Revelations 11

Yesterday I put up two blogs, hopefully broadcasting the second one today.

But if you clicked on the link (reported by DW) you get the one I did not share, Revelations 10. She liked that one. It was shorter than Rev. 9. So read them both if you like. I am going to comment on Revelations 11 today. I tend to get distracted and post less as the week goes on. That's why I did two on Monday. So we will see how it goes.
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We have covered the seven seals. The seventh seal brings the seven trumpets. The trumpets herald an important event. That's what the blowing of the trumpet does right? If an important person is coming he organizes some trumpeters to blow a flourish.

In each case the seventh is much bigger than the previous six. There is a pause before the seventh seal. There is a pause before the seventh trumpet. Seven is a number signifying completion. There is something greater about the seventh sign, whether seal or trumpet. This may have meant something to the first readers. I do not know what it is though.

The number seven gets involved in the discussion about what city John is referring to. Quite a few cities in the ancient world were known for seven hills. Rome certainly is famous for seven hills. But Jerusalem too was known for many hills. I think Athens and Babylon too had famous hills.

The beginning of the chapter speaks of John measuring the temple. He was to measure the inner court for "the outer court is dedicated to the nations". So this seems like we are referring to Jerusalem. But most people that John had his Revelation after the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. But what if it was written before.

In 11:8 John mentions that the two prophets live in the great city which is named spiritually as Sodom and Egypt. I think this city is Jerusalem but many, if not most say it refers to Rome. The prophets prophesied for 3 1/2 years. The Left Behind series of books by Tim LaHaye places them in the temple district, in the inner court. The author get a lot of mileage out of the prophets. They never seem to eat. They never leave the temple. They are spiritual beings but they look like men. The two prophets are often thought to represent Moses and Elijah.

What did they prophesy? Did they speak against unholy living? Did they warn of impending judgment like the Jewish prophets of old? Did they speak of salvation, repent and come to faith in Jesus Christ? That would make them different, New Testament prophets.

The seventh trumpet seems to open the reign of Jesus. 11:18 reminds us of Psalm 2. "Why do the nations rage?" Psalm 2 is a royal psalm. It speaks of God appointing his Son to sit on the throne and reign. Sitting implies all the work is done. Either Jesus has already completed his work or God is going to do it for him.

In Psalm 2 the nations are admonished to be wise and worship the appointed king. We know Jesus has done the work and earned the right to be our king. He came to serve us and became our savior. He loves us. It is much easier to serve a master who loves us and always has our best in mind.

But even so we often think we know better than God. We chafe and rage against him. When we are tempted to get like that it is good to remember God loves us and knows what is best, despite the circumstances. God loves us but he also has given authority to his son Jesus. We worship Jesus the Son also because it is right. We are ordered to do it. Giving homage to rulers is foreign to Americans. Still in this it is "meet and right so to do".

Revelation 10

Chapter 10 gives us respite from judgment.

John sees a "strong angel". He sees one foot on the sea and another foot on dry land. I picture a man like creature very large, maybe 100 feet high. The angel must have been the size of the Colossus built out in the harbor of Rhodes on Crete.

The large angel has a little book. Then he cries out very loudly, louder than thunder. It seems he was reading the book. But John is told not to write what he hears..

It seems the angel speaks of Jesus. He seems to be foretelling that when the seventh seal is opened the kingdom, the mystery of God, will finally be revealed.

Trying to know what the mystery is seems hopeless. I do not think we can really know what the kingdom in completion will be like.

But the angel must be speaking of the second coming when Jesus comes back in glory to complete what he started. Let us prepare, be ready for that day. We do not know when it will come.

John is told to eat the book. It will be sweet to taste but will lay heavy on the stomach. Is that an image of salvation? It is so exciting at first but then one finds there are repercussions. One finds your excitement is not shared by others. Sometimes people even get mad at you for sharing your new faith. As you change you behavior people might make fun of you.

