Jeremiah 44

Jeremiah 44:17

But rather, we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our moths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food and were well of and saw no misfortune.

Now we understand why the people have turned away, even after seeing their homeland captured.  They know God said not to do things, and it seems for a time they listened.  But it was too little too late, and they later lost everything.

So now, they may still recognize that God exists and has at least some power, but they think their false gods have more, because while they were worshiped things were good.  Why mess with something that was working before?  Since calamity came after changing, we should go back and try to appease those we think we offended.

Jeremiah 43

Jeremiah 43:8

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,

Tahpanhes was where the Jews went to in Egypt to flee the predicted wrath of Babylon.  Jeremiah had told them to not go, or they would be destroyed there.  But they didn't listen, and went anyway.

Why did Jeremiah go with them?  Was he taken prisoner, and unable to chose whether to go?  Did God tell him to go with the people, even if they were making a bad choice?  Or had he decided that if the people were to die, that he should die with them?

Jeremiah 42

Jeremiah 42:16

then the sword, which you are afraid of, will overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the family about which you are anxious, will follow closely after you there in Egypt, and you will die there.

We now get a clearer picture of what I was speculating on in the previous chapter.  The people believe that Babylon will consider them to be in revolt, and will come and destroy them in retaliation for the murder of the governor.  They therefore think the only chance they have is to flee to Egypt, which Babylon doesn't yet control.

However, God's giving them a way out.  He does not want them to leave the land He promised their descendants.  Therefore, He will move Babylon to not destroy them if they stay, but will bring wrath upon them if they go.  They are not to abandon their people's land, even under the fear of death.  And when God gives a command, we who fear Him are to obey, even if it seems suicidal.

Jeremiah 41

Jeremiah 41:18

because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, since Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.

 I'm fuzzy on some of the names here, but as best as I can figure it out, Ishmael had killed the appointed regional governor for Israel, and the people now expected a harsh response.  They think that the Babylonians will take revenge on the whole people for the acts of a few.  Since they think they're going to be killed by the Babylonians, they've decided to flee to Egypt, which is beyond Babylon's control at this point.

Why are they abandoning the land?  Is it because they think that even though they've been spared, this act of defiance will cost them what little they have left?  Or is it that they see their chance to escape and maybe be their own people again?  The nation survived centuries under the Egyptians before, so maybe this was supposed to be Round 2.

Jeremiah 40

Jeremiah 40:12

Then all the Jews returned from all the places to which they had been driven away and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered in wine and summer fruit in great abundance.

The land had been conquered, and only the poorest were left in it.  However, since they were left, and not put into some kind of enslavement, word did get out.  All those who had fled ahead of the invasion could now return.

This gives hope to the people, and for the nation.  The poorest of the poor were probably not enough to properly cultivate or tend the land, and certainly couldn't keep the economy going.  But when word got out that it was safe again, the self-exiled came back.  The remnant of the nation pulled together, and kept things from collapsing further.

Jeremiah 39

Jeremiah 39:18

For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as booty, because you have trusted in Me," declares the LORD.'"

This one man had maintained his faith in God, and now he's rewarded.  To us, it seems like a rather puny reward doesn't it?  He's been faithful through who-knows-what-but-it-couldn't-have-been-good, and therefore...he isn't killed, but still loses everything else.

God never promises the road will be easy.  Believers can lose everything just like unbelievers can.  A tornado doesn't skip over the house of the Christian while leveling all the neighbors.  But being alive is quite the blessing, too; it means that God isn't done using you yet, He still has something left for you to do.  It might just be praising Him for being alive, but there is always something more.

Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah 38:27

Then all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him.  So he reported to them in accordance with all these words which the king had commanded; and they ceased speaking with him, since the conversation had not been overheard.

So, Jeremiah was ordered to lie by the king, and he did it?  He had the truth in his possession, the key to survival.  He could have told more people how to survive, but instead saved his own skin.

