Jeremiah 46-52
Jeremiah 46-52
These chapters record God’s judgement against Amon, Moab, Edom and Damascus, nations on Judah’s borders. God promises the destruction of Babylon too. All of it came to pass. The political configuration of the Levant was never the same again.
Listening to the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah has been hard, but not as difficult as the circumstances of his own life. He continued to love and serve his people regardless their hostility. May God shape a Jeremiah like strength and devotion within me too.
Jeremiah 45:1-5
“This is what Jeremiah told Baruch one day in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign as he was taking dictation from the prophet: - ’These are the words of GOD, the God of Israel, to you, Baruch. You say, ‘These are bad times for me! It’s one thing after another. GOD is piling on the pain. I’m worn out and there’s no end in sight.’ - ’But GOD says, ‘Look around. What I’ve built I’m about to wreck, and what I’ve planted I’m about to rip up. And I’m doing it everywhere—all over the whole earth! So forget about making any big plans for yourself. Things are going to get worse before they get better. But don’t worry. I’ll keep you alive through the whole business.’’”
“The prophet Jeremiah gave a message to Baruch son of Neriah in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, after Baruch had written down everything Jeremiah had dictated to him. He said, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: You have said, ‘I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven’t I had enough pain already? And now the LORD has added more! I am worn out from sighing and can find no rest.’ ‘Baruch, this is what the LORD says: ‘I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted. Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!’‘”
God is the perfect parent to Baruch in these verses. Baruch must have thrilled at learning God knew and noticed him, as he did his boss the prophet. It must have been good to hear from God’s mouth he would survive the coming catastrophe. This promise gave Baruch hope. More importantly God’s word gave him something to trust in. Baruch’s body may waste away with stress and famine, but his faith would grow by bounds. Though a lowly scribe, Almighty God knew him personally and had plans for him.
Before Christ came ordinary folks had to muddle through the best they could because God’s Spirit resided only in prophets, priests and kings. I who have God’s Spirit for the asking cannot imagine what this was like. God gave Baruch, an ordinary Israelite, promise of survival. It was something to hang his hat of faith upon. Baruch’s future gave reason for this lesson in faith and so was a blessing itself.
Oh Lord! Grant me faith as you did Baruch. Help me to trust you when things fall apart. May I walk in confidence, knowing your light illuminates my path and you are always with me.
Jeremiah 42:5-6
“They said to Jeremiah, ‘Let GOD be our witness, a true and faithful witness against us, if we don’t do everything that your GOD directs you to tell us. Whether we like it or not, we’ll do it. We’ll obey whatever our GOD tells us. Yes, count on us. We’ll do it.’”
“Then they said to Jeremiah, ‘May the Lord your God be a faithful witness against us if we refuse to obey whatever he tells us to do! Whether we like it or not, we will obey the Lord our God to whom we are sending you with out plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us.’”
The following chapter show these ancient Jews did exactly the opposite. They had two problems and we have the same. They could not stand by their word and knew not their own hearts. If we ask, God’s Spirit reveals our own laziness and self-delusion. He gives us his strength to stand fast and follow through. When we welcome God’s work in our hearts all the evil in the world cannot prevail against his purpose for us.
Lord, may I ever be humble to seek your help and strength. Forgive my sins. Make me a woman of my word. Keep my heart pure and open lest evil find a dark place to brood and poison. Let me be a bright shining light that points to you, for your glory.
Jeremiah 40:9-10
“Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, promised them and their men, ‘You have nothing to fear from the Chaldean officials. Stay here on the land. Be subject to the king of Babylon. You’ll get along just fine. My job is to stay here in Mizpah and be your advocate before the Chaldeans when they show up. Your job is to take care of the land: Make wine, harvest the summer fruits, press olive oil. Store it all in pottery jugs and settle into the towns that you have taken over.’”
“Gedaliah vowed to them that the Babylonians meant them no harm. ‘Don’t be afraid to serve them. Live in the land and serve the king of Baylon, and all will go well for you’ he promised. ‘As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to meet with us. Settle in the towns you have taken and live off the land. Harvest the grapes and summer fruits and olives, and store them away.’”
Israel’s land was in ruins, the aristocracy and intelligentsia taken into exile, but God did not abandon those left behind. He provided a good ruler for them who gave good advice; submit to Babylon, get busy and farm the land. The implication was they would be around to enjoy the harvest. He also promised to be their advocate before the Babylonian king, a foreshadowing of Christ as our advocate before God the Father. We may forget to take care of thing on the edges but not God. He sees and cares for everyone, whoever and wherever they are.
