STAND IN THE COURTYARD OF THE LORD'S HOUSE: "Now, at
the beginning of this new reign, with the nation thoroughly under the thumb of
Egypt, Jeremiah was directed to issue a solemn warning and make an eloquent
appeal to the nation -- to the common people and rulers alike. It was to be his
most public reminder of the authority of the Lord his God. It may even have been
on coronation day when this great open-air meeting was held in the temple court.
It may also have been on one of the Feasts of the Lord, for people out of all
the cities of Judah were there 'to worship in the Lord's house.' The pattern of
religious observance re-asserted by Josiah still continued; but the character of
Jeremiah's denunciations shows that now it was mere formality" (WJer
58).
(NT) "Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people the
full message of this new life" (Act 5:20).
Jer 26:8
A similar public meeting was attempted by Zechariah son of
Jehoiada, also failing (2Ch 24:21).