In the first flush of excitement we think everyone will be just as excited as we are. We think all will be happy for us. But not all are. And we face disillusion.

Revelation 9

Chapter 9 tells of the judgment done on earth. But people still did not repent. The things described here as judgments sound a lot like the disasters in the news. There are wars and famines and tornadoes and flooding all over the United States. They also happen all over the world but we do not hear as much about them. But people do not cry to God and repent.

That expression "natural disasters" is instructive. Today things like that are never attributed to God at all. They are "natural". That means there is no intent. They just happen randomly.

People in Jesus' time certainly did not feel that way about cataclysmic events. To people back then the power of nature had an evil spiritual dimension. Now today we would consider that type of view superstitious.

I recently read a Greek novel of the first century called Callirhoe by Chariton. It has all the aspects of a modern romance. But the author also includes the gods in the business. To a Greek mind men did not do things unless the gods motivated them. And the author goes to great pains to explain why the gods caused things to happen. Greek myths and stories included the Greek gods as players behind human motivation. Cataclysmic events had a reason. The gods were mad at someone or some group. Someone was too proud or had too many good things happen to them. Or the gods might test a person.

Are we totally wrong to not believe such stuff? We do not believe in Greek gods. But are we superstitious to believe God might have intent for the disasters that happen in out time?

I too have trouble linking our present sinfulness with drought in the south, storms in the Midwest and flooding in North Dakota. But here in chapter 9 John tells us in the end times events just like these are signs of God's judgment. The correct response is to be repentance and a cry for mercy.

God tries in many ways to reach people. He knows we need him. He knows his plan of salvation involves believing in Jesus Christ. God wants us to face the fact of our mortality. So many people refuse to face the fact that their lives will end. We need to be confronted with the implications. What happens after death?

Billy Graham used to use the expression "getting right with God". Sometimes this seems selfish, doesn't it? But we should not put it off. We still understand God to be loving compassionate. But often people want to presume on God's patience.

People need to decide. There is only a limited amount of time. God wants us to make a decision. Are we for God? Then we should live righteously. Or are we against God and want to live a life leading to death? Righteousness leads to eternal life. Sin leads to death (Romans 12).

Some people want to ignore the message. They want to put it off. But we will all die. And some of us will die suddenly unexpectedly. It's not like we were not warned. We hear about sudden tragic death all the time.

Beloveds. Let us take God seriously and live a life that leads to life in him.

Revelation 9

I agree with the commentator that this images are more from the realm of terrible dreams than from an actual prediction of what will happen in the future.

We have described in Revelations 9 the fifth and sixth woes. The fifth is a locust invasion. But these locusts and like scorpions and seem to be as big as men. Or is that just my imagination. They torment people but do not kill them.

Could this describe a terrible tragedy in our lives? Like a divorce, a child with birth defects, prolonged loss of employment? These kinds of things are woes that make life hard to live. There is constant emotional pain. John says despite these woes people refuse to turn to God but continue to sin. Verse 21 lists murders, sorcery, immorality or thefts. Do tragedies bring us closer to God or drive us further as we blame God for our plight? God wants us to come to him for comfort and ask him for aid. He wants to help. But so often we want to keep our sins and therefore keep separated from a holy God.

Verse 20 John says people continue to worship idols of gold silver brass iron and wood. I can think each of those materials as describing things we worship now. Perhaps for you they bring up different things. Gold and silver could symbolize worship of money. Wood could symbolize worship of houses, bigger and better, never satisfied. Iron and brass could symbolize worship of automobiles. None of these is evil in themselves, but if we put them before God they are for us.

John comments none of these things can see nor hear nor walk. They cannot speak or act on our behalf. Neither can money or houses or cars. By themselves they cannot make us happy or keep us secure.

I think John's conclusion in verses 20-21 show these woes are to bring us to repentance. The fact that it doesn't means the woes will continue. Let us be wise and repent early. Let us seek God help and comfort. Let us remember, no matter how awful things are, God is a good God, full of compassion and love.