Lord, I can always trust you to pick up the pieces of my disasters and put me back together again, just as you did for Israel. And yet I am just a speck of dust in the universe, and you care for all the other specks the same. How amazing, and wonderful you are!
Jeremiah 40:2-3
“The captain of the bodyguard singled out Jeremiah and said to him, ‘Your GOD pronounced doom on this place. GOD came and did what he had warned he’d do because you all sinned against GOD and wouldn’t do what he told you. So now you’re all suffering the consequences. But today, Jeremiah, I’m setting you free, taking the chains off your hands. If you’d like to come to Babylon with me, come along. I’ll take good care of you. But if you don’t want to come to Babylon with me, that’s just fine, too. Look, the whole land stretches out before you. Do what you like. Go and live wherever you wish. If you want to stay home, go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. The king of Babylon made him governor of the cities of Judah. Stay with him and your people. Or go wherever you’d like. It’s up to you.’”
“The captain of the guard called for Jeremiah and said, ‘The LORD your God has brought this disaster on this land, just as he said he would. For these people have sinned against the LORD and disobeyed him. That is why it happened. But I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don’t want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you—go wherever you like.’”
The captain of the bodyguard looked for Jeremiah amongst the captives. He glibly pointed out their error in forsaking God. Pagan religions were focused on appeasing one’s god. If they didn’t sing and dance before their deity in the correct way he abandoned them. The captain did not grasp the otherness of Israel’s God. This God did not want his people to dance for him, but with him. I hope this captain came to know more of this ‘other’ God as he traveled with Israelite captives back to Babylon.
God gave Jeremiah lots of options for his future. After years of being driven by God’s Spirit he is offered his own choice. Jeremian’s heart lay with his people. He wanted to go home, wouldn’t you?
Lord thank you for teaching me to dance with you. May I learn more new steps and be increasingly trustful of your lead. Grace me to share you with others, the Almighty God who cares so tenderly for his people.
Jeremiah 39:11-12
“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave Nebuzaradan captain of the king’s bodyguard special orders regarding Jeremiah: ‘Look out for him. Make sure nothing bad happens to him. Give him anything he wants.’”
“King Nebuchadnezzar had told Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, to find Jeremiah. ‘See that he isn’t hurt,’ he said. ‘Look after him well, and give him anything he wants.’”
God provides what we need when we really need it. Earlier in the chapter we learn the siege of Jerusalem lasted two and a half years. Jeremiah suffered along with everyone else in the city. It could be said this special treatment by Nebuchadnezzar is nothing more than a reward to a man who prophesized on Babylon’s side. But it is God’s doing nevertheless. He rarely chooses the miraculous as a vehicle for his interactions with us. More often he works through people and events in our lives. Those who walk by faith see his footsteps where the world says, ‘coincidence.’ The chapter closes with Jeremiah’s message to Ebed-melech. God graciously promises him deliverance also. God rewarded both Jeremiah and Ebed-melec not because he owed it to them. He is God and beholden to no one. He cared for his loyal followers because it is his nature. He is a good God.
Lord, may I trust you as these two men, living for you even when the valley is deep in darkness. You are my good shepherd, faithful to provide what I need, when I need it.
Jeremiah 38:28
“Jeremiah lived in the courtyard of the palace guards until the day that Jerusalem was captured.”
“Jeremiah lived in the courtyard of the palace guards until the day that Jerusalem was captured.
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Chapter 38, verses 11-28, continues with Jeremiah’s view of the political intrigue in Jerusalem until it fell. King Zedekiah called for Jermiah and questioned him again. At the king’s request Jeremiah held nothing back, giving the king an account of how this would end for him personally; his wives and children enslaved and given to the Babylonian generals. This supremely vacillating king promises to not to kill Jeremaih, and this time, sticks to it. God provides that Jeremiah lives in the courtyard of the guard, where there is food, until the last. Perhaps Jeremiah thought the fall of the city would be the end for him. But God wasn’t done with him.
Lord, give me the same grace and strength you gave to Jeremiah, allowing him to endure this extreme trial. Forgive my fretting about minor temporal inconveniences. Put them in perspective. Grow me in faith to live whatever you have planned for me. You are my good shepherd. Help me to faithfully follow you.
Jeremiah 38:10
“So the king ordered Ebed-melek the Ethiopian, ’Get three men and pull Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.’”
“So the king told Ebed-melech, ‘Take thirty of my men with you, and pull Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.’”
The king caved and the men who accused Jeremiah were given permission to kill him. They threw him into the cistern in the courtyard of the palace guard, though they could have used a quicker means of execution. Perhaps it was a measure of their anger, or they were afraid of Jeremiah’s influence with God whom they had rejected.
