Jeremiah

Jeremiah 26: The LORD calls sinners to turn

Begin in prayer

Before we read how the people treated Jeremiah in the LORD’s house, let us come to the Lord together. Ask Him to open our hearts to His call to turn from sin, to meet with our family now, and to show us Christ, the innocent One.

Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.

Isaiah 1:16

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You call sinners to turn from evil and that You are ready to relent from judgment. Show us Christ, the innocent One who was put to death and raised again, and help us to turn from our sin and trust Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Jeremiah stands in the LORD’s house and speaks the whole message God gave him to Judah (verses 1 and 2). He tells them that if they listen and turn from evil, the LORD may relent from the harm He intends (verses 3 and 4). The priests, prophets and people seize Jeremiah and say he must die for speaking against the city (verses 7 to 11). Jeremiah says he is in their hands, but if they kill him, they will bring innocent blood on themselves (verses 12 to 15). The princes and elders decide Jeremiah is not worthy of death, and they recall that King Hezekiah sought the LORD’s favor (verses 16 to 19). Uriah, another prophet, is brought back from Egypt and killed, while Ahikam protects Jeremiah from the crowd (verses 20 to 24).

As you read Jeremiah 26, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD calls sinners to turn from evil, and He is ready to relent from judgment.

Jeremiah stood in the temple court in Jerusalem, where people from all the cities of Judah came to worship (verses 1 and 2). The LORD told Jeremiah not to leave out a word, since the people might still listen and turn (verses 2 and 3). To relent means to change a planned judgment, and the LORD says He will relent if the people turn (verses 3 and 13). The priests and prophets seized him and said he must die, because he spoke against the city (verses 8 and 11). Jeremiah answered that he was in their hands, and that the LORD had sent him to speak these words (verses 12 to 15). Some elders reminded the people that King Hezekiah feared the LORD, and the LORD relented from the disaster (verses 18 and 19). Uriah spoke the same message, but King Jehoiakim had him brought from Egypt and killed with the sword (verses 20 to 23). Jesus is the innocent One whom men killed, and God raised Him.

How does Jeremiah 26 show us that the LORD calls sinners to turn from evil, and is ready to relent from judgment?

The LORD warns sinners before judgment comes.

Jeremiah stood in the temple court and gave the whole message to all the cities of Judah (verses 1 and 2). He warned that the LORD’s house would be like Shiloh if the people did not listen (verses 4 to 6). Jesus is the Word of God who calls sinners to repent and believe, and His call is still for you today.

The LORD is ready to relent when people turn.

The LORD told the people to amend their ways, and He said He would relent from the disaster (verses 3 and 13). The elders remind the crowd that Hezekiah sought the LORD’s favor, and the LORD relented (verse 19). Jesus is the Mediator of God’s mercy.

Men may try to silence God’s messenger, but the LORD’s word stands.

The priests, prophets and crowd seized Jeremiah and said he deserved death (verses 8 and 11). Ahikam son of Shaphan protected Jeremiah, so the crowd could not put him to death (verse 24). Jesus is the faithful Messenger whom the Father sent, and His word stands forever.

Memorize

Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey Yahweh your God’s voice; and Yahweh will relent from the evil that he has pronounced against you.

Jeremiah 26:13

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I holding on to my sin when God calls me to turn to Jesus?

The people heard the LORD’s command, “amend your ways and your doings,” and they wanted Jeremiah dead. Jeremiah stood before them and said, “I am in your hand,” because the LORD had sent him.

Jesus was the innocent One, and men put Him to death. But God raised Him on the third day, and at the cross He took the punishment His people deserved, in their place. His work is finished, and it is enough for every sinner who turns to Him. Because of that cross, the LORD can show mercy to all who come to Christ.

So come to Jesus today, and do not harden your heart. Turn from your sin and trust Him. Every sinner who comes to Him will be forgiven, and the LORD will receive every sinner who comes to Him in faith.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD calls sinners to turn, and He is ready to show mercy. Parents, you may want to explain the death of Uriah and how the crowd treated Jeremiah in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He calls us to turn and is ready to relent, and bring the heart question to Him. Then let each child say a short prayer if they want to.

Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.

Psalms 103:8

Lord, thank You that You call sinners to turn, and that You are ready to forgive all who call on You. Forgive our hearts that hold on to sin. Thank You for Jesus, the innocent One, who was put to death and raised again for His people. Help each of us to turn from sin and trust Him this week. Amen.