Read Jeremiah 39
For over 40 years now Jeremiah has been faithfully proclaiming the Word of the Lord. Jeremiah 1:2-3 shows us that his ministry has spanned the reign of many kings, right up to the exile.
Jeremiah 1:2–3
“The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon King of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah King of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah King of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.”
Over these 4 years Jeremiah has endured mocking, death threats, beatings, imprisonment and even attempts on his life. Yet he has not waivered in this faithfulness to the Word of the Lord.
Now in chapter 39, which is obviously closely linked to chapter 52, Judah is in ruins and the city has been dashed to the ground. King Zedekiah, for his part, has proven to be a spineless leader vacillating between various parties and effectively refusing to do anything productive or constructive. After the victorious onslaught of the Babylonian army, he and his family escaped the city and fled towards the Arabah, hoping to find freedom and safety. But he was overtaken by the army and taken to the Babylonian King at Riblah. There he watched his family and the officials be mercilessly executed. Even more so, his eyes were ‘put out’ and he was led in chains to Babylon - the recent massacre burned eternally onto his memory.
As we contemplate the horror of the situation for King Zedekiah and the people of Judah, we realise that the entire situation could have been avoided at several stages. Both Jeremiah and the earlier prophets from God had called the nation to repent and change their ways. Had the nation repented and returned to the Lord the tragedy would have been avoided. Also, when the Babylonians attacked and besieged the city, Jeremiah called the people of Judah to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar. Had the king and the people obeyed the Lord, they would have been spared great tragedy and suffering.
Often in our own lives we endure needless suffering, heart ache and tragedy because we refuse to listen to the Lord and continue to walk in wilful disobedience. As the old hymn, ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ so correctly warns us,
‘Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!’
Our God will discipline us and chastise us if we continue to walk in disobedience. Let us turn and walk in obedience and strive to be all that Christ Jesus has called us to be.
Prayer:
Using today’s Bible passage and notes write down points for
Adoration:
Confession
Thanks
Supplication:
· Pray that the Word of God would be boldly and fearlessly preached and that it would bring great conviction upon us to lead godly and holy lives as we walk through this world towards our heavenly home.
· Pray that we would be a people who joyfully and willingly walk in the ways of the Lord.
1. By flicking through the book of Jeremiah, see if you can draw up a personality profile for King Zedekiah.
2. As you contemplate the cross of Jesus,together with the exile of Judah, how does this chapter apply to us this side of the cross. See also 1 Peter 4:16-19.
P r e p a r a t i o n f o r C e l l
Read this week’s passage and jot
down any problems or issues that come to mind about the passage, it’s
application or meaning to you and/or your church.
O n Y o u r O w n
Key Words/Phrases Jeremiah 52
Use this space to write down and define key words/phrases. Look for
repetition and biblical themes from other parts of the Bible.
P r e p a r a t i o n f o r C e l l
After
your cell has met, jot down the solutions you
found.
P r a y e r
Prayer:
How does
this passage lead you to pray in terms of
Adoration: Confession Thanks Supplication:
Non
Believers to be Praying for
The Passage: Jeremiah 52
Before
Cell, complete the ‘On Your Own’ section on the previous page. Describe the
context of Jeremiah 52
What is happening theologically in Jeremiah
chapter 52?
How would you explain chapter 52 to a non Christian?
How would you describe the main point of
chapter 52?
Describe how the Jews must have felt watching their city, their
Temple and their land being destroyed by the Babylonians.
Why do you think the writer records the
destruction of the Temple?
Why does
the writer record the carrying off into exile the articles of the Temple?
In
the list in Jeremiah 52 and the parallel list in 2 Kings 25, the ark of the
covenant is not listed as being taken into exile. Given that
it’s perhaps the most important article in
the temple, why do you think
it’s not listed in the items taken into exile?
Why does the writer tell us about the chief priest, the commanders
and royal officials being
executed in verses 22-27.
What is the purpose of listing the number of people sent to exile
in the closing verses of the book?
What
message can Christians take away from this final chapter of Jeremiah?
Describe one practical thing you can take away from this passage
that gives you stamina in terms of maintaining your ministry and
calling. Think of your
head heart hands
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