A Warning to the Cities of Judah
At the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign, Jeremiah receives a word commanding him to stand in the LORD's house and address all the cities of Judah that come to worship. He must hold nothing back, because the LORD still holds out the possibility that the people may listen, turn from evil, and avert the disaster their deeds deserve.
A1t the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: 2“This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship there. Do not omit a word. 3Perhaps they will listen and turn— each from his evil way of life— so that I may relent of the disaster I am planning to bring upon them because of the evil of their deeds.
The LORD says that if the people will not listen to His law or to the prophets He has repeatedly sent, He will make this house like Shiloh and this city a curse among the nations. The threat strikes directly at Judah's confidence that the temple guarantees safety regardless of obedience.
4And you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘If you do not listen to Me and walk in My law, which I have set before you, 5and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent you again and again even though you did not listen, 6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’”