Jeremiah 26:17-24: a reflection

17Then certain of the elders of the land rose up, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18“Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies says: “‘Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.’ 19Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn’t he fear the LORD, and entreat the favor of the LORD, and the LORD relented of the disaster which he had pronounced against them? We would commit great evil against our own souls that way!” 20There was also a man who prophesied in the LORD’s name, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath Jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah. 21When Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt. 22Then Jehoiakim the king sent Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him into Egypt. 23They fetched Uriah out of Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. 24But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they didn’t give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

Jeremiah has been threatened with death for his unwelcome prophecy; but some of the elders rise up to defend him, recalling that the prophet Micah had prophesied similarly in Hezekiah's day and was not killed. And a man named Ahikam uses his influence to protect Jeremiah, so that he is not handed over to be killed. The passage also records a contrast: another prophet, Uriah, who prophesied similarly but fled in fear, was pursued and killed. Jeremiah was spared through the courage of a few who spoke up for him.

Notice the courage of those who defended Jeremiah when it was risky. The elders spoke up, citing precedent to argue for his life; and Ahikam used his influence to protect him. It would have been safer to stay silent, to let Jeremiah face the mob alone; but a few had the courage to stand with the truth-teller, to speak up for him, to use their influence to protect him. Their courage, in standing with the one who told the unwelcome truth, saved his life.

That courage, to stand with those who tell unwelcome truths, to speak up for them when it is risky, is worth imitating. When someone is threatened or maligned for telling an unwelcome truth, it is often safer to stay silent, to let them face the hostility alone. But a few stood with Jeremiah, spoke up for him, used their influence to protect him, and saved his life. When someone is threatened or maligned for standing for truth, do not stay silent out of fear; have the courage, like these elders and Ahikam, to stand with them, to speak up for them, to use what influence you have to protect them. It is often safer to stay silent; but the courage to stand with the truth-teller, as these did with Jeremiah, is worth the risk. Do not leave those who stand for truth to face hostility alone; stand with them, and use your voice and influence to defend them, as Jeremiah's defenders stood with him.

Lord, when Jeremiah was threatened with death for his unwelcome prophecy, some elders rose up to defend him, citing precedent, and Ahikam used his influence to protect him, so that he was spared; while another prophet, Uriah, who fled in fear, was killed. Let the courage of those who defended Jeremiah be something I imitate. It would have been safer to stay silent, to let Jeremiah face the mob alone; but a few had the courage to stand with the truth-teller, to speak up for him, to use their influence to protect him, and their courage saved his life. When someone is threatened or maligned for telling an unwelcome truth, it is often safer to stay silent, to let them face the hostility alone. But a few stood with Jeremiah. When someone is threatened or maligned for standing for truth, keep me from staying silent out of fear; give me the courage, like these elders and Ahikam, to stand with them, to speak up for them, to use what influence I have to protect them. Do not let me leave those who stand for truth to face hostility alone; help me stand with them, Lord, and use my voice and influence to defend them, as Jeremiah's defenders stood with him. Give me courage to stand with the truth-teller.