Jeremiah 28:5-6
“And the prophet Jeremiah said, ‘Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill the words that you have prophesied, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles.’” vs 6
The country of Judah had been invaded by Babylon and had become a vassal state. Jeremiah–who loved his people dearly–was a prophet of peace and had advised against foreign entanglements even before the invasion. But his was a lonely voice. Other prophets were advising the new king to rebel, saying that the Lord would surely destroy Babylon and bring back the treasure of the temple and the exiles. Jeremiah was not against the destruction of Babylon but he believed that at this particular time, Judah should accept its vassalage and do all it could not to provoke the Babylonians. That was not a popular message. Prophets who advocate for peace never have an easy time. Those who promote rebellion and violence speak to our baser instincts and can easily rally the masses to join battle with the enemy. In all the great conflicts, millions of men and women have listened to the voices of political leaders and marched off to engage in the “war to end all wars.” And tens of millions have found an early grave. As could be expected, the leaders of Judah did not pay attention to Jeremiah…for them he was only an irritant. But that didn’t silence him! That’s how it is for true prophets. They keep on working for peace even when no one is listening.
Thought for the Day: Why is it impossible for a war to end wars?
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