How we cite our quotes: (Book:Verse)
Quote #4
Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail (NSRV 15:18).
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? (KJV 15:18)
What does it take to accuse the Creator of the Universe of deceit? Jeremiah's taking a big risk here, because we've been hearing for fifteen chapters what God does when he doesn't like how he's treated. This is a sign of courage in our book. Or, as Jeremiah might have called it, "chutzpah." That, or low blood sugar. Anyway, he probably has the courage to challenge God in this way because he has trust in their relationship. Throughout the Bible, God allows trusted followers like Abraham and Moses to argue with him without getting smoked.
Quote #5
Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, "It is the Lord who sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you. But as for me, here I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears (NRSV 26:12-15)."
Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears (KJV 26:12-15).
Jeremiah's really vulnerable in this moment and he knows it. He has little control over how his words might be received and submits himself to possible execution. At times like that, all you can do is give yourself over to the situation and have a little faith.
Quote #6
Now the king was sitting in his winter apartment (it was the ninth month), and there was a fire burning in the brazier before him. As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a penknife and throw them into the fire in the brazier, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. Yet neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these words, was alarmed, nor did they tear their garments. Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son and Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest the secretary Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah. But the Lord hid them (NRSV 36:22-26).
Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them. But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the Lord hid them (KJV 36:22-26).
Here's a cozy scene: sitting in your kingly winter cottage in front of the fireplace, calmly slicing up a scroll containing the word of God and tossing it into the flames. The King and his servants weren't afraid of Jeremiah's prophecy, but this wasn't courage. It was hard-heartedness and stubbornness. This is the set-up for Jeremiah's courageous act in re-dictating the entire scroll over again, in an expanded form. It was courageous to write the prophecies in the first place, but to do it all over again after the King has totally rejected it? That takes it to the next level.