{"id":70302,"date":"2020-02-17T19:26:08","date_gmt":"2020-02-17T17:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=70302"},"modified":"2023-09-14T14:15:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T11:15:27","slug":"killing-the-messenger-wont-save-you-from-the-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/killing-the-messenger-wont-save-you-from-the-truth\/","title":{"rendered":"Killing The Messenger Won\u2019t Save You From The Truth\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[598,506,463],"acf":{"old_id":"70302","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":66417,"related_cahpter":"418","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"In fact - not facing harsh realities can make them worse...\u00a0\r\n\r\n","content":"

Most of us like to believe that we have a firm grip on reality. However, usually we have difficulty facing hard truths. These truths threaten the image we have of ourselves and our expectations of how the world should work. Rather than face reality, we often choose to be in denial, lashing out at those who are trying to help us.<\/span><\/p>\n

We see this dynamic played out in Jeremiah Chapter 18. In the first half of the chapter (verses 1-17), we discover that if the people repent, then God will change God\u2019s mind about the decree against Judah, allowing them to avoid complete destruction. However, the people choose not to repent. Instead, they decide to plot against Jeremiah, God\u2019s messenger.<\/span><\/p>\n

In verse 18 they say, \u201cCome let us devise a plot against Jeremiah\u2014for instruction shall not fail from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor oracle from the prophet. Come let us strike him with the tongue, and we shall no longer have to listen to all of those words of his.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The people are fed up with Jeremiah and what Jeremiah is telling them. They are not upset because they think he is lying, but rather because they are afraid that what Jeremiah is saying is true. Just like the teaching of priests and counsel from the wise, they believe an oracle from the prophet Jeremiah will not fail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the people seem to have their sense of causality backwards. Do they think that by killing Jeremiah God\u2019s judgements against them won\u2019t happen? Apparently so.<\/span><\/p>\n

It seems nonsensical that the people could believe this and yet how many times do we find ourselves trying to silence others when they are simply trying to tell us an uncomfortable truth? Do we think that if we can manage to silence others that their words will be any less true?<\/span><\/p>\n

This ill-considered strategy of the people backfires spectacularly. In the next verses (19-23), Jeremiah reminds God that he pleaded (unsuccessfully) for God\u2019s wrath to be averted from these people. However, because they are plotting to kill him, he now prays for their destruction. Instead of averting disaster, the people have made their situation far worse.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Life can be hard enough as it is. Let\u2019s try not to hurt or alienate those people who are trying to save us by telling us truths we would rather not hear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":70303,"id":70303,"title":"Jer18-Don't_Shoot_the_Messenger","filename":"Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger.png","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger.png","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/killing-the-messenger-wont-save-you-from-the-truth\/jer18-dont_shoot_the_messenger\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"jer18-dont_shoot_the_messenger","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":70302,"date":"2020-02-17 17:25:53","modified":"2021-04-27 15:08:38","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":256,"height":256,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger.png","medium-width":256,"medium-height":256,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger.png","medium_large-width":256,"medium_large-height":256,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger.png","large-width":256,"large-height":256,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger.png","1536x1536-width":256,"1536x1536-height":256,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger.png","2048x2048-width":256,"2048x2048-height":256,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger.png","post_full_size-width":256,"post_full_size-height":256,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer18-Dont_Shoot_the_Messenger.png","home_baner-width":256,"home_baner-height":256}},"embedded_video":"","video_duration":"","show_fb_comments":true,"credit_media":""},"tile":{"top_caption":"","main_caption":"Killing The Messenger Won\u2019t Save You From The Truth\u00a0","main_caption_size":"1","sub_caption":"In fact - 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