Killing The Messenger

I was reading from the Book of Jeremiah this morning, where he came with a warning to King Zedekiah: "“This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live" (38:2).  The response of the officials was classic: "This man must die!" (v. 4).

Jeremiah had earlier prophesied that Babylon would come against Judah but his words were not heeded in preference to the court appointed prophets who said it would not happen.  When it did happen, as Jeremiah had prophesied from the Lord, he came again with a word from the Lord but they still did not like it and chose to kill the messenger rather than deal with the message.

They put Jeremiah down into a cistern, where he would have most certainly died except that when it was reported to the king what the officials had done, he ordered that Jeremiah be brought to the courtyard of the guard to be held instead as thee king wanted to hear more of what Jeremiah had to say.

When the king had Jeremiah brought into him, he told Jeremiah, "Do not hide anything from me" (v. 14).  Jeremiah revealed all that the Lord had said would happen and then the king said to Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you may die" (v. 25).  Again, the messenger's life is threatened rather than heed the message.

Just like the king and the officials of Jeremiah's day, we  see the same attitude in politics today.  Instead of weighing out what is said by someone who disagrees with a particular position or part line, a personal attack is typically the response.  It is so much easier to rail against the messenger than weigh out and deal with the message, which might require a change in policy or position.

Sadly, this tactic is not reserved for kings and politicians.  Too often this is the response in churches, families and among friends, when someone points out a wrong or a falsehood.  The apostle Paul was obviously on the receiving end of this strategy when he lamented: "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Gal 4:16).

This must be one of Satan's most cherished snares.  Relationships are fractured, churches are split and countries are polarized by the kill the messenger rather than seriously contemplate the message.  Jesus' brother, James addresses this in saying, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" (Js 4:1).  He identifies the problem as the inward struggle with sin and the answer to this divide is found in verse 7, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Killing the messenger instead of listening to and contemplating the message is the devil's work, and he does it well.  Don't fall for his trap.  Instead, share and listen, come to decisions without attacking the one who does not agree with you.  Seek to lay down bridges instead of erecting walls, "For where two or three come together (agree) in my name, there am I with them" (Matt 18:20).  Jus' Say'n.