Jeremiah 38:14-28
We must begin in the Proverbs 22:28-29, “Do not move the ancient landmark
that your fathers have set. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” The ancient landmark takes us back to when Joshua and the people entered the promise land, the land they did not earn, and it was a gift from God. Joshua was told to establish boundaries for the tribes and property was marked off by pillars and to be kept within a family forever, so if one moved a marker, it was like stealing the land. Now that is vital, but the latter part of the verse should be each person’s goal, to be a skilled worker to what God has called us. We’re told in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” When we do this, we are obedient, and it is an act of service and worship if done with the right heart attitude.
that your fathers have set. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” The ancient landmark takes us back to when Joshua and the people entered the promise land, the land they did not earn, and it was a gift from God. Joshua was told to establish boundaries for the tribes and property was marked off by pillars and to be kept within a family forever, so if one moved a marker, it was like stealing the land. Now that is vital, but the latter part of the verse should be each person’s goal, to be a skilled worker to what God has called us. We’re told in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” When we do this, we are obedient, and it is an act of service and worship if done with the right heart attitude.
Now we have this prophet of God; Jeremiah and then we have the hireling prophet who will tell you what you want to hear, and we as people like to have our cake and eat it, so often we listen to the ones who fear to lose their job. But the hireling will never stand before kings, but Jeremiah often stood before the King.
So King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him at the third entrance of the LORD’s temple. It is not just a private meeting it was meant to be a secret meeting. And once more the King wants to know what God is telling Jeremiah. Jeremiah’s reply; "If I tell you, you will kill me, won't you? Besides, if I give you advice, you won't listen to me anyway." A hireling will never talk like this to one in authority, but a man who trusts in God cannot do anything else. The King’s reply, "As the Lord lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who want to take your life."
The conversation; “Jeremiah, therefore, said to Zedekiah. "This is what the Lord, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive. 18 But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape from them.' " 19 But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "I am worried about the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans. They may hand me over to them to abuse me." 20 "They will not hand you over," Jeremiah replied. "Obey the voice of the Lord in what I am telling you, so it may go well for you and you can live. 21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is the verdict that the Lord has shown me: 22 'All the women who remain in the palace of Judah's king will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon and will say: Your trusted friends misled you and overcame you. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you. 23 All your wives and sons will be brought out to the Chaldeans. You yourself will not escape from them, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon and this city will burn down.' " 24 Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, "Don't let anyone know about these things or you will die. 25 If the officials hear that I have spoken with you and come and demand of you, 'Tell us what you said to the king; don't hide anything from us and we won't kill you. Also, what did the king say to you?'
26 then you will tell them, 'I was bringing before the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.' " 27 When all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, he reported the exact words to them the king had commanded, and they quit speaking with him because nothing had been heard. 28 Jeremiah remained in the guard's courtyard until the day Jerusalem was captured, and he was [there] when it happened.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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