[:en]SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 40
“When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the Lord has brought it about;l he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Loo, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please” (Jeremiah 40:2-4)
JEREMIAH FREED
A Babylonian officer named Nebuzaradan knew Jeremiah’s prophesies. He told Jeremiah to come with him to Babylon or stay with the hurting people of the land. Jeremiah chose to remain with the hurting people to give them encouragement.
Gedaliah was appointed by the king of Babylon as governor over the land to be in charge of the poorest in the land who had not been carried into exile to Babylon. Johanan came to warn Gedaliah that Ishmael was sent by Baalis, king of the Ammonite to kill him. But Gedaliah did not believe. Johanan asked permission from Gedaliah to kill Ismael so that his life and all the remnant of Judah will not perish. But Gedaliah said to him: “Don’t do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true” (v. 16)[:]