Jeremiah (1-31) 26:12 Commentary and Bible Study

Jeremiah's defence effectively made things worse for himself, but it had to be said. We see the boldness of the prophet: ‘Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard’, and he repeats his call to repent. Amends your ways and your doings and obey God, and the Lord will withdraw his judgment on you, he says. There is no compromise here; there is no question that what he has said to them is true, and they must accept it if there is to be any hope. When God puts his finger on our sin, there is nothing that we can do but to own up to it and turn from it and ask for pardon and humble ourselves. That inclination to resentment is the worst possible response. For their encouragement God tells them that even now he is willing to turn from the evil he has said he will do to them. They could have taken God at his word and acted on it, but they hardened their hearts, and they went on justifying themselves.But having made his defence and repeated his exhortation because he has genuine compassion towards them, Jeremiah puts himself in their hands: ‘As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.’ What great courage the prophets had! Jeremiah places himself in their hands, but he believes in a sovereign God who is over them also. He trusted the Lord to care for him, but he knew he was not exempt from suffering. His suffering would be an example of the perseverance that God requires in all his children. He is not going to modify his message to escape persecution. It doesn't matter what you do to me, he says. But then he adds, ‘Know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.’ Although he places himself in their hands, because he sees that it is God’s will that he goes through with this and faces their hostility, yet he does not go to pieces. He speaks with great courage and while admitting that they have power over him, he reminds them that they will be held accountable for what they do to him.