Jeremiah 39:1-18
Q.1. Could King Zedekiah and his people escape from judgment? Why? How badly did it go for Zedekiah? – (Jer.39:1-10)
God knew right from the time of Israel’s birth as a nation, that they would treacherously turn to other gods, and break their Covenant with Him. This He had told Moses before Israel ever entered the Promised Land (Deut.31:14-22). Chastisement and judgment would inevitably come. God also knew that Zedekiah would give in to the advice of the rebellious leaders who had persecuted Jeremiah. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar’s army invaded the city of Jerusalem (Jer.39:1-2). Zedekiah and his advisors tried to flee to Egypt for refuge, through the King’s garden, via the Jordan Valley (Jer.39:3-4). They were soon overtaken on the plains of Jericho, and sentence was passed on Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar, at Riblah (Jer.39:5-6). Zedekiah’s royal sons were slain before his eyes – He then blinded Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in fetter of bronze to bring him to Babylon (the last thing he saw) (Jer.39:7). Everything was destroyed. The remaining people were carried into exile, with just a few poor people left to look after the land (Jer.39:8-10). Everything happened, just as Jeremiah had repeatedly warned.
Q.2. How did the Lord provide for His prophet? – (Jer.39:11-14)
Jeremiah was treated with much greater respect by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon than by his own king. Nebuchadnezzar commanded – Take him and look after him, and do nothing harmful to him, but rather deal with him just as he tells you (Jer.39:12). Nebuchadnezzar had no doubt heard of Jeremiah’s prophecies, and his instructions to the Israeli exiles to settle down and raise families, and to – seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare, you will have welfare (Jer.29:7. Jeremiah was taken back to his own home, to safety. He was entrusted into the hands of his friend Gedaliah, who was appointed governor over the land. He also was provided with resources to look after his own welfare (Jer.39:14 c.f. Jer.26:24; 40:5). What an encouraging example of the Lord looking after His own.
Q.3. How did God treat Ebed-melech for his protection of Jeremiah the prophet? – (Jer.39:15-18)
The city of Jerusalem was wrecked, and the people either killed or exiled. However, God did not forget the courage of Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian – 17 But I will deliver you on that day,” declares the Lord, “and you will not be given into the hand of the men whom you dread. 18 For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as booty, because you have trusted in Me,” declares the Lord.’” (Jer.39:17-18). Whether in this life or the one to come, God will come through for His children – 6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Thes.1:6-8).