Jeremiah’s Prophecies, vv. 1-6
A. The Moment
1. “the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim,” 609 BC
2. 4 years before the first Babylonian invasion
B. The Mandate from the LORD
1. The Demand–not a suggestion
a. “Stand and speak”
b. “Do not diminish a word!”
2. The Definition of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:3): “to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”
C. The Message from the LORD
1. God will deliver us if we repent of our evil, vv. 1-3.
2. God will destroy us if we refuse, vv. 4-6.
The city of Shiloh was the place conquered and destroyed by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4, Psa_78:56-64, c 1050 BC). The Philistines killed the priests and captured the ark of the covenant, and Israel felt as if God’s glory had departed. God promised to make Jerusalem and the temple like Shiloh if Judah continued to not listen to Him.
Jeremiah’s Enemies, vv. 7-11
A. Who they were: Judah’s wicked priests, prophets, and other influential people, vv. 7-10.
B. What they wanted: Jeremiah’s death, v. 11.
Jeremiah’s Witnesses, vv. 12-23
A. The Prophet Himself, vv. 12-15
B. The Politicals and other People, vv. 16
C. The Prudent People cited two legal precedents, vv. 17-23
1. Micah’s Case, vv. 17-19
a. Micah prophesied in Hezekiah’s day (100 years before Jeremiah’s day)
b. Micah warning of God’s judgment
c. the people repented from their sins, and “the Lord held back the terrible disaster He had pronounced against them.”
2. Urijah’s Case, vv. 20-23
a. Urijah prophesied at the beginning of Jehoiakim’s reign.
b. Urijah warned of God’s destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem.
c. Jehoiakim wanted to kill Urijah, so Urijah fled to Egypt.
d. Urijah was extradicted to Jerusalem and killed him.
Jeremiah’s Advocate, v. 24
A. Ahikam was sent by Josiah to the prophetess Huldah (2Ki_22:12 ff.; 2Ch_34:20), and was the father of Gedaliah, the governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar (2Ki_25:22; Jer_39:14).
B. Ahikam advocated for Jeremiah’s right to prophesy and to live.
Conclusion
A. Obeying God can be dangerous and often unpopular.
B. Obedience to God is a command, not an optional suggestion.
C. Being obedient to God makes us enemies to the world.
D. We have an advocate, Jesus Christ.
Jesus had no Ahikam to defend Him. Jesus is our Ahikam, defending us from every accusation of the evil one and delivering us from all condemnation.