Man of God! Speak every word!

Jeremiah 26: 2

The book of Jeremiah is far becoming one of the best books in the Old Testament that I have ever read. Do you want a surgical examination of the heart. Read Jeremiah. How about a good definition of Apostasy? Read Jeremiah. Oh, here’s one, God’s faithfulness in the midst of tumult and turmoil? Read Jeremiah.

And one of my favorites, how about…what does the Lord think when we are commisioned to speak His word? Does He care about the words that are coming out of our mouths (a little rush hr lingo)? Ask Jeremiah!

Thus says the Lord, “Stand in the court of the Lords house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the Lord’s house, all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not omit a word!” ~ Jeremiah 26: 2

Sometimes we can place ourselves in the shoes of Jeremiah and think that the Lord knowing that men are easily timid, easily hushed, and easily persuaded by the crowds to tone down the message of God. It might offend people are upset their own view of God. No one wants to step on those landmines. I for one have been in a position that I knew I should speak up and lovingly proclaim God’s message to them, and tragically I have scummed to the flesh, watering down God’s word to make it more palatable. Shame on me.

Jeremiah had a strict command concerning how he was to present God’s word to this rebellious nation. Speak all the words that I have commanded you to speak, and don’t omit, or take out, anything, not even one word! That I’m sure gave Jeremiah the right heart attitude going into the “lions den” so to speak. He was to go and give a very unpopular message to a very rebellious people. There were others claiming to speak on the Lords behalf. And their message was comforting and positive. These “prophets” were readily and with great enthusiasm, listen to and sought after. In the end, we see God’s judgement on them as they were burned alive and ran through with swords for speaking falsely on behalf of God.

• Why do we want to take care of the words that we speak when we speak from God’s word? Ultimately we give God glory in doing this.

We don’t change it, or water it down, so that it will be better received. We omit nothing. Verse 3 of Ch 26 says that after the giving of this word, maybe, quite possibly…

Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way…

Isn’t that one of the greatest motivations for keeping God’s word pure? That He would be glorified in the turning (repenting) of the sinner, to ask Him to have mercy on them and that they would seek Him with their own heart? This is why we speak, this is why we labor.