Day 903: Jeremiah 39- Daylight Will Break Through

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city. 3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sar-ezer of Samgar, Nebu-sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, with all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon. 4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled, going out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls; and they went toward the Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; and he passed sentence on him. 6 The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7 He put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon. 8 The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the house of the people, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained. 10 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
The Lord Delivers Jeremiah11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying, 12 “Take him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon 14 sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he lived among the people.
15 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: 16 “Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’”
 
Meditation
God’s judgement is difficult to digest because His holiness is beyond our comprehension and His justice is purer than we can process. Yet in God’s wrath He remembers mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).
 
God is not mentioned in today’s reading but He is not absent, either. God predicted the devastation (34:3) and proclaimed His sovereignty over the suffering (25:8-11). God “does not willingly bring affliction or grief” (Lamentations 3:33) and “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11). God cannot bear to see the trajedy.
 
The judgement of Judah is recorded in more detail in 2 Kings 25. Like the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the perishing of the wilderness generation, and the conquest of Canaan; God’s judgement is pierced by mercy. In a redemptive reversal, the poor of the land “who had nothing” received vineyards and fields (10). Jeremiah was promised protection (11-14) and Ebed-melech the Ethiopian was secured in salvation (15-18). God saves those who are dependent on Him for Divine deliverance.
 
Jerusalem was judged for their sins through the rod of Babylon. Jesus Christ was judged for our sins, the rod of God used for the satisfaction of God’s just wrath against sin. As Zedekiah’s eyes were gouged out after seeing the death of his sons, so the Father turned His face away from the death of His Son that through Christ’s death believers may have a new day dawn.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Why is God’s just judgement difficult to digest? Are you surprised to see daylight breaking forth from the darkness?
 
-How does God remembering mercy and saving those whose faith is in Him fuel your faith?
 
-Who do you know that needs to encounter Christ freshly for salvation from God’s just judgement against sin? When will you share the hope of salvation in Christ with them?
 
Key Verse
 18 For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’”