Jeremiah 37: A King's Weakness and a Prophet's Steadfastness
And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the Lord, which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah.
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the Lord our God for us.
Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison.
Then Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.
Then came the word of the Lord unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.
Thus saith the Lord; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.
For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.
And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,
Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people.
And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.
Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.
When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;
Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the Lord? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?
Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?
Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.
Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
Jeremiah 37 marks a crucial juncture in Judah's history, chronicling the final, desperate days of King Zedekiah's reign before Jerusalem's fall to the Babylonians. These chapters (37-39) unfold in chronological order, offering a stark portrayal of Zedekiah's failures and Jeremiah's unwavering commitment to God's word.
Zedekiah's Disregard (Jeremiah 37:1-2)
Jeremiah 37:1-2 highlights Zedekiah's tragic resemblance to his predecessors. Appointed as a puppet king by Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah, like those before him, stubbornly ignored the Lord's repeated warnings delivered through Jeremiah. Despite his precarious position, he chose rebellion, sealing Judah's fate. Had he heeded God's voice, disaster might have been averted. This serves as a potent reminder that even those in positions of limited power have the agency to choose obedience and potentially alter the course of history.
A Momentary Reprieve and a Harsh Prophecy (Jeremiah 37:3-10)
A temporary lull in the Babylonian siege occurred when the Chaldean army withdrew to confront Pharaoh's forces advancing from Egypt (Jeremiah 37:5). In this moment of apparent relief, Zedekiah sought Jeremiah's prayers, likely hoping for an Egyptian victory that would force the Babylonians to abandon their siege (Jeremiah 37:3). However, God's plan was unwavering.
Jeremiah was instructed to deliver an unyielding message to Zedekiah: Babylon would undoubtedly destroy Judah (Jeremiah 37:6-9). The outcome was not contingent on human strength or political maneuvering but on God's sovereign judgment. Even if the Babylonian army was reduced to wounded men, God was determined to see the city, steeped in wickedness, consumed by fire (Jeremiah 37:10). This emphasizes the futility of seeking human solutions when divine judgment has been pronounced. God's word will stand, regardless of temporary respites or hopeful interventions.
Imprisonment and Accusation (Jeremiah 37:11-16)
With the temporary withdrawal of the Babylonian army, a brief window of opportunity opened. Jeremiah attempted to leave Jerusalem to attend to family matters in his hometown in the land of Benjamin (Jeremiah 37:11-12). However, his journey was cut short at the gate when he was apprehended by Irijah, an officer of the guard (Jeremiah 37:13). Falsely accused of deserting to the enemy, Jeremiah's protests were ignored. Irijah brought him before the officials, who beat him and imprisoned him in a dungeon, where he remained for many days (Jeremiah 37:14-16). This episode illustrates the personal cost of faithfulness. Jeremiah, obedient to God's call, faced unjust treatment and imprisonment, highlighting the frequent conflict between prophetic truth and societal resistance.
Zedekiah's Wavering and a Prophet's Plea (Jeremiah 37:17-21)
Zedekiah's character is further revealed in his weak response to Jeremiah's mistreatment. His wavering nature, which resurfaces in Jeremiah 38:5, is evident in his initial allowance of the prophet's suffering. Yet, deep down, Zedekiah seemed to recognize the truth in Jeremiah's words. He secretly summoned the prophet to inquire about God's latest message.
Unfortunately for Zedekiah, the message remained unchanged: he would be handed over to the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 37:17). Knowing this was unwelcome news, Jeremiah seized the opportunity to plead for better treatment, contrasting his unwavering faithfulness with the sudden disappearance of false prophets who had downplayed the Babylonian threat (Jeremiah 37:18-20). Acknowledging the validity of Jeremiah's plea, Zedekiah moved him to a more comfortable place where he could be cared for (Jeremiah 37:21). This act, while providing some relief, did not eliminate the danger Jeremiah faced from his enemies. Zedekiah's partial intervention underscores the complex dynamics between political expediency and genuine conviction. While he recognized Jeremiah's integrity, his fear of others prevented him from fully embracing and acting upon the prophet's message.
Jeremiah 37 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's word and the importance of remaining steadfast in the face of adversity. It highlights the contrast between a weak, indecisive leader and a courageous prophet who remained true to his calling, even when it meant suffering and imprisonment. The chapter also encourages us to examine our own responses to God's word, urging us to choose obedience over comfort and faithfulness over fear.
