said. “You have heard with
your own ears what a traitor he is, for he has prophesied against this city.”
Then Jeremiah spoke to the officials and the people in his own defense.
“The Lord sent me to prophesy against this Temple and this city,” he
said. “The Lord gave me every word that I have spoken. But if you stop
your sinning and begin to obey the Lord your God, he will change his
mind about this disaster that he has announced against you. As for me, I
am in your hands—do with me as you think best. But if you kill me, rest
assured that you will be killing an innocent man! The responsibility for
such a deed will lie on you, on this city, and on every person living in it.
For it is absolutely true that the Lord sent me to speak every word you
have heard.”
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.”
Then some of the wise old men stood and spoke to all the people as
sembled there. They said, “Remember when Micah of Moresheth proph
esied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He told the people of
Judah,
‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field;
Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins!
A thicket will grow on the heights
where the Temple now stands.’
But did King Hezekiah and the people kill him for saying this? No, they
turned from their sins and worshiped the Lord. They begged him for
mercy. Then the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had
pronounced against them. So we are about to do ourselves great harm.”
At this time Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim was also proph
esying for the Lord. And he predicted the same terrible disaster against
the city and nation as Jeremiah did. When King Jehoiak im and the army
officers and officials heard what he was saying, the king sent someone
to kill him. But Uriah heard about the plan and escaped in fear to Egypt.
Then King Jehoiak im sent Elnathan son of Acbor to Egypt along with
several other men to capture Uriah. They took him prisoner and brought