What role do "law," "counsel," and "word" play in Jeremiah 18:18? The Setting of Jeremiah 18:18 “Then they said, ‘Come, let us devise a plan against Jeremiah; for the law will not be lost to the priest nor counsel to the sage nor the word to the prophet. Come, let us strike him with our tongues; let us pay no attention to any of his words.’” (Jeremiah 18:18) Why These Three Terms Matter Judah’s leaders list the very channels through which God had chosen to communicate with His people: • law (torah) – revealed instruction entrusted to priests (Deuteronomy 33:10) • counsel (ʿēṣâ) – practical wisdom voiced by elders and sages (2 Samuel 17:14) • word (dāḇār) – prophetic message declared by God’s spokesmen (Amos 3:7) Designed Roles in Covenant Life • Law: – Established moral boundaries and worship patterns (Exodus 24:7–8) – Guarded Israel from idolatry and injustice (Psalm 19:7–11) • Counsel: – Interpreted the law for real-life decisions (Proverbs 11:14) – Guided kings and households toward righteousness (1 Kings 12:6–8) • Word: – Confronted sin and called for repentance (Isaiah 1:18–20) – Unveiled future hope and judgment (Hosea 12:10) How Judah Twisted God’s Gifts • Self-reliance: They assumed the mere existence of priests, sages, and prophets ensured God’s favor, ignoring the substance of what God actually said (Micah 3:11). • Silencing Truth: Instead of receiving correction, they plotted to “strike” Jeremiah verbally, proving that their institutions had become hollow (Jeremiah 5:31). • Collective Denial: By dismissing Jeremiah, they rejected the living voice of God that the law, counsel, and word were meant to carry (2 Chronicles 36:15–16). Takeaways for Today • Scripture, godly wisdom, and prophetic preaching remain inseparable; neglecting any of the three mutes God’s full counsel (Acts 20:27). • Religious structures are no substitute for obedient hearts (James 1:22). • The integrity of the messenger matters, but the ultimate test is whether the message aligns with God’s written word (1 Thessalonians 5:20–21). |
    |