And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the Lord, which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah.
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the Lord our God for us.
Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison.
Then Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.
Then came the word of the Lord unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.
Thus saith the Lord; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.
For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.
And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,
Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people.
And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.
Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.
When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;
Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the Lord? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?
Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?
Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.
Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
Jeremiah 37 marks a crucial juncture in Judah's history, chronicling the final, desperate days of King Zedekiah's reign before Jerusalem's fall to the Babylonians. These chapters (37-39) unfold in chronological order, offering a stark portrayal of Zedekiah's failures and Jeremiah's unwavering commitment to God's word.
Zedekiah's Disregard (Jeremiah 37:1-2)
Jeremiah 37:1-2 highlights Zedekiah's tragic resemblance to his predecessors. Appointed as a puppet king by Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah, like those before him, stubbornly ignored the Lord's repeated warnings delivered through Jeremiah. Despite his precarious position, he chose rebellion, sealing Judah's fate. Had he heeded God's voice, disaster might have been averted. This serves as a potent reminder that even those in positions of limited power have the agency to choose obedience and potentially alter the course of history.
A Momentary Reprieve and a Harsh Prophecy (Jeremiah 37:3-10)
A temporary lull in the Babylonian siege occurred when the Chaldean army withdrew to confront Pharaoh's forces advancing from Egypt (Jeremiah 37:5). In this moment of apparent relief, Zedekiah sought Jeremiah's prayers, likely hoping for an Egyptian victory that would force the Babylonians to abandon their siege (Jeremiah 37:3). However, God's plan was unwavering.
Jeremiah was instructed to deliver an unyielding message to Zedekiah: Babylon would undoubtedly destroy Judah (Jeremiah 37:6-9). The outcome was not contingent on human strength or political maneuvering but on God's sovereign judgment. Even if the Babylonian army was reduced to wounded men, God was determined to see the city, steeped in wickedness, consumed by fire (Jeremiah 37:10). This emphasizes the futility of seeking human solutions when divine judgment has been pronounced. God's word will stand, regardless of temporary respites or hopeful interventions.
Imprisonment and Accusation (Jeremiah 37:11-16)
With the temporary withdrawal of the Babylonian army, a brief window of opportunity opened. Jeremiah attempted to leave Jerusalem to attend to family matters in his hometown in the land of Benjamin (Jeremiah 37:11-12). However, his journey was cut short at the gate when he was apprehended by Irijah, an officer of the guard (Jeremiah 37:13). Falsely accused of deserting to the enemy, Jeremiah's protests were ignored. Irijah brought him before the officials, who beat him and imprisoned him in a dungeon, where he remained for many days (Jeremiah 37:14-16). This episode illustrates the personal cost of faithfulness. Jeremiah, obedient to God's call, faced unjust treatment and imprisonment, highlighting the frequent conflict between prophetic truth and societal resistance.
Zedekiah's Wavering and a Prophet's Plea (Jeremiah 37:17-21)
Zedekiah's character is further revealed in his weak response to Jeremiah's mistreatment. His wavering nature, which resurfaces in Jeremiah 38:5, is evident in his initial allowance of the prophet's suffering. Yet, deep down, Zedekiah seemed to recognize the truth in Jeremiah's words. He secretly summoned the prophet to inquire about God's latest message.
Unfortunately for Zedekiah, the message remained unchanged: he would be handed over to the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 37:17). Knowing this was unwelcome news, Jeremiah seized the opportunity to plead for better treatment, contrasting his unwavering faithfulness with the sudden disappearance of false prophets who had downplayed the Babylonian threat (Jeremiah 37:18-20). Acknowledging the validity of Jeremiah's plea, Zedekiah moved him to a more comfortable place where he could be cared for (Jeremiah 37:21). This act, while providing some relief, did not eliminate the danger Jeremiah faced from his enemies. Zedekiah's partial intervention underscores the complex dynamics between political expediency and genuine conviction. While he recognized Jeremiah's integrity, his fear of others prevented him from fully embracing and acting upon the prophet's message.
Jeremiah 37 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's word and the importance of remaining steadfast in the face of adversity. It highlights the contrast between a weak, indecisive leader and a courageous prophet who remained true to his calling, even when it meant suffering and imprisonment. The chapter also encourages us to examine our own responses to God's word, urging us to choose obedience over comfort and faithfulness over fear.