Jeremiah 22:1-30
Q.1. Was there hope for the king? What testimony would Judah’s demise evoke? Why were they to weep for the survivors? – (Jer.22:1-12)
Jeremiah went to the palace of King Zedekiah and placed before him a way of escape – 3 Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you men will indeed perform this thing, then kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people (Jer.22:3-4). Even at that late hour, God still had the power to save him and the nation. However, the king and his people were too far gone to repent (Jer.22:5). Though Jerusalem had been like the lofty mountains and forests of Gilead and Lebanon, the nation would be cut down and thrown in the fire (Jer.22:6-7). Their destruction would raise the question – 8 ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this great city?’ 9 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the covenant of the Lord their God and bowed down to other gods and served them’ (Jer.22:8-9). Rather than weep for the dead they should weep for the royal family who would die in a foreign land and never see their homeland again (Jer.22:11-12).
Q.2. What made previous kings great? How would the kings in Jeremiah’s generation be dishonoured? – (Jer.22:13-30 c.f. Jer.1:2-3)
God questioned the king’s trust in his wealth. He contrasted him with former kings of Judah, with the question – 15 … Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. 16 He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me? Declares the Lord. 17 But your eyes and your heart are intent only upon your own dishonest gain, and on shedding innocent blood and on practicing oppression and extortion (Jer.22:15-17). Because they had refused to heed His warnings, they would die in shame (Jer.22:18-23). Because as they had broken the covenant, God would throw away their signet ring of authority (Jer.22:24-27). They would never return to the Promised land, nor bear descendants to sit on David’s throne (Jer.22:28-30).