Revelation 6

Here in chapter six we reveal six out of the seven seals opened by Jesus Christ, the victorious savior.

No one is worthy but him to open the seals. The first four are the four horsemen on different colored horses who go to the four winds to administer judgment. After the fifth the martyrs are given white robes and told to wait until the rest of the those killed for the faith join them. They are promised that they will have judgment.

When the sixth seal is opened the whole earth will shake and all will cower in fear from the poorest to the greatest. They (we?) will be so scared they will wish they were dead!

So judgment will come. God is great and he will show his greatness more openly. To those with faith we already see his greatness and his righteousness. We also see his loving mercy. But this section isn't emphasizing that so much.

But it is important that we share with people and tell them acknowledging God as savior and God is serious. So many people think they can acknowledge God and somehow ignore Jesus. They cannot. We must not gloss over that. It is watering down the truth.

Revelations 4

Why does John used jewels to describe what he say in the heavenly throne room? John must have had a tough time putting what he saw into words.

God is in the center of the scene. He is the only ruler deserving of honor, praise, and glory. All politicians make promises that they either cannot fulfill or do not intend to fulfill. But God has done much and he will do all that he promises. We can trust in his word despite what circumstances often look like.

God is freely and happily given praise by all those present. Let us do the same, freely and joyfully!

Lord, we know that you are bigger that our problems. And you will safely guide us to your home where we may praise you like the seraphim. Lord grant us faith!

Revelations - God's judgment on Israel

I am very much influenced by the idea that Revelations is simply a prediction of the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. That means that Revelation was written earlier than most think, perhaps even before the gospel of John.

Internal evidence for this can be found early in the book. First in 2:9 the Jewish synagogue in Smyrna is called the Satan's synagogue. The temple to the emperor in Pergamum is called Satan's throne in 2:13.

Later in this book Jesus is talking about the Great Satan doing things on a cosmic scale. Perhaps he is referring to the Jewish nation that as a whole has rejected him as Messiah. Jesus said several times in different ways, "If you do not know me then you do not know my Father." In rejecting Jesus they rejected God. This is serious. By allowing the temple to be destroyed God showed that he had rejected them.

Calling the temple at Pergamum Satan's temple does not easily fit into this theory. But if you look at O.T. prophesies, the nation used to punish Israel for their sins was also later punished. So Rome, who will be the destroyer, also is evil. Their motivation for punishing Israel was revenge. That is never a good motivation. Their actions showed a cold hearted maliciousness. They went too far.

This view of Revelation underscores the seriousness of the Jews' rejection of Jesus as savior and as their messiah. Whether they liked it or not he was the chosen one of God. Even after they killed him they had plenty of time to repent and believe because of the miraculous resurrection. Peter's sermon at Pentecost showed that God still kept open a pathway to repentance and salvation.

Many people believed after Pentecost and the miraculous speaking in tongues. My guess is that quite a few of those who initially accepted the good news with joy were persecuted back into Judaism by the religious leaders who would stop at nothing to quash this new sect.

God wanted them to know, approximately 40 years later, that what they did was serious. They rejected their God and in turn God rejected them.

Yet some individuals did accept Jesus and they were in turn accepted by God as Sons of God, part of the new Israel.

Revelations 3:7-13

We never hear about the church of Philadelphia. Why? Because God has only good to say about them. That is sad really. We should affirm the good. We tend to pay more attention to the negative, don't we?

But if we look beneath the praise we those in Philadelphia have had a hard time. They need encouragement. They have little power (8). I think this means that people have marginalized them because of their faith. They are not able to hold public office. Perhaps they are having trouble finding jobs or running businesses too. They are being persecuted by Jews (9) and gentiles.

But they have persevered and not denied Jesus name (8). This is so full of meaning. How many of us would minimize our faith in Jesus if pressure were put on us? We compartmentalize. We act holy on Sunday but try to blend in an unholy society the rest of the week. How many of the people we work and associate with during the week know we love Jesus?

