July 27, 2021
What does it say?
The priests and prophets called for Jeremiah to be sentenced to death. The officials and the people, however, refused to kill the one who spoke in the name of the Lord.
What does it mean?
Chapter 26 records the response to the Lord’s message given through Jeremiah (Chapters 7-10). The lackadaisical attitude toward sin stemmed from a disbelief that God would ever destroy His holy city or His house. But where God’s people worshiped was not as important to Him as the purity of their worship. Their religion had higher priority than their relationship with the Lord. Although they admitted that the message came from God and refused to kill His prophet, they stopped short of repentance. God had proven to be longsuffering (v. 5) and merciful (v. 19); He would also be just in judging their sin.
How should I respond?
America has long claimed to be a Christian nation, yet each generation turns further from God. National mottos like, “In God we trust” and “One nation, under God” come under attack again and again from our own citizenry. The Lord’s message is still the same: repentance brings mercy, but continued disobedience means judgment. How have you responded? Don’t mistake God’s longsuffering nature for His unwillingness or inability to righteously judge sin. He still sees through superficial worship. No religious practice can take the place of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.