23 August 

Bible In 365 Days                                                                            

Jeremiah 38-41

Jeremiah 38

Under these circumstances Jeremiah continued to foretell the victory of the Chaldeans, with the result that the anger of the princes was stirred up against him, and he was cast into a most loathsome dungeon. From that dungeon he was released through the intercession of Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch, who evidently was in favor with Zedekiah. Again the king sought an interview with him, charging him to hide nothing from him as to the future. Jeremiah advised him earnestly to submit to Babylon, warning him that if he did not do so the women of his household would eventually heap reproaches upon him because of the visitation which would overtake the city and the people.

Nothing is more marked throughout all this story than the absolute and unswerving loyalty of Jeremiah to the message of judgment which he was called on to deliver. In the hour when it seemed as though it could not be fulfilled because the Chaldean army had temporarily left the neighborhood, in spite of the angry opposition of the princes and his suffering, and notwithstanding all the temptations created by his access to the king, he never swerved. However clear at times was his vision of an ultimate restoration of the people by Jehovah, he knew that at the moment punishment was in the purpose of God from which there could be no escape; yet not for one moment did he attempt to hide the fact.

Jeremiah 39

This chapter records the fall of Jerusalem. After a long siege lasting from the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign until the fourth month of the eleventh year, at last "a breach was made in the city," and the princes of Babylon entered. Zedekiah, with the men of war surrounding him, immediately fled, but he was arrested and brought before Nebuchadnezzar. His sons were slain before his eyes, and then his eyes were put out. This was followed by the sack of the city. The king of Babylon charged his captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, to afford protection to Jeremiah. This was done by committing him to the care of Gedaliah, who was appointed to be governor of the subjected and broken people.

Very interesting is the last paragraph of the chapter which tells of how, before the fall of the city, Jeremiah was charged by Jehovah to visit Ebed-melech, through whose instrumentality he had been delivered from the dungeon, and promise him protection in the day of calamity. It is a revelation of the fact that when the judgment of God is abroad as vengeance it never proceeds without discrimination, and that those who put their trust in Him are thought upon graciously and delivered.

Jeremiah 40

Chapters forty and forty-one, which contain the prophecies of Jeremiah after the fall of Jerusalem, constitute his last messages to the chosen people. These fall into two parts-first, prophecies against going into Egypt, and, second, prophecies in Egypt.

Jeremiah was evidently taken with the captives, but was released, and Nebuzaradan offered him his choice between going into Babylon and settling anywhere in the land he chose. Jeremiah chose to go to Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the king of Babylon over the cities of Judah. To him certain of the people submitted, and he sought to restore order. There gathered back many of the Jews who were scattered in the surrounding countries. It was reported to the governor by Johanan that Ishmael was there as the emissary of the king of the children of Ammon, and that with intent to take his life. Gedaliah refused to believe the story, and declined to allow Johanan to take the life of Ishmael as he desired to do. This chapter gives us some idea of the appalling condition of affairs. All the rulers and leading men had been carried captive to Babylon. Only the poorest were left, and among them was a spirit of disaffection threatening to manifest itself in many ways.

Jeremiah 41

Johanan's story proved to be true, and by the basest treachery Ishmael, with a handful of men, murdered Gedaliah and a number of others, and carried away the rest captive, intending to take them to the king of the children of Ammon. However, Johanan, who evidently had been watching and waiting, gathered a band of men and went after Ishmael. Ishmael escaped, but Johanan delivered the people from the threat. Afraid of the Chaldeans, they dwelt near Bethlehem, and purposed going into Egypt.

Again we are impressed with the terrible plight of the people. Although the purpose of Ishmael to carry them away to the children of Ammon had been frustrated, yet the man who had been the instrument of the deliverance, Johanan, was now proposing, in contravention of the divine purpose and arrangement, to take them into Egypt. Those in authority, or who were assuming authority, were violating the fundamental principle of faith, and acting merely according to what seemed to be the wisest policy. It is a terrible revelation of the degradation of the chosen people.