Chapter 26
Summary of the temple sermon (26:1-6)
Jeremiah is commanded to stand in the court of the temple and warn the people that if they refuse to listen to God, walk in his law, and heed his servants the prophets, then he will destroy the temple as he had previously done to Shiloh, and make Jerusalem a curse.
Jeremiah’s trial for treason (26:7-24)
The response to the prophet’s sermon was dramatic. Immediately priests, prophets, and people seized Jeremiah and intended to put him to death (v. 8). Jeremiah defends himself in such convincing fashion that the princes and the people counsel his acquittal. The prophet Micah, about a century earlier, had prophesied essentially the same thing that Jeremiah had said (Micah 3:12). King Hezekiah and the people had heeded his word, and Jerusalem had been spared. Jeremiah's testimony was sufficient enough to deliver him from immediate danger.
Chapter 27
The yoke of Babylon (27:1-28:17)
Chapters 27-28 are closely related, concerned with the same historical situation, and the same symbol – a yoke. Both chapters are related to chapter 26 as they reflect the increasing antagonism between Jerusalem and the false prophets.
Message to neighboring kings (27:1-11)
Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Egyptian territory “from the Brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates” (2 Kings 24: 7) and set up puppet rulers over it. Several of these rulers were threatening to revolt against the Babylonian monarch and had sent envoys to the court of Zedekiah to enlist his support.
Jeremiah opposes such a plan and appears before them wearing a plowman’s wooden ox-yoke on his shoulders, a symbol of their submission to Babylon. The envoys are to take back to their respective rulers the warning that the sovereign Lord of the universe had given their nations unto the land of Nebuchadnezzar; those who refuse submission will perish. The prophet further warns the envoys against listening to the lies of those prophets who say, You shall not serve the king of Babylon (v. 9). Rather submit and survive.
Warning to King Zedekiah (27:12-15)
King Zedekiah received the same warning: submit to Babylon, for it is the will of God; the only alternative is death. Do not heed the counsel of false prophets. If you do, a tragic fate is in your future.
Warning to priests and people (27:16-22)
These words of warning to priests and people are spoken by Jeremiah to nullify the predictions of false prophets that vessels taken from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar will shortly be returned. Jeremiah again denounces such prophecies as lies. He further warns that the vessels now remaining in the temple will be carried to Babylon and remain there until I . . . bring them back (v. 22).
Chapter 28
Conflict with Hananiah (28:1-17)
This chapter continues Jeremiah’s conflict with the false prophets. The yoke is a symbol of subjection to Babylon. Jeremiah has unflinching courage in dashing the false hopes of his people and in facing the false prophets. Here is an expanding concept of God and the real meaning of religion.
For the prophet, real religion is centered in relationship, not rituals. True faith is not limited by a geographical locality. One can find and know God anywhere if he seeks Him with all his heart.
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