Topical Bible: Jeremiah: The Prophet: Conspiracy Against

◄ Jeremiah: The Prophet: Conspiracy Against ►

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Jeremiah, one of the major prophets of the Old Testament, faced significant opposition and conspiracy throughout his ministry. His prophetic mission, which spanned the reigns of several kings of Judah, was marked by his unwavering commitment to delivering God's messages, often in the face of intense hostility and danger.

Background

Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet during the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign (Jeremiah 1:2). His ministry continued through the reigns of Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, until the fall of Jerusalem and beyond. Jeremiah's messages were primarily focused on calling the people of Judah to repentance and warning them of impending judgment due to their idolatry and disobedience to God.

Conspiracy Against Jeremiah

Jeremiah's prophecies were not well-received by the leaders and people of Judah, leading to numerous conspiracies against him. His messages often contradicted the false assurances given by other prophets and priests, who promised peace and security despite the nation's sinful state.

1. Plot from Anathoth: One of the earliest conspiracies against Jeremiah came from his own hometown, Anathoth. The men of Anathoth sought to kill him to silence his prophecies. God revealed this plot to Jeremiah, saying, "The men of Anathoth who seek your life and say, 'Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand'" (Jeremiah 11:21). God assured Jeremiah of His protection and promised to punish the conspirators.

2. Opposition from Priests and Prophets: Jeremiah faced significant opposition from the religious leaders of his time. In Jeremiah 26, after prophesying in the temple about the destruction of Jerusalem, the priests, prophets, and all the people seized him, declaring, "You must surely die!" (Jeremiah 26:8). Despite the threat, Jeremiah stood firm, reiterating his message and leaving his fate in God's hands. Ultimately, the officials and some elders defended him, recalling the precedent of the prophet Micah, and he was spared.

3. Imprisonment and Threats: During the reign of King Zedekiah, Jeremiah was imprisoned multiple times for his prophecies. In Jeremiah 38, officials accused him of weakening the resolve of the soldiers and the people by proclaiming that Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians. They urged the king to put Jeremiah to death, saying, "This man ought to die, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who remain in this city and the hands of all the people by speaking such words to them" (Jeremiah 38:4). Jeremiah was cast into a cistern, where he would have died if not for the intervention of Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunuch, who persuaded the king to rescue him.

4. Continued Hostility: Even after the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah continued to face hostility. He was taken against his will to Egypt by the remnant of Judah, who refused to heed his warnings against seeking refuge there (Jeremiah 43:1-7). Despite the continued opposition, Jeremiah remained faithful to his calling, delivering God's messages until the end of his life.

Significance

The conspiracies against Jeremiah highlight the challenges faced by those who faithfully proclaim God's truth in a world resistant to His message. Jeremiah's life and ministry serve as a testament to the courage and perseverance required to stand firm in the face of opposition, trusting in God's protection and ultimate justice. His experiences underscore the reality that true prophets often face rejection and persecution, yet their faithfulness to God's call remains a powerful witness to His sovereignty and righteousness.

Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 11:21-23
Therefore thus said the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek your life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that you die not by our hand:
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 18:18-23
Then said they, Come and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Index of Names and Subjects.
... Jeremiah, personality, 4; biography, 26; as poet, 31; as ... range of his mission, 79;
prophet to the ... as to "the Covenant," 144; conspiracy against, 146; address ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/index of names and subjects.htm

Jeremiah
... the reign of Jehoiakim.[1] The prophet strenuously combats ... Jeremiah is divinely impelled
to undertake an itinerant ... A cruel conspiracy formed against him by his ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/jeremiah.htm

Jeremiah and Deuteronomy. (Chs. vii, viii. 8, xi. )
... we may believe that, as recorded, Jeremiah heard in ... same chapter as the charge to
the Prophet concerning this ... there is mention of a conspiracy against his life ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 jeremiah and deuteronomy chs.htm

Protest and Agony. (I, iv. 10, 19, vi. 11, xi. 18-xii. 6, xv. 10 ...
... Pashhur put him in the stocks Jeremiah called him ... among this people.(690) When the
prophet Hananiah contradicted ... The following refers to the conspiracy of his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 protest and agony i.htm

From Megiddo to Carchemish, 608-605.
... These two classes were in conspiracy, deluding themselves and ... as to whether the man
was a genuine prophet. ... tribute to the moral effect of Jeremiah's person and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 from megiddo to carchemish.htm

Comparison Between the False Church and the True.
... Show me one prophet or pious man who once ... Micaiah, and others in Israel, Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Hosea, and ... was nothing else than impious conspiracy against God. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 comparison between the.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... King Of Israel And Jonah The Prophet; And How ... The King Of Babylon; As Also What Befell
Jeremiah. ... Citizens [Of Jerusalem] Made A Conspiracy Against Herod, For ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

The Kingdom of Judah.
... Reigned 2 years and was slain by a conspiracy of his ... Isaiah talks about the prophet
that teaches lies (Is.9:15 ... make the people err (Mi.3:5). Jeremiah was openly ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiv the kingdom of.htm

Epistle xxxix. To the People, Concerning Five Schismatic ...
... they do not know that it is written, "And that prophet, or that ... have deserved to
undergo the sentence of their own conspiracy and malignity ... [2392] Jeremiah 23:16 ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle xxxix to the people.htm

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
... Exodus 31:13; Numbers 15:35; Jeremiah 17:21 ... the name and authority of the great Prophet
of Nazareth ... this point the blood red line of conspiracy against the life ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxvii jesus heals on the.htm