SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 21
GOD REJECTS ZEDEKIAH’S REQUEST (vs. 1-14)
King Zedekiah sent Pashhur and priest Zephaniah to Jeremiah to inquire from the Lord about the attack of king Nebuchadnezzar. Then Jeremiah told them what the Lord said as follows:
- I am about to turn against you the weapon of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging you. (v. 4)
- I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in anger and fury and great wrath. (v. 5)
- I will strike down those who live in this city – both men and animals – and they will die of a terrible plague. (v. 6)
- I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword and show them no mercy or pity of compassion. (v. 7)
- I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians will escape with his life. (v. 9)
- I have determined to do this city harm and not good. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon and he will destroy it with fire. (v. 10)
- Administer justice every morning; rescue form the hand of his oppressor, the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done – burn with no one to quench it. (v. 12)
- “I am against you , Jerusalem who say ” Who can come against us? Who can enter our refuge?” (v. 13)
- I will punish you as your deeds deserve. I will kindle a fire in your forests that will consume everything around you. (v. 14).
GOD GAVE 3 MESSAGES FOR PROPHET JEREMIAH TO BE DELIVERED:
- TO KING ZEDEKIAH – Babylon is not fighting against you. It it God who is fighting against you. (vs. 1-7)
- TO THE PEOPLE – Choose between life and death. Stay in the city and you die. Surrender to the Babylonians and you will live. (vs. 8-10)
- TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID – Administer justice every morning, rescue from the hand of his oppressor, the one who has been robbed or my wrath will break out and burn like fire. I will punish you as your deeds deserve. (v. 11-12)
THOUGHTS:
King Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. He decided to rebel against king Nebuchadnezzar. He turned to God for help but without acknowledging God’s warning. His hopes were dashed and he ended up being captured and seeing his sons slain.
Despite of his hard work, Jeremiah faced rejection and disappointment. In doing God’s work, we shall do in living out our faith because God has important work for each one of us to do.
King Zedekiah only sought the Lord during times of trouble and ignored Him in times of prosperity. How is your relationship with God? Are you using Him occasionally to escape trouble or do you really follow and obey his commands?