ESOCS Devotional 23 February 2025 – Truth Sets Free
MEMORY VERSE: “Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; this man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 26:16 KJV
TEXT: JEREMIAH 26:15-24
But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
16 So the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve to die. For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
17 Then certain of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying: 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:
“Zion shall be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins,
And the mountain of the temple
Like the bare hills of the forest.” ’
19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah ever put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and seek the Lord’s favor? And the Lord relented concerning the doom which He had pronounced against them. But we are doing great evil against ourselves.”
20 Now there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath Jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah. 21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid and fled, and went to Egypt. 22 Then Jehoiakim the king sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor, and other men who went with him to Egypt. 23 And they brought Urijah from Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
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In contrast to the false prophets who sent themselves, Jeremiah proclaimed that what he condemned was not his opinion but the message of God. He said they could kill him, but that would not change the fulfilment of the proclamation that he had made against the city and Temple.
What was Jeremiah’s proclamation? – that the source of income of the clergy men (the priests and false prophets) would be destroyed because of their exploitation of the poor, injustice and their failure to keep the people close to God. So, they schemed as to how to murder him. However, some of the rural religious leaders stepped in to remind the people that what Jeremiah spoke was the same message as prophet Micah’s (Micah 3:12) . They said when Micah spoke against the city, Hezekiah and the people did not put him to death. They succeeded in convincing the politically minded religious leaders in Jerusalem that it would be a great evil putting Jeremiah to death.
Condemnation of evil practice and declaration of the truth, and godly witnesses saved Jeremiah (John 8:32). Do you see evil and conceal it to gain the favour of the political class and politically minded religious leaders? Do you stick to the profession of your faith? Are you afraid your local assembly church will ostracize you? Brethren, speak out and defend the faith for you shall know and speak the truth and it shall set you free. Be not afraid for He is with you always till the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).
CHALLENGES
- Fear of being isolated is holding back many from speaking the truth.
PRAYER POINT
- Dear Holy Spirit, give me boldness always to stand for, and speak the truth.
FURTHER READING: Micah 3; John 14:6; 17:17
ESOCS Devotional 23 February 2025
