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O surprise, Jeremiah preached a
message of repentance-or-judgment to the people of his locale, and they didn't
like it. I mean, they really didn't like it. Some of them threatened to kill
Jeremiah. A public argument ensued. There were those who didn't like the
substance of his message, and others who focused on the source of his message. If he was disloyal to the city in a time of an
invasion, then wasn't he worthy to die? Wait though, if God sent him with a
word of prophecy, then His authority gave him a license to speak the truth even
if it did weaken public moral. The debate waged on, stacked even with
illustrations from their history on both sides of the issue. All the while
Jeremiah continued with his same message, as his life hung in limbo.
The thing that is most
interesting in this scenario is the "if/then" offering of God.
Without alteration, adjustment or adulteration, Jeremiah spoke God's gracious
words to His people: "IF you will listen and submit, THEN God will change
His mind and His purpose of destruction against you" (see Jeremiah 26:3).
He continued, "IF you refuse to listen, THEN God will continue with His
plan of pain for you" (Jeremiah 26:4 & 6). He literally preached that
if they would repent, then God would repent; if they would turn from their
rebellion, then He would turn from executing justice on their heads.
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