Devotional by Ray Stedman for August 19- In His hands

Topic:In His hands

Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
Jeremiah 26:12-15

This is an official gathering, a trial being held. Jeremiah has been impeached by the people. And the religious authorities of the nation, the priests and the prophets, are behind this. They have laid a serious charge, a charge of treason, against the prophet. These people felt that because the temple was God’s house, God would defend that temple no matter what happened within it. They thought the temple was inviolate, and that the city was protected, because it was the city of God. They were saying, “It can’t happen here!” But Jeremiah said it would happen. So they laid against him a charge of blasphemy and treason against the temple of God and the city of God.

Notice in Jeremiah’s response that there is not the slightest deviation on his part. This would have been the time, if he were so inclined, to have said to these people, “Now just a minute. I want to make one thing perfectly clear! I have indeed prophesied, but I didn’t mean to have it taken as seriously as you are doing. I’m sure that if you’ll let me off, I can intercede before God for you, and perhaps he’ll change his mind.” But he does not say that. He does not alter his word one bit: “Amend your ways and your doings, and the Lord will repent of the evil which he has pronounced against you.”

Jeremiah does what the people of God have been exhorted to do all through the Scriptures at times like this: leave it in God’s hands. The battle is his. If you are charged unjustly with something you are not guilty of, do not try to defend yourself. The battle is God’s. Leave it to him. He will work it out. Put yourself in the hands of God, and he will see you through. This is what Peter says about the Lord Jesus: “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted in him who judges justly.” This is what Jeremiah does. So often we are so concerned about defending ourselves, vindicating ourselves. We are so concerned lest somebody think something wrong about us. It is perfectly all right to explain things as far as possible. But when it is evident that nobody is willing to listen, then just put it in God’s hands. He knows what he is doing.

Lord, give me the courage and the faith to put everything in your hands.

Life Application

When we respond to God’s call to be his witnesses, do we equivocate his Truth? When we anticipate the possibility of rejection and persecution, do we confidently place ourselves in God’s hands?