Jeremiah (1-31) 26:1 Commentary and Bible Study

The beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim was in 609 BC. The order is not chronological in Jeremiah, the date here sets this utterance in chapter 26, three years before the last, so this prophecy is about nineteen years after he was first commissioned to prophesy.‘Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word.’ So he is commissioned to stand in God's house, and to speak to all who come to worship. This is a word for a divine sermon. Jeremiah is not to take away anything from what God has told him to say. It is the Lord’s message to the people and he must deliver it however hard hitting it is. Did this message make Jeremiah feel uncomfortable? Was that why he was told this, because God knew he would find this difficult. Maybe, but that did not prevent Jeremiah from carrying out God’s instruction. He knew also that God’s choice of what to say to them was perfect. This was what they needed to hear, and it was not oversevere, but was right according to God’s perfect knowledge of their hearts and the effect it would have on them. ‘If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.’ Yes, but God knows that will not happen. So even three years before the first attack of the Chaldeans Jeremiah was particularly told to preach the possibility of the nation turning from its sin.