“Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth who seek your life (seeking the life of Jeremiah), saying, ‘Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, lest you die by our hand’— therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall DIE BY THE SWORD, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; and there shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring catastrophe on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their punishment.’” (Jeremiah 11:21-23).
The LORD says, concerning the men of Anathoth who seek your life: The village of Anathoth was Jeremiah’s home (Jeremiah 1:1). It was the people of his own village who wanted to kill him.
Much of Jeremiah’s work was done during the days of the REFORMING of KING JOSIAH. One thing Josiah did was to shut down the disobedient and unauthorized sacrifices on the high places, outside the altar at the temple in Jerusalem. The local priests at Anathoth may have resented that their shrine was shut down and may have HATED JEREMIAH BECAUSE HE SUPPORTED KING JOSIAH. There would have been some strong reason why Jeremiah’s fellow citizens took such strong action against him, although such actions are not unknown even today in the Middle East. Sometimes members of a family will set out to kill a kinsman who has brought disgrace on the family. So thank God, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall COVER YOU with His feathers, And UNDER HIS WINGS you shall TAKE REFUGE; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” (Psalms 91:2-4)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham