Jeremiah 26:16-19 – Why we need to know God’s Word.

In Jeremiah 26:14-15, we saw how Jeremiah dared his captors to do whatever they intended to do since he was in their hands. With no fear, he told them to go ahead with what they intended but say to them “Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

Those officials who came from the king then intervened and prevented Jeremiah from being executed. Firmly, they told the priests and prophets that there should be no life sentence for him. They insisted that Jeremiah had spoken to them in the name of the Lord, their God. Some of the elders then cited an incident of how the Prophet Micah was spared in the time of King Hezekiah. He was almost put to death for prophesying something similar concerning Jerusalem (Micah 3:12). What Micah said then prevented the judgment of God from falling on Jerusalem because Hezekiah heeded the word. The reason for citing Micah’s incident was obvious. Like Hezekiah and the people who heeded Micah's word and repented so also must they heed Jeremiah's word and repent and turn to be saved.     

If anyone should know the Scriptures better, it would be those priests and the prophets who wanted to execute Jeremiah. They were the leaders entrusted to handle and teach the Word of God, yet they showed how unaccustomed they were to the Scriptures. They were workmen who did not their tools. What a shame! It was the king’s officials that help them to recall what they should have known. 

These verses underscore for us why it is important to know the Scriptures. It will help us to stay true to the Lord even when messengers of God stray from the word. Knowing the Scriptures can help us from errors propagated by those who claimed to champion it. Let’s be committed to knowing the Bible, which Paul insists in 2 Timothy 3:15 are “the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Why? ^“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).” The Word of God gives us the full counsel of God. Be well-versed with it!