This mini sermon is full of encouragement. Let us never cease to discourage those around us who need it. And in this world most every needs it. The world is so full of discouragement. Encouragement is from God. We never know what influence it has when we encourage someone. Honest encouragement is powerful. We have to consciously look for real things to say that are encouraging. A general statement is not as powerful and may be seen as condescending. We should look to do it.

Last night DW and I blew an opportunity. I take all the blame for missing it. We were shopping for one item after Life Group. We bought a handset cable for our phone. The line has been shorting for a long time. all those who call DW will not get a clear line. It is working wonders.

It took three stores and discouragement from several clerks, who also gave us good advise on where to try next. We finally found one in a Fiesta. The clerk there doubted they had it but pointed us to the right place to look.

But here is how I blew it. When we were in the check out line, I with my one item, the clerk starting checking the stuff from the man behind me with three items. The first two had been added. It would have been a great time to pay for the man's few things as a gift. But he cried out and the checker quickly took these other things off. I did not think of it. DW thought of it as we were leaving and encouraged me to go back and offer. But I felt we had missed our moment.

The idea of paying for some other guy's stuff is embarrassing. I have not done it yet. It could be encouraging to someone. It is a practical way to encourage someone. That's what I need to do, have a speech prepared for how to introduce the idea without is seeming to be condescending. "I want to do this for you as a token of God's love for you." That is certainly a reason why I did not go back. I had no idea how to do it without it being very awkward. So after working through this on paper I will be better prepared next time.

As I think this over, a less threatening way to do this would be when I am in the drive thru line of a fast food restaurant. If the guy behind me has already ordered I can offer to pay for his food too. They already know the amount. If they will do it it would be easy. And they would not know about it until I left. Of course they might just charge both of us. Oh well.

Isaiah 44:1-5

Part of this (verse 3) I want to pray for our land right now. The parched south. We are in serious drought. "For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground." Lord God let it not be a torrential storm, like a hurricane. But bring us the rain the crops need, our gardens and lawns need. Amen.

For Israel, the rains meant life. Drought meant ruin and starvation. We may not starve because of drought but there are places in the world where people do. So let us remember those in other places where there is drought. Please supply for these people in their need. And bring life giving rain.

In Isaiah God uses the image of rain pouring to illustrate the pouring of the Spirit on your offspring. God will pour out blessings on us with children who will grow up strong in stature and in knowledge of God.

"They will give glory to God, call on God's name." They will tattoo "belonging to the Lord" on their hand. Archaeologists have found "belonging to the king" on jars. They think that these jars were placed in the city and used for people to pay their taxes in grain and wine and olive oil. A slave might be branded in a similar way. So this would be a familiar analogy to Isaiah's readers.

Lord we pray for rain for our land. And we pray for our children that they will come to know you and love you. Pour out your Holy Spirit on them, get them wet.

Sundays

Sundays are usually challenging. Maybe scary.

I gave a message at Brighton this morning. It was probably amateur. But it was ok. I ran out of stuff and had to repeat myself. But repetition is ok. I spoke on abiding in God. So today I've been thinking about whether I am following my own advice. So I did listen to some Christian radio and read something fairly devotional in manner.

I spoke of this being Pentecost day. I got a lot of blank stares. Heh. Oh well.

My song leader left right after his part. I think he must have also been helping at church. So I really was leading without a net. I just felt it wrong to have a message then just pray and leave. I feel comfortable with a final closing hymn. So we sang "What a friend we have in Jesus" before my message. Then after my message we sang "Amazing Grace". I felt good about praying a blessing and saying have a great day after that.

MP did a great sermon. He challenged us to prayer for people and command that God do the thing wished for. That sort of jives with what I mentioned peripherally this morning. Jesus said, "If you abide in me, ask anything you wish and it will be done for you." So if we are abiding God will answer or prayer. We do have the right to command. Jesus promised this to us.

