The
fall of Jerusalem comes nearly nine hundred years after the original
covenant between God and the Israelites in the Sinai desert (Exodus 24:1–18).
Such an extended period of time witnesses to God’s great patience and
mercy, allowing His people the opportunity to turn from their sinful
ways—a lifestyle they began not long after they struck the original
covenant with God - See more at:
http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/jeremiah.html#sthash.nTa109Bq.dpu
Jeremiah 37
"Those have hearts wretchedly hard indeed that see God’s judgments on others, and feel them on themselves, and yet will not be humbled and brought to heed what he says. These had proof sufficient that it was the Lord who spoke by Jeremiah the prophet, and yet they would not hearken to him." ~from Matthew Henry Commentary
This summary of how Zedekiah reacts and makes supplication of Jeremiah reminds me of how easily we may ask for prayer for our troubling circumstances from those prayer warriors in our own lives. Yet how often, when we receive the answer from the Lord, if we really don't like the answer, do we convince ourselves that either:
1. It's not from the Lord.
2. There might be another option that suits me better so I look for plan B.
3. Or I recognize that it is from the Lord, but I ignore it?
This is also when I am so very thankful for God's mercy and grace. Regardless of my wise or foolish decisions in listening for the Lord to answer and guide my life, He never leaves nor forsakes me, his beloved daughter. This is the gift of a relationship with Jesus. How sweet it is!
Jeremiah is wrongly imprisoned because some nit-wit decided to accuse him of something he did not do, yet he was thrown in a dungeon. Of course, when the king needed to ask a question of Jeremiah, to know the Lord's will, Jeremiah answered him, then asked to be released since he had done nothing wrong. So WHY did the king simply move him from a dungeon to a palace's prison?? That's not freeing nor justifiable. Yet, it's what he did.
Our brothers and sisters around the globe are experiencing this EVERY DAY as they stand for the Lord, yet are falsely accused and imprisoned or worse. I appreciate the ministry "Voice of the Martyrs" immensely as it supports Christians in chains and their families. This is not easy to believe that so many can be treated the way Christians are today, but don't be fooled by our American cushiness. There are 52 restricted and hostile nations that persecute Christians TODAY. Find out more as you may read the details on www.persecution.com.
Jeremiah 38
This chapter finds Jeremiah still being falsely accused of actions and intentions not aligned with truth and in so doing, he is sought after by a bunch of hoodlums and the wimpy king who has no chutzbah allows them to put Jeremiah into a muddy, deep cistern. They pretty much wanted to get rid of him, yet a brave Ethiopian called out to the king for help and Jeremiah was saved...of course only to be thrown back into the palace prison.
All the while, Jeremiah is being asked by Zedekiah, this fickle king, what the Lord intends to do. His chosen people pretty much must repent and obey the Lord or they'll all be destroyed. So WHY doesn't Israel listen? They are a stubborn people. Foolish people. Selfish humans...Not unlike us.
Jeremiah 39
And that's it for Jerusalem, folks! Finally, all that the Lord told Jeremiah and all that Jeremiah prophesied came true! Jerusalem was overtaken by the Babylonians, then burned and the people (save for a few of the poorest who tended the vineyards and fields) were either killed or taken captive. And poor Zedekiah had to watch his sons murdered, then his eyes were literally gouged out and he was taken as a prisoner back to Babylon.
The besieging and ultimate fall of Jerusalem took place nearly 900 years after the original covenant between God and the Israelites in the Sinai desert (Exodus 24: 1-18). Such an extended period of time witnesses to God's great patience and mercy, allowing His people the opportunity to turn from their sinful ways -a lifestyle they began not long after they struck the original covenant with God. THIS shows just how patient God is...900 years! And additionally, we think God is so concerned about our little lives as if He must work out all His plans in our lifetime, yet, here we see that it took Him 900 years to get fed up enough that his chosen people in Jerusalem finally fell to judgment! He is a most patient and loving God. He will tell us and remind us of His goodness and His desire for us to obey Him, yet He is so patient that he may go on for generations, reminding and reminding and reminding us of His promises, His plan, and His expectations. It is entirely up to us to want to obey and follow through. He shows His grace now as He showed His grace then. But there will come a time when it's too late. His judgment will come. So be ready.
vs.18 Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’”
Sweet words from the Lord to Jeremiah! What can I learn from this?
I often hear the old hymn "Trust and Obey" in my head. The first time I had ever heard the song was when I was in Papua New Guinea on an 8 week mission trip to help the Wyton family build a mission home, a helicopter landing pad and to visit a remote Christian tribal village in the middle of the jungle as we came in touch with missionaries working out in the field, away from the conveniences of America. The Wytons had served with New Tribes Mission for many years in Papua New Guinea, raising a family there and translating the Scriptures, teaching the Word and living among this tribe in the wild tropical jungle of a small Pacific island. Yet, Roz Wyton, often sang the sweet melody of Trust and Obey while we worked. I realized how living for Him is so much more than our little lives in safe America.
The fall of Jerusalem comes nearly nine hundred years after the original covenant between God and the Israelites in the Sinai desert (Exodus 24:1–18). Such an extended period of time witnesses to God’s great patience and mercy, allowing His people the opportunity to turn from their sinful ways—a lifestyle they began not long after they struck the original covenant with God - See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/jeremiah.html#sthash.nTa109Bq.dpuf
The fall of Jerusalem comes nearly nine hundred years after the original covenant between God and the Israelites in the Sinai desert (Exodus 24:1–18). Such an extended period of time witnesses to God’s great patience and mercy, allowing His people the opportunity to turn from their sinful ways—a lifestyle they began not long after they struck the original covenant with God - See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/jeremiah.html#sthash.nTa109Bq.dpuf
The fall of Jerusalem comes nearly nine hundred years after the original covenant between God and the Israelites in the Sinai desert (Exodus 24:1–18). Such an extended period of time witnesses to God’s great patience and mercy, allowing His people the opportunity to turn from their sinful ways—a lifestyle they began not long after they struck the original covenant with God - See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/jeremiah.html#sthash.nTa109Bq.dpuf
The
fall of Jerusalem comes nearly nine hundred years after the original
covenant between God and the Israelites in the Sinai desert (Exodus 24:1–18).
Such an extended period of time witnesses to God’s great patience and
mercy, allowing His people the opportunity to turn from their sinful
ways—a lifestyle they began not long after they struck the original
covenant with God - See more at:
http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/jeremiah.html#sthash.nTa109Bq.dpuf
The
fall of Jerusalem comes nearly nine hundred years after the original
covenant between God and the Israelites in the Sinai desert (Exodus 24:1–18).
Such an extended period of time witnesses to God’s great patience and
mercy, allowing His people the opportunity to turn from their sinful
ways—a lifestyle they began not long after they struck the original
covenant with God - See more at:
http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/jeremiah.html#sthash.nTa109Bq.dpuf
.JPG)
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