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Jeremiah in a Den of Thieves
The Verses:
Thus says the Lord, "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NASB)
The Story:
In those days, Babylon’s empire grew powerful. Their giant army shook the walls of Jerusalem, with swords drawn and bows bent for battle.
False prophets declared, “The walls of Jerusalem are secure. There will be peace!”
So the people of Judah planted vineyards and built houses. They worshiped their false gods. Idols made from their own hands would defend them against Babylon's battle cry outside the fortified city.
Meanwhile, the true God of Israel put His words in the mouth of a young man living in Anathoth.
Jeremiah left his small village and traveled south to Jerusalem. He carried God’s merciful message for the king of Judah.
“The Lord God of Israel says, ‘Stop worshiping false gods. Return to Me. And I will delay My coming judgement at the hand of Babylon. An army circles the city now, ready to burn it to the ground.’“
King Josiah listened from the throne of his forefather, King David. He said to his chief priests, “Go! Do as he says. Remove the false gods from the temple. Burn them. Then gather the people. Let us read from the Law of Moses.”
But soon Pharaoh Necho II led Egypt’s army from the south to war with Judah. He killed King Josiah in battle.
The people of Judah scattered like sheep without a shepherd.
The next four kings to sit on David’s throne did evil in the sight of the Lord. Their false prophets shouted, "Peace! Peace!" when there was no peace.
Jeremiah wept a fountain of tears over the kingdom falling down. God collected his tears in a bottle. And when Jeremiah prayed, the Lord answered him.
Despair rose like a flood among the people after hearing Jeremiah’s endless message of doom. They threw him in a cistern, black as night, with oozy mud. That would shut him up!
But freedom came by way of the king’s servant, