WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19
Scripture: Jeremiah 20:1-6

The prophets were often given uncomfortable assignments that aroused enemies that wanted their destruction. Jeremiah was just such a prophet and he found himself with high-profile enemies. Jeremiah 20:1-6 describes just such a season where a man named Pashhur, the son of a priest who was chief governor in the house of the Lord, heard what Jeremiah prophesied. And Pashhur struck Jeremiah and put him in stocks. And Jeremiah then had to prophesy against Pashhur. He prophesied termination. Verses 4-6 state, “For thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall see it. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive to Babylon and slay them with the sword. Moreover I will deliver all the wealth of this city, all its produce, and all its precious things; all the treasures of the kings of Judah I will give into the hand of their enemies, who will plunder them, seize them, and carry them to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house, shall go into captivity. You shall go to Babylon, and there you shall die, and be buried there, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies.’” God’s Word is a challenge and when challenging circumstances arise, we have no choice but to speak the Word of the Lord. Jeremiah prophesied destruction and termination on Pashhur. And destruction and termination came on Pashhur and all his house. Jesus the Judge has not changed. He still operates in the New Testament book of Revelation just like He did in the Old Testament. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. But can we represent Jesus the Judge? Do we think in terms of bringing the judicial hand of God on those who are destroying the church? Jeremiah had to choose compromise or obedience. We have the same choice!