Jeremiah

Jeremiah Chapter 39

• Jeremiah 39:1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
• 2 And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.
• 3 And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
• 4 And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain.
• 5 But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.
• 6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.
• 7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.

We see the cruelty and wrath of people who do not know God. They actually killed Zedekiah's sons and then put out the eyes of Zedekiah. This happened to Samson too. The enemy armies put out his eyes. It shows how cruel people can after years of idolatry and false religion.

I read a comment by someone in the United States giving criticism about someone who went into India to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ. She stated, "What right does he have?" and so forth. Her comments were critical of Christianity and pushing the gospel on other people.

I marvel at the blindness by some, not all of the people in the United States. Don't they realize that the sole reason the United States is a blessed country that has respect for human lives is because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The sole reason we have freedom of religion in American is because of the influence of Jesus Christ and Christianity.

The reason God has allowed the prosperity of the United States is to spread the gospel all over the world. He has used this country for that purpose. The minute we forsake God and forbid the spreading of the gospel, we are history. The minute the United States starts persecuting those that believe in Jesus Christ and the minute we start forbidding the preaching of the gospel, we will not be a great nation anymore if we are allowed to exist at all.

How do I know that? By reading the book of Jeremiah and the other books of the bible.

Jeremiah is a prophet sent by God to warn of Judah's idolatry and of their forsaking the God who created all things; to worship other gods that are not gods. Jeremiah was sent to them over and over again with warnings and pleadings. He knew what the evil nation that was coming was like. Since Judah preferred the evil instead of the goodness of God, God allowed evil to come upon them. A fierce wicked king came to bring them into bondage. Some were killed and some were made slaves.

Do we want that in the United States? Don't we realize that if we lift our tongues and hands against those that bring the gospel, God may allow a wicked nation to rule here? Some have been so afraid of church and state joining together. They have been so afraid that Christians are going to deny them their rights that they have taken God out of schools and prayer from being read in the morning along with the pledge of allegiance.

They didn't know what they were doing back in 1963. Blindness was upon America then. We were in reality biting the hand that fed us.

The thing they feared from the Christians was non-existent. The real fear is having a religion take over who forces everyone to follow it's teachings or else they are put to death. Is that what we want?

Do you want Christianity destroyed and have another religion in its place? Do you not realize that most other religions are a whole lot more intolerant than the Christianity in the United States has been? Talk about women's rights. There are religions today who treat women as property. They have no rights at all. We yell and scream about a woman's right to choose in America, not realizing that God hears us. Would you women really like to lose that right to choose? Then cast out the Christians and you will see what real bondage is.

We've had it good in America. We've been so spoiled. We think when a company hires us, they owe us pay without work, full health care, and lots of goodies that was unheard of 100 years ago. We have become so greedy, unthankful and demanding. What if all that was taken away?

There are people in the world starving, suffering, in slavery, unjustly imprisoned. I could go on and on.  In the United States our poorest people are rich compared to other nations. Yet are we thankful? No, we just want more and more. We demand more rights. We sue to get more money with frivolous law suits, We demand, complain and never have enough. When times get bad, instead of getting behind the president and congress to help figure a way out, we blame them and criticize.

If only we would look to God when things begin to go wrong and be thankful for what we have. I'm preaching at myself here. It's so easy to start complaining.

Israel had it so good after they came out of Egypt and finally went into the promise land. God was with them. The bad began to happen when they started getting away from God.

In most cases God doesn't have to do anything. God doesn't really have to send judgment, all He has to do is do nothing and we destroy ourselves.

What happened to Zedekiah is grievous but he did bring it upon himself. I know the innocent sometimes suffer for the gospel's sake but immediately they receive eternal comfort and peace in Heaven where no one can hurt them anymore. To suffer because we have forsaken God though will be for eternity unless we repent and turn back to God.

• Jeremiah 39:8 And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.

The prophecy Jeremiah gave came to pass. The prophecies that are yet to be filled will be fulfilled and nothing can stop it. I don't care what anyone of importance says, they can't stop God's word from coming to pass. The king and all his false prophets and priests could not stop Babylon. No one can stop the future tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ either. If you mock, deny, criticize, and bad-mouth the preachers it will not change a thing. God's word will come to pass. 

• Jeremiah 39:9 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained.
• 10 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

These people were cruel as we saw in their treatment of Zedekiah so we see here their treatment of the poor is only by the mercy and grace of God. God left a remnant and showed His love and care at this point. He did not forsake the faithful.

• Jeremiah 39:11 Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,
• 12 Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.

God's promise to Jeremiah is fulfilled here. He is rewarding his faithfulness by moving upon  Nebuzaradan to look after Jeremiah's well-being. These kind of things come from God. God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. 

• Jeremiah 39:13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;
• 14 Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
• 15 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
• 16 Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.
• 17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.
• 18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

God rewarded Jeremiah for putting his trust in Him and risking his life for Him. God rewarded him with deliverance. He suffered so much evil because he presented God's word but now he is receiving good and his enemies were receiving bad.

So this will be upon all who turn from God and treat the messengers of God with cruelty. He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. There are those that die for the cause of Christ but they have everlasting life with a new body and no more suffering. Those that die without Christ inherit everlasting punishment and torment.

• Revelation 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 

The Lord will bring vengeance for those that kill His believers.

• Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 
  13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 

Being killed doesn't sound like fun but in the end, no one can bring any harm to them. They are safe forever and will have new bodies that can never die.

• Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The invitation to partake of the water of life is for all who will believe and receive Jesus Christ. Turn from sin and trust Jesus today.DC

Jeremiah 40