Why did he do this?  Was it because he feared for his life if he told the truth?  Wouldn't God protect him, as He had done before?  Or was it simply because they already knew what he had said in other situations, and he knew they would not listen?

Jeremiah 37

Jeremiah 37:20

But now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my petition come before you and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I may not die there."

Jeremiah has just delivered another prophecy of doom to the king, telling him that the city will be destroyed and he will be taken captive.  However, after delivering such bad news, he still has a request to make.  He asks that his life be spared, despite the bad news.

This is a reminder that even if we're doing God's work, that doesn't mean the outcome will be personally good for us.  However, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't do things to work toward our safety.  Unless God has specifically commanded something that would put one in personal danger, there's no problem with trying to be safe.

Jeremiah 36

Jeremiah 36:32

Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the son of Neriah, the scribe, and he wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to them.

You can't hide from the truth, or from God's pronouncement of it.  If God decides that something is going to be known, there is no force that can prevent that from happening.  Here, the king tried to suppress God's message by burning it, but he could not burn the source.

Instead, God had Jeremiah repeat the process, and dictate another scroll with the same information.  Not only that, but he did one better, and added even more to it.  Whether it was simply the additional message that he had received since the first scroll was created, or more specifically added to further condemn the burning of the first scroll, we don't know, but it couldn't have been good news for the offenders.

Jeremiah 35

Jeremiah 35:16

Indeed, the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have observed the command of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to Me.'"'

This family had been faithful.  For some reason, their ancestor had commanded them not to drink wine or build houses or grow crops, and they had followed that command ever since.  No reason for the command was given, but they still obeyed.

That family obeyed their forefather, but the people would not obey God.  A man gave his kids instruction and they listened, but the people wouldn't listen to the one who had saved them from captivity.  God told them all the things He would do if they obeyed, and still they would not.  Why is it so much easier to listen to a person we know, than the God we know only dimly?

Jeremiah 34

Jeremiah 34:9

that each man should set free his male servant and each man his female servant, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman; so that no one should keep them, a Jew his brother, in bondage.

The Jews had been commanded that indentured servitude was permitted, but only for a limited time.  They could sell themselves to a fellow Jew for 7 years go repay a debt.  However, after that 7 years, the master had to release them.

It appears the Jews had not been following this time limit, so God is forcing the issue.  The Jews have let greed or apathy cloud their judgment, and ignored His instructions on dealing with debt.  As a result of this (among other things), they are being besieged by the Babylonians, and are about to lose everything.  God is giving them a chance to get at least some things right, before their punishment.

Jeremiah 33

Jeremiah 33:21

then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers.

As we often do today, the Israelites had thought of God as a permanent fixture in their culture.  He was always there, and always would bless them, because He had made a covenant with David.  Since He's locked into the deal, why not do whatever we want?

However, they had forgotten that a covenant is two-sided.  Both parties have responsibilities and obligations, which must be fulfilled for the covenant to be honored.  They had broken their part of the deal, and therefore God is telling them that His promise is void.

Jeremiah 32

Jeremiah 32:39

and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

Here we see why God wants people to obey Him:  it's for their own good.  God is the only source of authority in this universe, but we tend to forget that.  What He wants is always the best for us, even when we don't realize it.

Therefore, to obey Him is to do good for us.  It's in our best interests, long-term, to do whatever He commands.  However, we tend to get lost in our limited, short-sighted thinking and don't look to God's perspective to see what is best for us or our families.

Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah 31:26

At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.

How many times has some trouble or situation beyond my control kept me awake at night, or woken me up in the middle of the night?  How often have I laid awake, turning a situation over in my head, trying to figure out the right thing to do?  Wouldn't it be nice to get direction, and know that everything would be all right, and be able to relax?

While we are given that reassurance indirectly, Jeremiah got word straight from the source.  That would probably let me sleep easier, too.  But what was it he looked at when he woke up?  I wish I knew...

Jeremiah 30

Jeremiah 30:22

'You shall be My people,
And I will be your God.'"

