Saturday, March 18th 2017
key verse: 3
THE SIEGE AND FALL OF JERUSALEM
The last chapter of Jeremiah talks about the fall of Jerusalem. Jeremiah no longer speaks, as everything passes according to his prophecy.
1. This has happened because of the Lord's anger (1-30)
Babylon invades Jerusalem and destroys the temple and wall. Verse 3 tells us this occurs because of the Lord's anger. The Jews provoked God by their idolatry. Zedekiah rebels against Babylon but in fact he is disobeying Jeremiah's order to surrender to Babylon. There was a siege for 2 years, at the end of which the king and officials fled, but they were caught by the Babylonians who executed the king's sons and put out his eyes. The military commander burns the Lord's house and destroys the wall. The Chaldeans pillage the temple and take the vessels to their own land. The king kills all the officials and deports some of the Jewish nobles. The captain of the guard leaves a handful of the poorest in the city (16).
2. Jehoaichin released (31-34)
This appendix ends with a smaller version summarizing the release of king Jehoiachin. He is the second to last king of Judah but is released by the new Babylonian king and eats continually at the king's table. We don't know exactly how it happened, but it tells us about life's ups and downs. His uncle Zedekiah died in a miserable prison, while his nephew, who had committed the same sin of rebellion, is released after the change in Babylonian kings. Thus, human life seems unpredictable. We must simply fear the Lord, who is sovereign over human history.
Prayer: Lord, help me to not provoke you by sinning, but rather, to obey your commands. We are acquitted thanks to Jesus.
Bottom line: these events have happened because of God's anger
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