聽到了上帝釋放的信息之後，百姓顯然興高采烈的開始行動了！耶利米發現百姓的反應已經跑在他與上帝的約定之前，於是他又傳講了一篇毀滅的信息惹得猶大首領勃然大怒，決定置他於死地，否則絕不善罷干休，然而大無畏的耶烈米為自己戴上一副軛，試圖使當局了解，上帝要他們順服巴比倫的軛作為對猶大的管教。這時假先知哈拿尼雅出現，講了一篇與耶利米完全相反的道，企圖帶領百姓偏離正道，但其代價就是哈拿尼雅早逝。最後耶利米勸慰流放到巴比倫的猶太人稍安勿躁，而要在他們的新家裡平靜度日。

        想一想你生命中各種不同的人際關係，你能再下列各項中列出三個人嗎？
        偶爾注意？__________________________
        有時注意？__________________________
        毫不注意？__________________________
        非常注意？__________________________
        如果你描述你與上帝的關係，以上四種裡面你會為祂付出那一種注意？偶爾？有時？非常？或是毫不注意？和一些你認為還蠻重要的活動與人際關係相較，你給祂多少時間？
        如果你不滿意自己的答案，那麼就在明天的行事曆上多訂半個鐘頭給你和上帝，把這段得來不易的時間用來禱告、讀經、唱詩和默想，你會發現養成這個習慣真好。

        不能兒戲的軛
        耶利米時代的軛是由一個龐大、厚重的木條製成的，這樣才適於架在牲口的脖子上，長木棒與繩索恰如其分的拉住軛，使負軛的先知能笨重而貼切的表現出担子的沉重來。

撒但對灰塵滿佈的聖經豪不畏懼。

English

        After delivering a message from God, it is always gratifying to see people moved to action. But in Jeremiah's case, the response is more than he bargained for! Filled with fury over Jeremiah's message of doom, the officials of Judah respond by seeking to put the prophet to death. Undaunted, Jeremiah harnesses a yoke to himself to visualize for the authorities the need to submit to the yoke of Babylon as God's rod of discipline upon the nation. A false prophet named Hananiah arises preaching a message exactly opposite to Jeremiah's, but he dies an early death for seeking to lead the people astray. Finally, Jeremiah encourages the deportees in Babylon to settle down and be content in their new home of exile.

        Think about the different relationships in your life. Can you name three people to whom you give ...
        . . .casual attention? __________________________
        . . . inconsistent attention? _________________________
        . .. no attention? __________________________
        . . . diligent attention? __________________________
        Now where on those four lines would you be forced to write God? What kind of attention do you give Him: casual? inconsistent? diligent? none? How much time are you giving Him in comparison to those activities or relationships you consider much less important?
        If you are not satisfied with your answer, then on your appointment calendar for tomorrow reserve an extra half hour as an appointment between you and God. Spend those carefully guarded minutes in prayer, Scripture reading, hymn singing, and meditation. You'll find it's wonderfully habit-forming.

        The Yoke Was No Joke
        The yoke of Jeremiah's day consisted of a large, heavy, wooden bar that fit across the necks of the cattle. Straight sticks and cords were used to hold the yoke in place, making the yoke a cumbersome (and graphic) burden for the prophet to bear.

The Devil is not afraid of the Bible that has dust on it.