Hardship Makes Strong Friendship

Just when you think it's all over for Jeremiah, as the nation comes against him en masse, as the officials and priests want him to die, some really great things happen on his behalf. Some leaders come to his defense. 

Jeremiah 26:16 (ESV) Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”

Just a few verses earlier the priests and "prophets" were calling for his execution. But verse 16 teaches us that there is always someone who will hear the Word even when we do not see it. 

Not only do these officials hear the Word of the Lord, they know the history of the Word of the Lord. This is not the first time God prophesied disaster for the nation. 

Jeremiah 26:17–19 (ESV) And certain of the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the assembled people, saying, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “ ‘Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.’ 19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves.”

The Micah they refer to here is the one who authored the Biblical book. He proclaimed God's Word in boldness, and Hezekiah heard, listened, and obeyed, and the nation was delivered from Assyria. 

In spite of the clear warnings of history, the officials were bent on disobedience. Notice what Jeremiah recounts what happened next. 

Jeremiah 26:20–23 (ESV) There was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah. 21 And when King Jehoiakim, with all his warriors and all the officials, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt. 22 Then King Jehoiakim sent to Egypt certain men, Elnathan the son of Achbor and others with him, 23 and they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and dumped his dead body into the burial place of the common people.

One of Jeremiah's contemporaries, Uriah, prophesied and fled, was extradited back to Judah and executed. 

This is the atmosphere of Jeremiah's prophecy. Contemporary martyrs were given over to the sword for their steadfast proclamation of God's Word. What would happen to Jeremiah? Would he face the same fate?

Jeremiah 26:24 (ESV) But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.

God provided protection for Jeremiah. Ahikam was an officer under the last godly king of Judah, Josiah. Along with Jeremiah, he remained true to God in the midst of national apostasy. 

Here's the thing about those who stay strong with God in the midst of cultural rot: They look out for each other. They have each other's backs. In some ways, the deterioration of a nation is the best way for God's people to see this happen and know they are never alone. The shared hostility brings an intimate community that few things can match. The same can be said of those who have faced the same cancer, life-threatening disease, or experience. Hardship makes for strong friendship. Jeremiah may have been frustrated in his ministry, but he enjoyed the sweet fellowship of intimate partnership with those of like mind. 

Stand strong for the Lord. You'll find others who will stand beside you.