We see variants of this expression all through the Bible.  Why is it so significant?  I think it's because it denotes a two-way connection.

A lot of cultures, both then and now, give their fealty to something.  But that fealty isn't returned, often because there's nothing real to return it.  On the other hand, God can give His blessing to a people, but if they reject or are indifferent to Him, He will eventually anger and destroy them.  By making it a two-way connection, it becomes self-sustaining.  Both parties keep their promises, and are better for it.

Jeremiah 29

Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.'

You hear this verse used to talk about modern Christians a lot, being in a hostile world.  I've never been quite sure if it applies, given I try to be cautious about taking verses to the ancient Israelites and using them as commands today.  However, whether it specifically applies or not, there is value in remembering it.

We only prosper if those around us do.  If we prosper while our neighbors suffer, we are being cruel and exploitative.  If our benefit doesn't also lead to the benefit of others, either directly or indirectly, something has come unbalanced.  Either we are being too miserly, or we have exploited a loophole in the system somewhere.  If all are poor, it is understandable, but we should be working to make things better, both for others and ourselves.

Jeremiah 28

Jeremiah 28:6

and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen!  May the LORD do so; may the LORD confirm your words which you have prophesied to bring back the vessels of the LORD's house and all the exiles, from Babylon to this place.

It almost sounds like Jeremiah is confirming that this is a true prophecy, but he's not.  He is saying that he wants it to be true, and asks that God would make it true.  He wants the nation restored just as much as anyone else.

However, he includes a caveat here, asking that God confirm its truthfulness.  But that isn't the same thing as saying it is confirmed.  He doesn't know; God has spoken nothing on this to him yet, for or against.  So Jeremiah hopes it might be true, but if so it needs to be confirmed by Him.  We can ask what we want to happen, but we can't make God do what we want.

Jeremiah 27

Jeremiah 27:14

So do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, 'You will not serve the king of Babylon,' for they prophesy a lie to you;

Why would a prophet lie to the king?  If they know the truth, but decide to tell the king something else, they are risking their own lives against God's wrath.  So why do it?

I see two possibilities.  First, they don't think there will be consequences from God, so they fear consequences from the king.  Second, they aren't real prophets, merely liars who have managed to be right or vague enough to avoid discovery.  Either way, they're now being called out.

Jeremiah 26

Jeremiah 26:19

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death?  Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and the LORD changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them?  But we are committing a great evil against ourselves.

It appears there was still some sanity left in Judah during Jeremiah's time.  One of Jerusalem's leaders is saying this to the people.  They know perfectly well what happened before, and how God spared them when they turned back to Him.  So why didn't they put two and two together, and do it again?

Maybe the people decided that the former prophet had been lying, since the destruction he foretold never came.  Or maybe they didn't think they were that far gone, and figured they had room to maneuver still before it got that bad?  Or maybe they just didn't care, or didn't believe God would ever do that at all.

Jeremiah 25

Jeremiah 25:28

And it will be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you will say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts:  "You shall surely drink!

What's God doing here?  It sounds like He is planning to revoke people's free will, to force them to do something they don't want to.  But it may make sense they don't do it, if they're aware that the result will be devastation.

Is God truly going to override their free will?  Or is Jeremiah's command going to be persuasive enough that they do it anyhow?  In the next verse, He talks about how they should share in the suffering of their people, but royalty aren't known for that.

Jeremiah 24

Jeremiah 24:7

I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

Persecution is often very unpleasant, but I'm reminded of what one Samuel Johnson said:  when one knows he is about to be hanged, it focuses the mind.  That's what just happened to the Judeans, in effect.  They've been ransacked, and anyone of worth taken away to Babylon.

However, their utter destruction and exile will make them truly think about why this has happened, and they will come to the correct conclusions.  God told them that if they strayed from obeying Him, they would suffer the consequences, and now they have.  They realize that if they will repent and obey Him again, He will ultimately forgive and restore them, even if it takes time.