Jeremiah is trying to save their lives by telling them God’s word and urging them to surrender to the king of Babylon to spare their lives.

For his care and help, they want to put him to death. Don’t be surprised when you are treated like Jesus. It’s an honor.

They say of Jeremiah, “For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.”

Jeremiah is the one who tells the Israelites to seek the welfare of the city, speaking the Lord’s word of course. He’s the one who told them the Lord’s plan wasn’t to harm them.

They aren’t rejecting Jeremiah; they are rejecting God. That’s what God tells Samuel when the people reject his word.

Don’t take it personal. It’s not about you. You are a representative. You are an ambassador. You represent your leader, your nation, the holy nation.

We see the king in this chapter both giving Jeremiah over to those who want to kill him and giving Jeremiah over to those who want to save him.

People are fickle. They are under the sway of the world. They change their mind.

Just like we don’t take the attack personal because we know there is only one enemy and it’s not flesh and blood, we don’t take the praise personal. They change their mind.

They celebrated Jesus one week and less than a week later were calling for His death.

Live for the pleasure of the Father. If He is pleased, be pleased. In 2 Corinthians 5:9 Paul says their aim is to be well-pleasing to the Father.

God can use anything for our good and for our deliverance. Jeremiah was delivered with old rags. Jeremiah was sinking into the mud and God uses that imagery when Jeremiah speaks to the king. God has purposes in everything. He doesn’t waste our lives. He’s working out our good and His perfect plan.