Jeremiah 20
Jeremiah and Pashhur
1 Now Pashhur son of Immer, the priest in charge of the Temple of the Lord, heard what Jeremiah was prophesying. 2 So he arrested Jeremiah the prophet and had him whipped and put in stocks at the Benjamin Gate of the Lord’s Temple.
3 The next day, when Pashhur finally released him, Jeremiah said, “Pashhur, the Lord has changed your name. From now on you are to be called ‘The Man Who Lives in Terror.’[a] 4 For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will send terror upon you and all your friends, and you will watch as they are slaughtered by the swords of the enemy. I will hand the people of Judah over to the king of Babylon. He will take them captive to Babylon or run them through with the sword. 5 And I will let your enemies plunder Jerusalem. All the famed treasures of the city—the precious jewels and gold and silver of your kings—will be carried off to Babylon. 6 As for you, Pashhur, you and all your household will go as captives to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you prophesied that everything would be all right.’”
I always take great care to remember when reading the prophetic words spoken through the mouth of Jeremiah, that a prophet's life is not a glamorous one. Jeremiah, often referred to as the “weeping prophet”, because of the nature of his messages and the pain he endured, because of his willingness to speak them, has found himself in another predicament on behalf of the Word of God.
Pashhur, the priest over the temple, and truly one of the most prominent spiritual leaders of this time is unhappy with Jeremiah's words spoken in the chapters before. Pashhur is unhappy that Jeremiah is not only prophesying a bleak outlook for the nation of Israel, but in many ways as he shares the Word of the Lord, Jeremiah is also indicting Pashhur as a incompetent and maybe God-less leader. This could be taken as a public accusation toward Pashhur. Thus Pashhur feels compelled to not only whip Jeremiah and imprison him, but to do it at one of the most public frequented gates in the whole temple. Ensuring that just as the public heard Jeremiah's prophetic message, they would also see and witness his public punishment for speaking such defiant words against such “esteemed” public officials.
In many ways, Pashhur’s desire to be viewed as a competent, dignified spiritual leader has pushed him to be an adversary to the Word of God and ultimately God himself. Perhaps, we could say that Pashhur’s unwillingness to admit fault and humble himself has made him an enemy to God.
Of course, we would all gasp, ”how could he.” “Pashhur, what are you thinking, don’t do it?!”
Though, if I want to be honest, which I do, and I hope you do also. How many times in my life have I disregarded God’s Word to save my dignity publicly? Probably more than I would like to admit. How many times have I acted like everything was ok in my life when God’s Word clearly revealed it wasn't? Maybe you could relate? How many times have I refused to, publicly repent and take ownership of my shortcomings? How many times have I disregarded the Word of the Lord, to keep myself from being exposed or for fear of being undignified before others?
Every time I do this, just like Pashhur flogged Jeremiah publicly; it's like I am putting Jesus back upon the cross to be publicly crucified on my behalf again. This is not advisable, if we knowingly continue to disregard Jesus’s Word in order to save face or maintain our dignity, we are headed toward a path of destruction. (Hebrews 10:26).
If we do, just like Pashhur, our names will be changed. Pashhur, which means freedom was changed to the man surrounded by or who lives in terror.
In the same way, if we purposely disregard the Word of our Holy God, we are no longer free, we are in bondage to our sin, and the inheritance we once enjoyed through relationship with Jesus, is carried away by the enemy of our souls.
So I am challenging myself once again this week, to hear and respond to the Words of our Lord. To invite His spirit to search me and find in me any faults that need His correcting. I am challenging myself once again, to choose to continue to live in His freedom, by embracing His Word. Even the parts that may irritate me and cause sacrifice to my flesh. I am reminding myself to be sober minded to the reality that to live in freedom is a daily choice that I have to make.
Love,
Pastor John
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