Tonight I sang and read the lectionary. I think I got a great gig, reading the Pentecost description from Acts 2. It went well. I had a great passage to do. I was excited. We sang a lot of songs about the Holy Spirit including "The Wind is Blowing Again". Certainly a favorite. I am pumped.

weird feeling

I think I can say, perhaps for the first time that I have been punished for trying to do the right thing. Who was it Peter (?) who said rejoice before God when that happens to you. I can see why Peter said that. When you receive a negative reaction your first thought is “what did I do wrong?” “Could I have done something different, something better?” So Peter counsels us to think positively, be cheerful, rejoice. But especially rejoice before God. God is good. Remember Jesus too was perfect and yet he was given an extremely negative reaction. He was crucified. So doing right can get us into trouble sometimes.

Most of the time when I get criticized I deserve it. Perhaps I do this time too. But God will have to judge.

Revelation 2

God is wholly to be trusted. That is my watch phrase of the day.

For the prophesy over the Ephesian church (2:1-7) the commentator suggests that Jesus is addressing the dichotomy of love versus law. The Ephesians seem to have gotten the rules right. They can discern true teaching from false (a major accomplishment). They hate the Nicolaitans, a seemingly false sect of Christianity.

No one has ever found records of what this group taught. It must not have existed for long. Perhaps it melded into some other heresy. I'd love to think that they repented and came back to the church.

But it seems the Ephesians have ceased to do deeds of love. Why? Have they gotten legalistic in some way? As the commentator notes, this law versus love conflict is a false dichotomy. One can still be discerning and love at the same time. God calls us to love everyone, sinners though we all are.

The commentator suggests they have gotten prideful, like Ephesians in general, who like to thing they are a part of the best city in the region, if not the world. I think of New Yorkers like that. But Houstonians can be pretty proud too, often comparing ourselves favorably to Dallas and San Antonio. Did the church members start to think they were better than others?

If we follow the commentator's logic then Jesus is saying they have stopped doing deeds of love and compassion for non-Christian folks. They took themselves to be better than others and felt it beneath them to love in the name of Jesus.

This seems to be similar to the Pharisees that Jesus criticized so much. The Pharisees did give alms and do charity. But they only did it to get attention. They only did it for themselves. Love never entered into it. They were never concerned about individual people. These sinners were beneath them and must not be associated with.

Jesus went to visit the lowly and outcast in the name of God. Because God loved them he loved them too. Let us remember to be like that in our daily lives.

Sports Night on Netflix

Meanwhile Netflix has brought "Sports Night" the TV show to direct feed. I have gotten to about show 15. Eventually I will finish the series.

Sports Night was produced for 1998-2000. So it lasted two seasons, 45 (?) episodes. This was done by Aaron Sorkin.

I remember vaguely watching a few shows when it first came on. Rewatching now, I am reminded so much of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip".

I had to look it up to realize Studio 60 was also produced by Aaron Sorkin. The similarities are so obvious. Even the theme music is pretty much the same. Same two men bonding. Same women stuff, even the tall imposing woman as a guest star.

Now I see why Felicity Huffman got such glowing lines when she was used as a celebrity host on Studio 60. I never noticed her in Sports Night. She had not yet gone on to stardom in Desperate Housewives. The guys get most of the camera time.

The differences are stark too. SN is a 30 minute comedy with a minimal laugh track. S60 is an hour long drama.

But both shows, despite using lots of technical jargon about showbiz, are not much about the actual show product. They are about soap opera like relationships between the people producing the show.

Even the dialogue is similar.

I still do not like the characters as much on Sports Night as I do on Studio 60. The two main male characters on Sports Night are unlikable smarmy guys. And they look too much alike. The guys on Studio 60 are much more likable. They use much the same lines, its the delivery I guess.

The women on SN are not as much fun either. Felicity Huffman, despite "obvious talent", is not particularly likable either. Robert Guillaume is probably the most fun character on Sports Night.

Revelation 1

This is just one revelation, not plural. The Bible reading guide I take has decided enough of Jeremiah for now. On to Revelation. Is there a continuity here?
There doesn't have to be.

Jesus calls himself, the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. Jesus has come, he was at the beginning. He is coming again in the clouds for his saints. That is us folks.

Jesus was, is, and is to come. This threefold description follows through the book. Because Jesus was and did what he did allows his to come again. God has glorified him and will glorify him again. As John says, "Amen!".

Jesus is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead. There are so many new names here applied to Jesus.

This book was written to a beleaguered bunch. Things did not look good as they were being severely persecuted. This book was written to encourage. "Look up, you savior is coming in the clouds!" Today so many Christians are being persecuted. Often we think this book is hard, confusing. It is not so for them. This book is comforting, exciting, encouraging. That is how John meant it to be. His vision was from Jesus who was encouraging his church.

1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, [2]who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. [3]Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. [4] John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, [5]and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood-- [6]and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. [7]BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. [8]"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Jeremiah 29

This is a highlight chapter. I could go on and on. So I am leaving some things out.

The best thing my father taught me as a boy growing up and the second best thing I have taught my children is to "bloom where you are planted". Right now, for example, one daughter is learning to be a farmer. She is striving to learn so that she can be the best farmer she can be. Another daughter is a cafeteria lady. While they might not seem like much she is striving to be the best she can be. She is a leader and a valued assistant to her boss. She could easily be a crew leader.

This is what Jeremiah tells the exiles (v.5) "build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their produce (v.6) take wives and become the father of sons and daughters". Jeremiah probably does not think it his place to instruct women.

False prophets are telling them there what they want to hear. They will be redeemed immediately and come back to the promised land, God's land, home, the land of their fathers. They do not want to ever feel at home in Babylon. The exiles feel uprooted, strangers in a strange land. They do not want to learn a new language and learn new customs.

Jeremiah is telling them they can have it both ways. They can be God's people outside of God's land. God is still God wherever they are. God has repeatedly told them he is much bigger than they imagine. Through the psalms and the prophets he has told them he is Lord of the universe. He does not dwell in a temple made of human hands.

They are familiar with the god's around them that are thought to only have authority in one particular place. They have to be told over and over that God is everywhere. We too need to be told how big God is. And yet he still surprises us.

God is telling them (and us) two things in this chapter. First be fruitful and pray for the welfare of your city (v.7). Pray for peace in your city and by extension your country. And the peace you pray for others will be your peace too. We are to be generous in our minds, not begrudging others good things. It is a nice thing to pray for the general good, for the just and the unjust as it were. And this good will fall back on us too.

Right now we thank God for this rain I can hear falling outside. It is a blessing for all of us in Houston.

Secondly remember that you are sort of like exiles. Your true home is in heaven. Don't live as those in this sinful dominate culture do. It has always been thus. Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me in this adulterous generation then I will be ashamed of you when I come back for you again." (strongly paraphrased) There are lots of things to be ashamed about in our dominate culture. Let us instead identify with Jesus, as Christians, and live as he said for us to. We are to first identity ourselves as Christians, not as an American, or whatever our culture of birth.

Be fair in your business dealings and do not sleep around. We see many in our culture who do try to cheat and cut corners in business and many who think nothing of sleeping around. Let us not live like that. And God will bless you in this world and the next.

Jeremiah 28

In this chapter we see how Jeremiah confronts a false prophet named Hananiah.

Jeremiah does not get emotional. He does not even seem angry.

Jeremiah is cautious at first you could say. They meet at the temple. Hananiah predicts that Nebuchadnezzar will be overthrown within two years and all the temple instruments, valuable and precious, dedicated to God will be returned. Also the king and the nobles will return as well. This would be good news but it is false.

