Title Jeremiah's Crisis/Jeremiah 38
Jeremiah's Crisis
Jeremiah 38
1. Jeremiah thrown into a pit of mud (1-13)
① Jeremiah’s prophecy and imprisonment (1-6)
As Jeremiah once again proclaims the message of judgment, he faces a serious crisis. This prophecy is both a repetition and a summary of a previous message. That is, those who remain in Jerusalem will die by sword, famine, or calamity, and only those who escape to Babylon will survive. Therefore, Jeremiah urged us not to oppose the Babylonian captivity, but to surrender and save life. These were heard by the four princes, Shebadiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Bathhor, Jugal son of Selemiah, and Bathhor son of Malkiiah. The princes demanded that the king kill Jeremiah, for whom his rebellious words had markedly demoralized the soldiers and all the people. With the consent of the helpless Zedekiah, Jeremiah was put into Malkiiah's mud pit in the court of the demonstrators. The leaders of Judah were completely corrupted and persecuted and imprisoned the prophets who preached the word of God. Those who live contrary to God's will like this play a role of persecuting and suffering righteous saints.
② Rescue of Jeremiah and the situation after that (7-13)
God protected Jeremiah from the threat of his life. Jeremiah was rescued and saved with the help of Ebedmelech, who was serving in the royal palace as a Cushite. God protects the missionary through the righteous who are hidden everywhere. David sang, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters." God is a gracious Father who always cares for the believer in due season. Therefore, believers should not compromise with the world and rely on God's help even in painful situations.
2. The last encounter between Zedekiah and Jeremiah (14-28)
① Zedekiah's question and Jeremiah's answer (14-23)
② The timid attitude of Zedekiah and the condition of Jeremiah (24-28)
This section records the final encounter between Zedekiah and Jeremiah just before the fall of Jerusalem. Zedekiah secretly asks another question to Jeremiah, who was rescued from the pit. But Jeremiah's answer also mentions the inevitable destruction of Judah, and that life can only be sustained by surrendering to Babylon. But Zedekiah, who is insensitive, does not listen to Jeremiah's mantra, and is engulfed in realistic fear of ridicule and persecution, and remains in a state of fear of surrender.
Zedekiah was more interested in humanity than in the Word of God. The result was disastrous. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”