Jeremiah Chapter 52: You are God’s temple, God’s home
This final chapter recounts Jerusalem’s besiegement and eventual fall. The Babylonian army surrounds Jerusalem’s walls from the 9th year of King Zedekiah’s reign till his 11th year, causing a severe famine in the city (as prophesied in Jeremiah 21:8, Ezekiel 6:12). Then, the end comes. The Babylonians break through the city wall. Chaos ensues.
What I find sad is the intense precision with which items pillaged from the temple are detailed, down to how many pomegranates were on the pillars and how many bronze bulls were under it (Jeremiah 52:17-23). This meticulous care reveals the writer’s intense concern for the temple of the Lord.
This is precious and rare, especially in contrast with a community of Israelites for whom God’s house no longer urged them towards pure devotion towards Him. In God’s eyes, Israel had filled the temple with idols (Ezekiel 8:7-16). Though they may have physically been in the temple, their hearts were no longer with God. Do we attend church, yet have hearts that are far from God?
A few years earlier, God showed Ezekiel the glory of God (representing God) departing from the temple, moving from the cherub, to the temple’s threshold, the temple’s east gate, and then to the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 9:3, 10:4, 10:18-19, 11:22-23). God’s own children had driven Him away by rejecting Him, choosing sinfulness.
Today, you and I are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). What secular or sinful ways might we follow that are not in line with God’s way? Are there any spiritual idols we have in our hearts? You and I can check our attitudes and actions, and work on being holy before God.
Yet as we do so, let us avoid an unhealthy, shame-filled self-flagellation where we wallow in our weaknesses.
Remember: God is not like a traffic policeman who slyly waits in a hidden corner, hoping to catch people driving poorly. Recall the prophets’ incessant and patient calls to repentance, and even the ‘blueprint of salvation’ Jeremiah offers to the disobedient Zedekiah (Jeremiah 38:17-21).
God wants nobody to perish. He is certainly invested in helping us be His holy dwelling place, and He welcomes every repentant person joyfully (Luke 15:7).
It is a great privilege and blessing for the Lord of heaven and earth to make His home with you and me (John 14:23; Acts 17:24). What a pity it would be if we drove this Almighty God away by defiling ourselves.
Enjoy this sweet fellowship, keep God’s home holy, and draw close to Him.
APPENDIX
Reading other chapters in Jeremiah gives us a more holistic picture of what happens in those years of the siege. Can you recall them?
During the Babylonian siege, Jeremiah buys a field according to God’s instructions in Jeremiah 32. This is despite such actions seeming rather futile in the face of the city’s total destruction, for it was God’s sign to gather His people and bring them back to Jerusalem.
Read our devotional on Jeremiah 32.
Jeremiah 39 tells us what happens to Jeremiah during the fall of the city: the Babylonians free from prison and bring him home. He is not taken captive to Babylon.
Read our devotional on Jeremiah 39.
Zedekiah being delivered to the Babylonians and Jerusalem being burned by fire are prophesied in Jeremiah 34; God was angry after Zedekiah reverses his decision for Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for Hebrew slaves.
Read our devotional on Jeremiah 34.
What happens after Jerusalem falls? In Jeremiah 40 to 44 we see further acts of political unrest and spiritual disobedience by those who remain in Jerusalem.
Read our devotional on Jeremiah 40.
Note: A similar description of items in the temple being taken away can be found in 2 Kings 25, but Jeremiah 52 includes more details.
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