Outward Victory Is No Sure Sign of Internal Purity

Every generation needs a Jeremiah. That is, every generation needs a man of God who will stand up and declare His Word in a way that challenges even the appearance of wise leadership. An intriguing example of that happens in Jeremiah 26.

Jeremiah 26:1–2 (ESV) In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: 2 “Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.

 

To understand this chapter, we have to know a few facts. Jehoiakim is the third-to-last king of Judah. In God's judgment, he will become a vassal to Babylon and die a violent death. At this time, he foolishly rebelled against Babylon and God sent raiding armies against him, undercutting his effort to free the nation from Babylon's stranglehold.

Now, you have the picture. Here is Jehoiakim, the king, appearing to the people to be a strong man. Here he is rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar. Here, he is standing his ground for the nation. But their immorality far outweighed any pretense of courage and strategic diplomacy. God knew the spiritual condition of Judah and judgment had been decreed. It wasn't really about Babylon. 

So Jeremiah speaks to the people during this show of "strength" by their king.

Jeremiah 26:4–6 (ESV) You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, 5 and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.’ ”

Shiloh was the first place the nation set up the tabernacle under the Judges. It came to a frightful end when Eli's sons were put to death by the Lord, and the Philistines stole the Ark. To be compared to this area would be like suggesting another tower will fall in New York City.

The response is what you'd expect. Pure rejection. 

Jeremiah 26:8 (ESV) And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! 

Later, in front of the officials of the nation, Jeremiah reiterates the word God gave him. 

Jeremiah 26:12–13 (ESV) Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13 Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you.

The truth is we have few men like Jeremiah—those who are willing to stand up in truth in an age when fervent nationalism seems to win the people's praise. It's clear that populism can also be a terrible spirit in the age, and strong leadership without a heart for God can often mislead a nation into thinking it is always in the right. This phenomenon can happen in a church or family when successful leadership seems to win temporary battles while ignoring the toxicity of unrepentant sin. 

To that end, God's Word challenges the self-justifying notion in all of us! Outward appearance is superfluous to a heart for God. 

I think the lesson of this chapter is simple. When God speaks, it may, in fact, challenge the very success you champion. The leaders of Judah were outraged that Jeremiah had the audacity to speak against their apparent victory. But Jeremiah was right. Their hearts were far from God. And when that's the case, it doesn't matter what it looks like on the outside.