Tuesday: The Fall of Jerusalem
The siege of Jerusalem began in earnest in January, 588 b.c., and lasted until the late summer of 586 b.c. Jerusalem had been able to hold out for more than two years before Jeremiah’s prophetic words were fulfilled, and the Babylonian troops broke through the wall and destroyed the city. Starvation was so bad inside the walls that the defenders lost all strength and couldn’t resist any longer.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
King Zedekiah fled with his family, but in vain. He was captured and taken to Nebuchadnezzar, who had his sons executed before his eyes. We can read much of this sad story in Jeremiah 39:1-10.
Read Jeremiah 40:1-6. What is the significance of the words of Nebuzaradan to Jeremiah?
How fascinating that this pagan commander understood the situation so much better than did Jeremiah’s own people! Obviously the Babylonians knew something about Jeremiah and his work, and they were treating him differently than they did the others, such as Zedekiah (see Jer. 39:11-12). Just why this pagan leader attributed the demise of Jerusalem to the Lord as a punishment for the sins of the people rather than to the superiority of his own gods over Judah’s, the text doesn’t say. Whatever the reason, it’s a startling testimony to how, even amid such unnecessary calamity, the Lord had revealed something about Himself to the pagans.
What choice would Jeremiah make-go with the captives to Babylon, or stay behind with those remaining? Neither prospect would be particularly appealing, considering the circumstances for them all. Certainly, though, the spiritual needs of both groups would have been great, and Jeremiah could minister wherever he went. Jeremiah decided to stay among the group that remained behind in the land, with the poor people who no doubt were going to need all the encouragement and help that they could get (see Jer. 40:6-7).
How can you learn to minister to others, regardless of the situation you are in? Why is it important, even for yourself, that you minister in whatever way you can?
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Some spiritual leaders, called ancients had turned their backs on Jehovah and served Him an eviction notice from His own house (Ezekiel 8:12-16). Other leaders, including nobles had disregarded God and treated the poor with contempt (Jeremiah 22:3; 23:1-4). Still others pursued their own interests which amounted to defiance of the Lord’s will and commandments.
Like the picture painted by a certain secular song the usurpers thought of the Creator, “Look old yellow is leaving…but you could hear a pin drop when He turned and locked the door…at the end not a reviler was left standing" (Matthew 24:45-51). The result was the fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 39:1-8).
Yet the Creator was still looking out for the few who would be faithful. For the poor who were victims of abuse and neglect God provided an opportunity for recovery (Jeremiah 39:10). The faithful prophet Jeremiah was granted special treatment and the offer of royal favor (Jeremiah 39:11-12). He chose however to work with the weak (Jeremiah 40:6).
Jehovah was also interested in some in Babylon and He was able to reach the captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan and bring conviction to his heart (Jeremiah 40:2-3). Later God would reach and convert Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:37).
Though the Creator may be driven out of His own place by the attitude and misguided worship of those who use His name He does not go far away (Acts 17:27). He returns again and knocks at the door, not at the corporate temple, but at the individual temple, at each heart (Revelation 3:20).
After the siege of Jerusalem, Jeremiah was also bound in chains with the rest of those that were lead back to Babylon. It was a sad and terrible journey. Talk about some of these death marches and so forth, to go to Babylon from Jerusalem about 200 miles or so, and in chains. They may now remember here what the prophet had said, "Hey look, just go over to them. Surrender, go on out, sneak out, give yourself over to them and you'll be okay." And yet they chose to rebel against the word of the Lord and against the Babylonians, and now the consequences.
Now, it is interesting that the enemies of Judah recognized the reason for their problems and difficulties. "God has done this to you because you didn't obey Him." (Jer 40:2-3): ‘And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. Now the LORD hath brought it, and he has done according as he has said’
It’s always true. God will always keep His word. He has done as He said.
The captain of the guard solemnly owns him to be a true prophet and gives him a totally free reign. "Come on to Babylon, we'll treat you well. Stay here if you want. Just wherever you want to go, the whole land is before you, you can go where you want." (Jer 40:4).
Today we are being warned just as the people of Israel had been often told this from the pulpit by their prophets, and they would not regard it; now they are being told from the bench by the conqueror, whom they dare not contradict and who will make them regard it.
Note, Sooner or later men shall be made sensible that their sin is the cause of all their miseries. We are now doing worse than the world and instead of as being the light, we are always silent.
our life without christ is nothing lord see me
God's ways are not our ways, we don't know what the future holds, we are only vessels in his hands and as his vessels should carry the truth with us everywhere we are.
The City and Temple could only be destroyed if God Himself brought it to pass. He claimed that Nebuchadnezzar was His servant, faithfully carrying out His will upon the unrepentant city/nation. The few righteous were not enough to stay the sentence upon the doomed. In all this, God was preserving a remnant AND sending out His evangelists to those who would receive the Gift of Eternal Life through Christ.
Jerusalem was lost and the temple ruined because the light that was to shine from them had become darkness, and thus the whole world was placed in danger. How is it going with the Temple of God today? These lessons are for the admonition of those who will see the end of the world.
Nebukadnezar had acknowledged the God of Israel as superior to all the gods of Babylon (Daniel 2:47; 3:29; 4:37). No wonder that Nebukadnazar made Zedekiah swear by the God of Israel to remain a faithful servant (2 Chronicles 36:13). Unfortunately, Zedekiah disregarded this oath and covenant which ultimately was a covenant with God sealed with an oath to the God of Israel (Ezekiel 17:19). The reason for the destruction of Jerusalem was that rebellion of God`s own people against their own God. This reminds us of the rebellion that once began in heaven (Revelation 12:7-9). This rebellious spirit on earth is seen in history over and over again. We should not paricipate in that evil spirit but rather participate in the spirit of service to Christ and to humanity and be faithful to our God.
Winfried Stolpmann
Thank you Winfried,
"...This rebellious spirit on earth is seen in history over and over again."
Perhaps it was this very spirit that was seen in the days of John Huss, when it was claimed that it was not only un-necessary, but that it was insulting to God, to "KEEP FAITH WITH A HERETIC." Any promise, oath, or treaty made with a heretic (or a heathen) was not binding. What horrible logic we can employ to justify unfaithfulness!
Luther writes, in his characteristic, impassioned manner, to the Roman Pontiff,
"God has commanded to keep faith and observe oaths even with enemies: you dare to cancel His command, laying it down in your heretical, antichristian decretals, that you have power to do so; and through your mouth and your pen Satan lies as he never lied before, teaching you to twist and pervert the Scriptures according to your own arbitrary will." (Quoted in Schaff, vol.7 sec.44)