jeremiah 26

Read Jeremiah 26 at Bible Gateway.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word. Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.’  Jer 26:2-3

Turning from the evil of our ways, instead walking in the good way of the LORD, which He revealed to mankind in Torah, is the same gospel that Jesus preached:

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mar 1:14-15

“Turn” is the Hebrew word shuv, Strong’s H7725, shin + vav + bet. In the ancient Hebrew pictographs, the shin is the two front teeth, and has the meaning of sharp, pressing, eating, two, or possibly, again (a second time). The vav is the tent peg, and means to secure, hook, or add. The bet is the house, so also, household or family. The mountain top meaning of shuv is to press in securely to the house, or to again secure oneself to the house. Shuv is the root of teshuvah, which is repentance.

Because the kingdom of God is at hand, where God rules and reigns as King, He is calling all men everywhere to repent of sins, of disobedience, of not listening; to turn from our own evil ways and to again secure ourselves to His house, to walk in His ways. If we have not changed our way of walking, doing, acting, then we have not repented – do not be deceived!

His will is to relent of calamity and harm. He tarries in His return, because it is not His will that anyone should perish (2 Pet 3:9). When His kingdom has fully come, those who will not yield to the King will make themselves outcasts, and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luk 13:28). The LORD who loves each one of us does not want that for His beloved!

Yield today! Turn today! Repent today! His ways are not our ways — let us learn what His ways are, and walk in them!

Incidentally, from the new moon of the 6th biblical month to the Day of Atonement, those 40 days are considered the season of teshuvah or repentance in Hebrew tradition, for a reason – the Feast of Trumpets will one day announce the coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords. The fall holidays are all about His second coming!