November 19th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

No Escape

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Opening Prayer

Lord, in the midst of the temporal events of today, open new eternal truths for me from Your Word.

Read Jeremiah 39:1-18

[1] In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. [2] And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through. [3] Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. [4] When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah. [5] But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. [6] There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah. [7] Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. [8] The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. [9] Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people. [10] But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields. [11] Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: [12] “Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.” [13] So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers of the king of Babylon [14] sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people. [15] While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him: [16] “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city-words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. [17] But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. [18] I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the LORD.'”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive what is due to them for the things done … whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10, TNIV).

Think Further

The initial focus (1-7) is on Zedekiah, who was installed as king by the Babylonians when they first captured Jerusalem, but who was willing to lead a rebellion against them, despite Jeremiah’s warnings. The siege was a matter of both sides sitting it out and seeing who gave up first. It lasted a year and a half before the Babylonians were victorious. Zedekiah’s dash for freedom proves futile. The Babylonians decide on a terrible punishment for their disloyal puppet king, a slow death. Let him be blinded, and let his last memory of sight be that of seeing those dearest to him executed before him; then let him die in prison.

Rebellious Jerusalem is comprehensively destroyed, and its territory redistributed to the poor, presumably so that they would feel grateful and loyal to Babylon (8-10). Yet, within this general desolation, two people, Jeremiah (11-14) and Ebed-Melek, the faithful foreigner (vs. 15-18), are singled out because of God’s providentially providing for those loyal to him (c.f. Jer. 38:1-13). Nebuchadnezzar’s favorable orders concerning Jeremiah would not have been a conscious attempt to realize the Lord’s promise to protect Jeremiah (Jer. 1:8,19). Rather, he had presumably heard that Jeremiah repeatedly told the people of Jerusalem to submit to Babylon, and may have simply considered Jeremiah to be on his side. Ebed-Melek was given a promise of survival prior to the time of our narrative so that when the disaster came, he would know how to face it with hope; his trust brings life.

The whole narrative is told in a strikingly matter-of-fact way. Those who have read Jeremiah thus far know that it was faithlessness that led to the disaster, but at times it can be potent to refrain from moralizing, and let events speak for themselves.

Apply

“God cannot be mocked. People reap what they sow” (Gal. 6:7). How do you see or have you seen that happen?

Closing prayer

Lord, these are stern words. I am grateful for the many wonderful things You give me. Never let me forget that I am also accountable to You.

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