Jer 26:13 | KingComments | STEP | Jeremiah defends himself against the charge of the priests and prophets, addressing all the officials and all the people ( ). He speaks without hesitation, boldly and earnestly, without asking for him to be merciful. He appeals to his calling by the LORD. His first defense is that he was sent by no one but the LORD. He has spoken His words. He is at peace with that himself and therefore he can continue to testify fearlessly. Undaunted, he repeats, the LORD will not let evil come if they listen to His voice ( ). They can still repent. As for himself, he knows that his life is in the hand of the LORD. Therefore, he can say that he is in their hand and that they may do with him according to what is right in their eyes ( ), for with the will of the LORD they do not reckon anyway. He does not try to evade their power or plead for his life. He boldly looks death in the eye. However, he does let them know that they shed innocent blood when they kill him and therefore bring that blood upon themselves, the city, and the inhabitants ( ). The same thing happened with the killing of the Lord Jesus ( ). Jeremiah continues to confess without fear that he has spoken the truth. The LORD sent him with the words he spoke. Killing him does not change that.

‏ Jeremiah 26:13

Defense of Jeremiah

Jeremiah defends himself against the charge of the priests and prophets, addressing all the officials and all the people (Jer 26:12). He speaks without hesitation, boldly and earnestly, without asking for him to be merciful. He appeals to his calling by the LORD. His first defense is that he was sent by no one but the LORD. He has spoken His words. He is at peace with that himself and therefore he can continue to testify fearlessly. Undaunted, he repeats, the LORD will not let evil come if they listen to His voice (Jer 26:13). They can still repent.

As for himself, he knows that his life is in the hand of the LORD. Therefore, he can say that he is in their hand and that they may do with him according to what is right in their eyes (Jer 26:14), for with the will of the LORD they do not reckon anyway. He does not try to evade their power or plead for his life. He boldly looks death in the eye.

However, he does let them know that they shed innocent blood when they kill him and therefore bring that blood upon themselves, the city, and the inhabitants (Jer 26:15). The same thing happened with the killing of the Lord Jesus (Mt 27:25). Jeremiah continues to confess without fear that he has spoken the truth. The LORD sent him with the words he spoke. Killing him does not change that.