When the bridge is out

 Jeremiah 29:24-32

When the bridge is out, it is late into the night and one would hope someone, anyone would have placed a warning long before you get to the bridge.  God’s word is full of such warnings, but people have not changed, they are still doing what Shemaiah did in the time of Jeremiah.

Shemaiah must have been like many of us; he was upset with the direction or the plans God had for Judah.  He was not open to agreeing with God that Judah had broken the Covenant God had made with them.  He was not open to the fact that God had sent many prophets to address the sins of the nations, and they had killed some and ignored others as they had Jeremiah.  Shemaiah wanted life on his terms, so he appointed himself as God’s spokesperson.

Now if you think that's dumb, how many of you as teachers of God’s Word have put your own spin on the Scriptures?  How many of us have made statements about a Holy God that are our opinions but have no justification in Scripture?  It is our thought of what we desire, is that not putting yourself in place of God?  People do it all the time, they speak for God when God has not spoken, be very careful that bridge is out, and you must stop before receiving the judgment of your arrogance.

Shemaiah is proclaiming that Jeremiah is a madman and not only should they not listen to the message of building a house and raising families, marrying and giving in marriage, but put him into the stocks and neck-irons.  When a person, it matters not if it is your pastor or your priest proclaims; “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,” a wise person is going to listen, and an even more prudent person is going to check what is said by going to the Scripture.

Zephaniah, the priest, must have been a wise man in that he read the letter sent to him by Shemaiah to Jeremiah, and it seems God gave Jeremiah a reply very quickly.  This was it; “Thus says the Lord concerning Shemaiah of Nehelam: Because Shemaiah had prophesied to you when I did not send him, and has made you trust in a lie, therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants.  He shall not have anyone living among this people, and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people, declares the Lord, for he has spoken rebellion against the Lord.”

I’ve been told more than once this message; a word to the wise is sufficient.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice