In this chapter, we learn that if we listen to God and do right by Him, God will do right by us. Here’s the chapter in its entirety: “It was in January during the ninth year of King Zedekiah’s reign that King Nebuchadnezzar and his army returned to besiege Jerusalem. Two and a half years later, on July 18, the Babylonians broke through the wall, and the city fell. (Wow! Jerusalem conquered and defeated!) All the officers of the Babylonian army came in and sat in triumph at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, and Nebo-sarsekim, a chief officer, and Nergal-sharezer, the king’s adviser, and many others.
King Zedekiah and his royal guard saw the Babylonians in the city gate, so they fled when the darkness of night arrived. They went out through a gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden, and headed toward the Jordan Valley. But the Babylonians chased the king and caught him on the plains of Jericho. They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who was a Riblah in the land of Hamath. There the king of Babylon pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah. He made Zedekiah watch as they killed his sons and all the nobles of Judah. Then he gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in chains, and sent him away to exile in Babylon. (Wow! Now we know that King Zedekiah didn’t listen to Jeremiah when Jeremiah told him to surrender in the previous chapter, so all would be well with him and his family. Instead, Zedekiah fled and he did not escape, just as the Lord said.)
Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the palace, and tore down the walls of the city. (Wow! Just as the Lord said would happen, if King Zedekiah would not surrender!) Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, sent to Babylon the remnant of the population as well as those who had defected to him. But Nebuzaradan left a few of the poorest people in Judah, and he assigned them fields and vineyards to care for.
Jeremiah Remains in Judah
King Nebuchadnezzar had told Nebuzaradan to find Jeremiah. “See that he isn’t hurt,” he had said, “Look after him well, and give him anything he wants.” So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, and Nebushazban, a chief officer, and Nergal-sharezer, the king’s adviser, and the other officers of Babylon’s king sent messengers to bring Jeremiah out of the prison. They put him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who was to take him back to his home. So Jeremiah stayed in Judah among his own people. (Wow…God’s favor! The Lord takes care of His servants!)
The Lord had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison: “Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, but I will rescue you from those you fear so.much. Because you trusted me, I will preserve your life and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’” (Jeremiah 39) (Wow! Look at what happens when you listen and trust in the Lord…He takes care of you! Jeremiah and Ebed-melech are worthy recipients of God’s favor! Yes!)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for confirming your Word and demonstrating that if we, simply, listen and trust you, you will FOREVER love and protect us. Lord, develop in us a trusting spirit that produces 100% trust in you! Lord, we love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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