Thus says the Lord
“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.”
God spoke these words to the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:2). Jeremiah was not a popular figure at the time. Jeremiah had to stand in the court, where the common people would pass by in order to speak God’s word.
Nevertheless, God commanded, and Jeremiah obeyed. This should be the approach of every preacher of God’s word. But, notice that Jeremiah is commanded to speak ‘all the words that I command you to speak’ and ‘do not diminish a word’. This commission is a little like the pound of flesh in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice – no less and no more will be permitted!
Preaching God’s word comes with it the burden that nothing less than ALL that God speaks is to be passed on – just as the young Samuel was commanded by Eli to tell him all that God had said, good or bad. To diminish one word is to take away from what God Himself has said.
To add one word is to no longer speak all the words that God alone has commanded.
Yet, we must by God’s grace do just this, and if the people will not listen, then we must speak in the court of the Lord’s house just the same. The speaking is in obedience to God first and foremost.