Yokes All Around (4)

Pray Psalm 28.6, 7.
Blessed be the LORD,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.

Sing Psalm 28.6, 7.
(Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised)
Blessed be the Name of Jesus, for He will hear our prayer.
His strength protects and shields us with mercy and with care.
In You our heart rejoices; You help us by Your Word.
To You we raise our voices to praise and thank You, Lord.

Read and meditate on Jeremiah 27.12-22.

Prepare.
1. What was Jeremiah’s message to Zedekiah?

2. What did he say about the temple vessels?

Meditate.
What Jeremiah had preached to Jehoiakim and his court, he now preached to Zedekiah and his.

Remember, the city is surrounded by the Babylonian armies. Soon, food will run out. Then the walls will be breached, and the rulers of Babylon will enter the city. As long as Zedekiah and those with him continued to resist, they were only succeeding in guaranteeing their destruction.

Jeremiah counseled the king to get into the yoke of the king Babylon. If he would surrender and serve Nebuchadnezzar, he would spare the people of God much misery and save many lies (vv. 12, 13).

But Jeremiah was only one voice among many. Most of the prophets were saying that Jeremiah was wrong, Zedekiah would survive, and everything was going to work out just fine (vv. 14, 15). But God had not sent these prophets; and their preaching, which would prevail, would be the doom of Judah and Jerusalem.

Jeremiah next went to the priests, and called them not to listen to the false prophets (vv. 16-18), who had assured them the temple vessels already taken by Nebuchadnezzar would be shortly returned. That, too, would be shown to be a lie.

Alone as the voice of God, Jeremiah declares what will actually happen: judgment and destruction. But once again (v. 22), he held out a word of hope. Though God’s people were going into captivity, He would return them and the temple vessels to their rightful place in time.

We have been called to bear witness to the truth that is in Jesus. God does not guarantee either that many will hear and believe, or that we won’t know opposition of various kinds. Like Jeremiah, we have a calling. No matter what others do or think, we must be faithful.

Reflect.
1. How was Jeremiah able to persevere in his calling, when everyone else was denouncing and contradicting him?

2. What did Jesus mean when He said that we would be His witnesses (Acts 1.8)? What does that involve?

3. How can Christians encourage one another to remain faithful in our calling?

It is not to be wondered at that Jeremiah said the same things so often, for, as we have seen, he had to contend with false prophets. When any one speaks, and there be no dispute and no adversary opposing him, he may calmly deal with the teachable and confine himself to a few words; but when contention arises, and opponents appear, who may seek to subvert what we say, then we must exercise more care, for they who are thus driven different ways, will not be satisfied with a few words. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Jeremiah 27.17

You have called me to be a witness to You, Lord Jesus, so help me today as I…

Pray Psalm 28.1-5, 8, 9.
Get in the yoke with Jesus today. Learn of Him, and go forth with Him into your Personal Mission Field to sow good Kingdom seed for the Lord.

Sing Psalm 28.1-5, 8, 9.
Psalm 28.1-5, 8, 9 (Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised)
I cry to You, our Savior, O, be not deaf to me!
Lord, speak to me with favor, lest I should dying be.
Hear now my supplications when for Your help I cry.
Receive these, my oblations, before Your throne on high.

Lord, count me not among those who walk in sinful ways.
With words of peace their tongue glows while evil fills their days.
Your works they disregard, Lord, while evil fills their hands.
Destroy them by Your Word, Lord, and let them no more stand.

Our strength are You, O Savior, our strong defense and sure.
Anointed with Your favor, we rest in You secure.
Save us, and bless us, Jesus, upon us turn Your face.
With shepherd’s care, Lord, keep us forever in Your grace.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).