God uses the proselyte Ebed-melek to rescue Jeremiah. It took an outsider to recognize the truth of Jeremiah’s preaching. God placed him in the king’s household and he was ready to obey when God called him to act against the political grain.
Lord, give me courage to stand up to the enemy in his many guiles. Make me aware of his presence and able to resist him by your power. Convict me when others seek to wheedle me away from you and your perfect will. Like Ebed-melek, may I be always ready to serve you.
Jeremiah 38:4
“These officials told the king, ‘Please, kill this man. He’s got to go! He’s ruining the resolve of the soldiers who are still left in the city, as well as the people themselves, by spreading these words. This man isn’t looking after the good of this people. He’s trying to ruin us!’”
“So these officials went to the king and said, ‘Sir, this man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people. This man is a traitor!’”
If I were in Jerusalem during this siege I would probably agree with these men. God’s messages through Jermiah seem to go against the national interest. Would I have missed God’s direction if I’d lived in ancient, besieged Jerusalem? I hope, with the many messages that preceded Nebuchadnezzar’s appearance I’d have been wise enough to heed God’s word. Without the presence of God’s Spirit within me, convicting me, who knows?
Oh Lord! I am afraid of myself. Without you I could so easily go astray. Please keep me close and tuned in. I want to be all yours. Your Spirit within is my only hope.
Jeremiah 37:20-21
“‘Listen to me, please, my master—my king! Please don’t send me back to that dungeon in the house of Jonathan the secretary. I’ll die there!’ 21 So King Zedekiah ordered that Jeremiah be assigned to the courtyard of the palace guards. He was given a loaf of bread from Bakers’ Alley every day until all the bread in the city was gone. And that’s where Jeremiah remained—in the courtyard of the palace guards.”
“‘Listen, my lord the king, I beg you. Don’t send me back to the dungeon in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for I will die there.’ So King Zedekiah commanded that Jeremiah not be returned to the dungeon. Instead, he was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. The king also commanded that Jeremiah be given a loaf of fresh bread every day as long as there was any left in the city. So Jeremiah was put in the palace prison.”
The Lord always waits until his intervention is the only thing that will save me. Surely it would be easier if he came forward earlier in my neediness. He is not interested in my comfort, but in my holiness. He wants me to lean into relationship with him, trust him. Now, later in life, I’ve grown to expect this. And the waiting is easier because I’ve experienced his faithful deliverance in the past.
By learning to wait with patience I’ve learned I can endure, always more than I think I can. I can stand against the tide. I hope I never have to live in a cistern like Jeremiah. But I know one thing, God will be right there with me
Lord, again, thank you for being my personal school master. Your lessons are wise and fruitful, always in my best interest. I’m learning how to live with you. What a privilege. I love you.
Jeremiah 37:16
“So Jeremiah entered an underground cell in a cistern turned into a dungeon. He stayed there a long time.”
“Jeremiah was put into a prison cell, where he remained for many days.”
Jeremiah told King Zedekiah the Egyptians would not help Israel defeat the Babylonians. The city would still fall. The Babylonian’s pulled back when the Egyptians arrived allowing Jeremiah to attend personal business at his home in Benjamin. On his way out of the city he was seized, falsely accused and thrown into prison. We don’t know how long nor why God allowed it.
This was a wilderness experience for Jeremiah, persecuted for doing God’s will and then seemingly forgotten. Sometimes God leads us smack into painful circumstances where we feel utterly abandoned. We may also, like Jeremiah, never know why. Our feelings mustn’t draw us into paranoia and self-pity. Instead, like Job, we learn God is beholden to no one and works in ways beyond our understanding. He owes us no explanation.
Lord, thank you for these kinds of experiences in my life. Hindsight shows you were there though I thought you absent. I treasure the lessons you taught me. That you, mighty God, should care to teach me lessons in life, fills me with awe. I deserve it not and rejoice in your my great, merciful, and loving Lord.
Jeremiah 37:3
“However, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Pray for us—pray hard!—to the Master, our GOD.””
“Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, to ack Jeremiah, ‘Please pray for us to the Lord our God for us.’”
Things are not always as they seem. Verses 1 &2 tells us, at least in public, King Zedekiah and his officials paid no heed to Jeremiah’s messages. But in private they covet his prayers, enough so that he sends trusted officials to Jeremiah to ask for them. Our opinion of others public persona should always be seasoned with remembering they have a private side, for good or for ill. God’s Spirit often works incognito, behind the scenes, around the edges, through the ordinary. We don’t always see answers to our prayers because things are not always as they seem.
Lord, it is a great comfort to understand how you work, to see it in history and trust you for it today. Thank you for your perfect purpose that always moves forward toward redemption and healing. You are a good God and I praise you for it.