Jer 26:2-3 | KingComments | STEP | The temple speech in can be seen as a summary of the temple speech in Jeremiah 7. There, the content of Jeremiah’s message is at issue, whereas the main focus of this chapter is on the reaction of all the hearers, which is described next. The events in this chapter take place “in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim” ( ). Those in the previous chapter take place in the fourth year of Jehoiakim ( ). We go back in time. Jeremiah is to go to the temple and preach in the court to the people who come there to worship the LORD ( ). The court is a gathering place of people. There Jeremiah has a great audience. He must speak to them all the words that the LORD has commanded him to speak. He is not allowed to omit a word. The LORD says this because the message is hard and Jeremiah may be tempted to soften it by omitting something. Every servant of the Word has that tendency. It has also often happened that the message of God’s Word has been adapted to the natural man. That may not happen. We must proclaim the whole counsel of God and withhold nothing (cf. ). God's purpose with the preaching of Jeremiah is the conversion of His people ( ). “Perhaps” they will listen. The LORD presumes that they will listen anyway. If they listen and turn from their evil way, He will repent of the calamity He plans to do to them. We see here the purpose of God to punish evildoers. We also see here that He gives opportunity to escape that punishment. The condition is also clear: repentance. What God is going to do if they do not repent is presented just as clearly by Jeremiah. He is to tell them what will happen if they do not listen to the LORD ( ). To listen is not only to hear, but also to obey, which will be shown by walking according to the law of the LORD that He has set before them. The LORD has made an effort to hold the law before His people, for He has continually sent His servants, the prophets, to them ( ). However, He must conclude that they did not want to listen. If this remains the case, He will make the house where they came to worship ( ) – that is, the temple – as Shiloh ( ; ). Jerusalem, instead of being a blessing (cf. ), will become a curse to all the nations of the earth.

‏ Jeremiah 26:2-3

Introduction

The temple speech in Jer 26:1-6 can be seen as a summary of the temple speech in Jeremiah 7. There, the content of Jeremiah’s message is at issue, whereas the main focus of this chapter is on the reaction of all the hearers, which is described next.

The Temple Speech

The events in this chapter take place “in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim” (Jer 26:1). Those in the previous chapter take place in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jer 25:1). We go back in time. Jeremiah is to go to the temple and preach in the court to the people who come there to worship the LORD (Jer 26:2). The court is a gathering place of people. There Jeremiah has a great audience.

He must speak to them all the words that the LORD has commanded him to speak. He is not allowed to omit a word. The LORD says this because the message is hard and Jeremiah may be tempted to soften it by omitting something. Every servant of the Word has that tendency. It has also often happened that the message of God’s Word has been adapted to the natural man. That may not happen. We must proclaim the whole counsel of God and withhold nothing (cf. Acts 20:27).

God's purpose with the preaching of Jeremiah is the conversion of His people (Jer 26:3). “Perhaps” they will listen. The LORD presumes that they will listen anyway. If they listen and turn from their evil way, He will repent of the calamity He plans to do to them. We see here the purpose of God to punish evildoers. We also see here that He gives opportunity to escape that punishment. The condition is also clear: repentance.

What God is going to do if they do not repent is presented just as clearly by Jeremiah. He is to tell them what will happen if they do not listen to the LORD (Jer 26:4). To listen is not only to hear, but also to obey, which will be shown by walking according to the law of the LORD that He has set before them. The LORD has made an effort to hold the law before His people, for He has continually sent His servants, the prophets, to them (Jer 26:5). However, He must conclude that they did not want to listen.

If this remains the case, He will make the house where they came to worship (Jer 26:1) – that is, the temple – as Shiloh (Jer 26:6; Jer 7:14). Jerusalem, instead of being a blessing (cf. Gen 12:3), will become a curse to all the nations of the earth.