TUESDAY, 14 MAY 2024
TEXT:
Jeremiah 39:1-14
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.
(New International Version Holy
Bible)
TOPIC:
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM
Whenever
God sends His Word, it must be fulfilled, no matter man's machinations.
King
Nebuchadnezzar was not in a hurry to destroy the city. He subjected them to a
slow and devastating torture by completely laying siege all around them.
It
lasted for 18 months during which the inhabitants watched helplessly, knowing
fully well that they would be taken away at any moment.
Imagine
the emotional and spiritual torture they must have gone through because it
seemed the Lord was far away from them.
Imagine
Zedekiah's humiliation as he watched his sons slaughtered along with the
nobles, his eyes gouged out and his being dragged in bronze chains all the way
to Babylon as a slave.
Perhaps
if he had listened to Jeremiah's prophecy they would have been taken to Babylon
with some modicum of dignity.
Anyone
who rejects God's grace and mercy in Christ Jesus and persists in sin must be
prepared to face the consequences, sooner or later.
QUESTION:
Is your life characterized by obedience or rebellion to the Word of God?
PRAYER:
Kindly say your prayers in accordance with your response to the question above.
Remain
Blessed
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