What's Your Decision?

Read 2 Chronicles 35:20-25, Jeremiah 22:10-17, Jeremiah 26
 
Jeremiah 26:18-19 They said, “Remember when Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He told the people of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins! A thicket will grow on the heights where the Temple now stands.’ 19 But did King Hezekiah and the people kill him for saying this? No, they turned from their sins and worshiped the LORD. They begged him for mercy. Then the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had pronounced against them. So we are about to do ourselves great harm.”
 
JEREMIAH’S life was on the line. The LORD God had given Jeremiah a specific message to deliver to Jerusalem: Jeremiah 26:2 “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard in front of the Temple of the LORD, and make an announcement to the people who have come there to worship from all over Judah. Give them my entire message; include every word.” I AM speaks a command to tell his every word. This sounds empowering, doesn’t it?
   But the history of Israel and now the church has revealed there are many people who object to hearing every word God speaks. Jesus certainly experienced the Jews’ selective hearing. And many people for 2000 years since the church began have objected to the complete counsel of God recorded in his Scripture and preached from his pulpit. The true prophet and preacher have often been at risk.
   Jeremiah, then, spoke the unpopular message of Judah’s impending destruction. He faced a jealous priesthood and false prophets who demanded his death! But then ruling elders remembered Micah’s prophecy to Judah during Hezekiah’s rule: Micah 3:12 Because of you, Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins! A thicket will grow on the heights where the Temple now stands. Then they remembered how Hezekiah led Judah to turn from their sins and worshiped the LORD. And they faithfully remembered how God relented. This is one of those moments when some in Judah displayed a living faith in God’s Word because they remembered! They knew who God is and what God had done. They also believed what God would do if Judah did not repent.
   We are blessed today to have the full counsel of God, the Holy Bible, available to consult each day. The Spirit uses this to teach us if we are paying attention.