A False Sense of Security

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 37:1-21

 

Psalm 20:7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

 (ESV)

 

Some have said that trust is earned. While there may be some truth in this, the truth is we all trust in something with the object of our trust being what we treasure in our heart (Luke 12:34; Matthew 6:21). It is, therefore, possible for one to place their trust in something that has not earned it in their lives because it is something they treasure in their lives. In Jeremiah 37:1-21 we observe king Zedekiah placing his trust in the Egyptian army for deliverance instead of in God.

 

The text begins with the appointment of king Zedekiah by king Nebuchadnezzar as king of Judah replacing Coniah the son of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 37:1). The text then lets us know that neither Zedekiah nor his servants listen to the words of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:2). However, even though Zedekiah does not believe the words of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, we see him summon Jeremiah twice in this text (Jeremiah 37:3, 17). The text is broken down into three sections,

 

1)      Zedekiah’s first summon of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:3-10) – Zedekiah sends Jehucal and Zephaniah to Jeremiah, asking Jeremiah to pray for them to the Lord God (Jeremiah 37:3). The context of this request is Jeremiah remaining free to roam among the people and the withdrawal of the Chaldeans from Jerusalem because the Egyptian army had come out from Egypt (Jeremiah 37:4-5). Due to his unbelief in the words of the Lord coming from Jeremiah, one could conclude that the withdrawal of the Chaldeans causes king Zedekiah to believe the Chaldeans will not invade Jerusalem. He may also have believed Jeremiah would change his mind and stop saying the Chaldeans would invade Jerusalem. However, Jeremiah remains true to the Lord and speaks the words the Lord has given him (Jeremiah 37:6-10).

2)      Jeremiah imprisoned (Jeremiah 37:11-15) – After the withdrawal of the Chaldean army, Jeremiah leaves Jerusalem for the land of Benjamin to receive his portion there from among the people (Jeremiah 37:11-12). At the Benjamin gate, Jeremiah is falsely accused of deserting to the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 37:13). Jeremiah then confronts his accusers, calling them liars (Jeremiah 37:14). This enrages Jeremiah’s accusers, leading to them beating Jeremiah and imprisoning him at the house of Jonathan the secretary (Jeremiah 37:15).

3)      Jeremiah summoned a second time (Jeremiah 37:16-21) – King Zedekiah summons Jeremiah a second time, asking for any word from the Lord. Jeremiah once again remains true to the Word of the Lord given to him, telling Zedekiah he will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 37:16-17). Jeremiah then confronts king Zedekiah, asking what wrong he has done that justifies imprisonment (Jeremiah 37:18). Jeremiah then asks the king where are his prophets who prophesied that the king of Babylon would not come against Judah (Jeremiah 37:19). Jeremiah then asks the king not to send him back to the house of Jonathan where he would surely die to which the king commits Jeremiah to the court of the guard with a daily provision of bread (Jeremiah 37:20-21).

 

After he is appointed king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, king Zedekiah seeks counsel from Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:1-3). While it is possible he seeks counsel from Jeremiah to hear from the Lord, Jeremiah 37:2 tells us that king Zedekiah does not listen to the words of the Lord from Jeremiah. It is more likely king Zedekiah seeks counsel from Jeremiah, believing he may change his prophecy about the pending Babylonian invasion and seventy years of exile (Jeremiah 37:15-21 after the withdrawal of the Chaldean army (Jeremiah 37:5). If king Zedekiah believed he would receive a different prophecy from Jeremiah, he was wrong for the word from the Lord is that the Chaldean army will return after the armies of Egypt withdraw (Jeremiah 37: 6-10). After Jeremiah’s imprisonment, Zedekiah may have believed Jeremiah would change his mind, but Jeremiah tells him he will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 37:16-17). King Zedekiah and the people of Judah and Jerusalem have a false sense of security, believing the army of Egypt will protect them from the Chaldeans instead of repentance and returning to God.

 

The application of this passage in our lives today is a warning not to have false security in the created things of this world but to place our trust in God. While it is not typical today for one to place trust in horses and chariots (Psalm 20:7), we can seek false security in our career, job, education, our wealth, physical strength, or mental acuity. While these things are not bad, primarily placing one’s trust in them will lead to disappointment. King Zedekiah will be disappointed when delivered into exile by the very king who appointed him as king of Judah. Not only will Zedekiah suffer disappointment, but he also takes the entire nation of Judah with him. The situation for Judah and us will change when we learn to place our trust in the Lord and not our own understanding, allowing the Lord to guide us (Proverbs 3:5-6).

 

The foundation of trusting in God is our trusting in the shed blood of Jesus on the cross to forgive our sins. If you are reading this and have not prayed to accept Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage everyone reading this to search their hearts and ask God to reveal anything in their lives that they trust in more than God. Then pray and study the Word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to increase your trust in God, replacing what you are currently trusting in. I pray God will challenge and bless everyone reading this post.