The Fall of Jerusalem

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 39:1-18

 

Jeremiah 39:18

For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.

(ESV)

 

In Jeremiah 39:1-18, we observe the fulfillment of the consequences of continued rebellion against God with the invasion of Judah by king Nebuchadnezzar and the carrying off of King Zedekiah into exile. However, we also see the grace of God extended towards King Zedekiah with the sparing of his life, although in blindness, (Jeremiah 39:6-7) and the deliverance of Jeremiah from harm living among his people (Jeremiah 39:14). While we should be thankful for the grace of God, we must also consider the consequences of continued rebellion against God and repent before enduring these consequences.

 

The day of reckoning has arrived with Judah and the city of Jerusalem facing the consequences of their continued rebellion against God and duplicitous worship. The Babylonian army besieged the city and breached the city with king Nebuchadnezzar’s officials sitting at the middle gate (Jeremiah 39:1-3). Upon seeing this, King Zedekiah and his soldiers flee the city by night but are overtaken by the Chaldeans and brought to King Nebuchadnezzar for sentencing (Jeremiah 39:4-5). The sentence passed by the king is the death of the sons of Zedekiah along with the nobles of Judah and putting out the eyes of Zedekiah, making the death of his sons and nobles his last vision, and carrying Zedekiah off to Babylon (Jeremiah 39:6-7). The Chaldeans then burn the king’s house along with the house of the people and break down the walls of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 39:8). The rest of the people in Jerusalem are carried into exile, except for the poor who owned nothing (Jeremiah 39:9-10).

 

The obedience of Jeremiah to God has different consequences with Nebuchadnezzar warning the captain of the guard to look after Jeremiah, do him no harm, and instructs them to deal with him as Jeremiah instructs (Jeremiah 39:11-12). Jeremiah is taken from the court of the guard and entrusted to Gedaliah who takes him home so he can live among the people (Jeremiah 39:13-14). Jeremiah then issues a word from the Lord to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian telling him that God will fulfill His words against Jerusalem for harm and not good that shall be accomplished on that day (Jeremiah 39:15-16). God then promises Ebed-Melech that he shall not be given over to those he fears and be saved because he trusted in the Lord (Jeremiah 39:17-18).

 

The fall of Jerusalem and the deliverance of Jeremiah illustrate how God’s grace can save one through judgment or deliver one from judgment. While both receive a measure of God’s grace with king Zedekiah having his life spared but sentenced to exile and blindness for the remainder of his life with the last thing he saw being the death of his sons and officials (Jeremiah 39:4-10). Jeremiah received grace from God with his life divinely spared due to his trust in God (Jeremiah 39:17-18). Jeremiah receives full deliverance by God’s grace through his trust in God while king Zedekiah lives and does not die by the sword but will live his remaining days blind reflecting on his rebellion against God. While Scripture does not reveal whether king Zedekiah ever repented of his sin, in sparing his life God is giving him an opportunity to do so.

 

We live in a world of rebellion against God. The sanctity of marriage declared by God as the unity of a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6) is perverted to include same-sex marriage with ministers refusing to officiate a same-sex wedding threatened. Continued rebellion against God and what His Word says is like cancer to the soul leading to a debased mind full of evil (Romans 1:26-32). Many Churches have condoned same-sex marriage either through their silence on the issue or their acceptance of it. It is time for the Church to take a Biblical stand against the practice of same-sex marriage, pointing those engaged in or condoning the practice to a merciful and graceful God who sent His Son Jesus to die for their sins.

 

 

Whether you are reading this and engaged in same-sex marriage or condone the practice or not and have never prayed to make Jesus your Savior, I encourage you to pray with me now.

 

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.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.