Even though this is totally contrary to what Jeremiah is prophesying Jeremiah does not directly rebuke him or contradict him.

Jeremiah is creative in his way of contradicting him. He says he wishes this were true. Only later, when God directly tells Jeremiah to denounce him does he do it. Jeremiah does not speak unless he first hears. We might get defensive and angry but Jeremiah is humble enough to wait. He knows God is in control and he does not need him defending him.

Jeremiah originally heard Hananiah in public. He may be denouncing him in private. It is not really stated.

But his prophesy is a lie and dangerous. It encourages the people to rebel which would then cause their destruction and the destruction of the city. Therefore God condemns Hananiah as a false prophet.

God tells Jeremiah to pronounce sentence of Hananiah. He will die within the year. And it happens. That is how the chapter ends.

Jeremiah 27

God has Jeremiah wear a yoke around his neck to symbolize the servanthood of the surrounding nations to the king of Babylon. Chapter 27 is ten years later than chapter 26. We only know that because he tells us who is king at the beginning of each chapter. This is closer to history now, from the prophet's point of view.

They have already been beaten once and the king and the leaders deported. The puppet king is considering rebellion. Jeremiah prophesies ruin and destruction if they do rebel. We know they will not listen. There are false prophets giving false comfort and saying the golden temple instruments take by Nebuchadnezzar will be brought back. Seeing the temple violated like that really upset people. All this glory was a symbol of God's power and control. On the other hand Jeremiah says it was not that God was weak. No it was God's judgment of his people that caused all this to happen. God is still in control.

Jeremiah tells them that if they take the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar they will stay in the land. But if they rebel they will die by sword, famine, and pestilence (v.13).

The false prophets greatly outnumber Jeremiah. We must remember that just because a lot of people are saying something doesn't make it right. God uses a still small voice. But his voice is truth and wisdom. We must seek to hear it over the noise.

Their specific instructions are to submit to the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar (v.12). Verse 7 tells us his reign will not be forever but it will be for three generations.

Jeremiah tells us the wild animal serve him (Nebuchadnezzar). What does that mean that the wild animals serve him? Does he somehow use them for war? Or do the numbers of lions and tigers and snakes get larger and become a serious threat to people's lives? Or is it something else? I just find details such as this fascinating. It seems they are a part of God's judgment on the Israelites.

Jeremiah 26

Earlier on in this book we read mostly Jeremiah's prophesies, without much comment on the reaction of people. Jeremiah, like all the prophets were inspired by unique symbols and word pictures that help bring the message home.

God is an emotional God. These images help us to feel God's emotion. He is angry. He is hurt. He is devastated that he must pronounce sentence on his people.

But now in later chapters we do see how the people and the leaders react to Jeremiah's prophecies of doom.

In chapter 26 Jeremiah is sentenced to death by the priests and sort of put on trial. Perhaps he is put on trial because the king gets wind of what is happening and sends officials to intervene. The king's officials give him an acquittal.

But there must be more to it. Or the events are not related in order. In a chaotic situation like this it may be impossible to relate things in an easy order.

Anyway Jeremiah speaks on his own behalf. He doesn't back down but acknowledges they could kill him but if they do they are shedding innocent blood since what he says is true. Then some other people speak. They tell of previous trials against prophets. I guess this is part of the trial too somehow. One of the prophets mentioned is never mentioned anywhere else. He was killed by a trial of similar kind.

The final verse of chapter 26 says that Jeremiah is acquitted. Credit is given to Ahikam for saving him. Was he the judge? Maybe he is the lead official sent by the king to preside over the debate so that is was an informal trial. Obviously Ahikam has the authority to quell what seemed at first like a mob. Jeremiah hung in their bravely through all this.

By prophesying in the temple he placed himself in harm's way. There was no escape if the people wanted to stone him. The people did not deny his prophesy it seems. They just did not want to hear it. They wanted to "kill the messenger".

Let us not follow that example.