Prophecy – Jeremiah 37-41

The stubborn refusal of the people of Judah to heed the warnings of Prophet Jeremiah proved to be their downfall. Instead of listening to the constant warnings of the prophet, they chose to imprison him and Jerusalem finally falls.

Many of the people were taken captive to Babylon, including king Zedekiah – but many more were killed. And for those who remained behind in Judah, their lives continued in uncertainty as assassinations and internal battles abound.

Certainly, there is a lot of excitment in today’s passage…

Bible Passage: Jeremiah 37-41

If you are confused with what you are reading, perhaps this short synopsis can help you understand it better.

Chapters 37-39

The Babylonians were considered to be the biggest threat to the people in Jerusalem as king Nebuchannezar’s aspirations were very clear – conquer Jerusalem and take the people captive to Babylon (the Chaldeans).

Chapter 37 starts off with Jeremiah telling the people not to put their hope in Egypt. For it so happened that as the Babylonians were laying seige at this time, they heard that the armies of Egypt were approaching and they fled (Jeremiah 37:5). This gave the people of Jerusalem false confidence that the Egyptians will always be there to save them from their enemies.

Then Jeremiah was arrested when he went to his hometown in Benjamin. He was charged with attempting to defect to the Babylonians for the Jews thought that he was in cahoots with the enemy (since he always told them to surrender to the Babylonians so that they can live!). He was imprisoned (Jeremiah 37:11-15) and only through the intervention of the eunuch Edef-Melech (Jeremiah 38:7-13) and the private doubts of king Zedekiah (Jeremiah 38:14-26) was Jeremiah spared.

In the end – he was vindicated as Jerusalem fell (Jeremiah 38:28-39:2).

Chapters 40-41

King Nebuchadnezzar left only the poor people who had nothing behind in Jerusalem. He took the rest to Babylonian.

But as for Jeremiah, God’s grace was on him and the king gave specific instructions to the captain of the guard to take good care of Jeremiah. And in that way, Jeremiah was released from chains and was allowed to remain behind.

He lived with Gedaliah – who was left behind to govern the land of Judah. Unfortunately, despite warnings concerning a plot to kill him (Jeremiah 40:13-16), Gedaliah rejected them and was later assassinated. This led to quite a fair number of Jews fleeing to Egypt, despite the protests of Jeremiah (read next week).

Godly Fathers, Troubled Sons

One of the greatest concern for all parents is that for their children. The same goes for the Church – where all the more senior members are extremely concerned about the next generation.

The Bible teaches parents to raise their children “in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesian 6:4).

In Church, there is a great deal of emphasis on Religious Education, Bible Camps and Theological Seminars.

All this is done to train up the next generation so that they will have the right foundation and will be able to fear God and serve him.

But Jeremiah 37:1-2 shows us a stern warning.

“…But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land gave heed to the words of the LORD which He spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.”

Who is he? King Zedekiah – son of King Josiah.

All the religious education and training is no guarantee how our children will turn out. In the end, it is up to the individual to decide whether to follow the Lord or depart from His way to the way of the world.

Parents, teachers and ministers can point our children in the right direction but once the children grows up, they determine for themselves which way they will go.

King Josiah was a man of faith and led the people properly in their worship of God (2 Chronicles 34:1). But all his three sons, including Zedekiah turned away from God and suffered a great deal as a consequence.

So what are we to do?

Does it mean since there is no guarantee how our children will turn out, we just don’t do anything?

Proverbs 22:6 says…

“Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Many a times, parents want to make all the choices for their children. We tell them whether they can do this or should not do that. And more often than not, it becomes nagging. And that, as I know very well, is when our children switch off and stop listening to you, despite your best intentions.

But as I was reflecting on yesterday’s passage on not being overly wise in our own eyes and today’s example of King Josiah and his son Zedekiah, it reinforces the need that we must train up ouf child in the way he should go.

And the only way is the Lord’s way.

We know no other way.

We must make sure our children know the Word of God.

We must make sure that they build up a foundation of faith from young.

We must make sure we do all this so that they at least have a fighting chance and not turn out all wrong.

What else is more important than the spiritual lives of our children?

King Josiah would have been extremely sad and disappointed if he saw how his sons turned out. We just have to trust in the Lord and do our part.

I found this interesting video on “21Memos from a Child”. Food for thought indeed.