SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 39
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM (vs. 1-18)
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it during the 9th year and in the 10th month of Zedekiah, king of Judah. Zedekiah and all the soldiers fled and left the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the gate between the 2 walls and headed toward the Arabah. But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar in the land of Hamath. The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and killed the nobles of Judah. Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. (v. 5 -7). The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan, commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon all the people but left behind some of the poor and gave them vineyards and fields.
King Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to take Jeremiah and look after him and do for him whatever he asks. So Jeremiah was taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedaliah to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people. While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord told him to go to Ebed-Melech and tell him that God is going to fulfill his words against this city through disaster. But he will be rescued and saved. He will not fall by the sword by will escape with his life because he trusted the Lord.
THOUGHTS:
Zedekiah refused to follow what God had told him to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar. Instead, he fled but was captured. He saw the execution of his own sons and he was being blinded.
Jeremiah was faithful in his ministry. He courageously proclaimed God’s word for 40 years. But the people refused to obey what he said. By the results, Jeremiah was a failure but he chose to remain with his people and minster to them with a shepherd’s heart.
Ebed-Melech was rewarded for his kindness by risking his life to save Jeremiah. He was a Cushite, an outsider but he had put his faith in God of Israel. An outsider trusted the Lord but the Jews rebelled against God.