THURSDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2023
TEXT:
Jeremiah 39:1-19
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.’”
(New
International Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
JEREMIAH WAS WELL-TREATED BY THE BABYLONIANS, UNLIKE HIS OWN PEOPLE
All of Jeremiah's words
of doom and judgement were fulfilled on the tenth day. Zedekiah's family was
slaughtered before his eyes, including his council members who conspired to
kill Jeremiah.
Zedekiah's eyes were
gouged out, he was shackled and taken to Babylon (Iraq). Jeremiah and
Ebed-Melek were spared and treated well by the Babylonians.
Nebuchadnezzar ordered
Nebuzaradan, the commander of the imperial guard, to take Jeremiah and look
after him.
If your fellow
Christians have conspired to harm you for no reason, be rest assured that God
can use even unbelievers to bless you and add value to your life.
Hear this: "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" (Jeremiah 39:18).
QUESTION:
Are you a victim of an evil conspiracy in the hands of so-called Christians?
PRAYER:
Thank You, Father, for the consolation that You can use even my enemies to
bless me. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
No comments:
Post a Comment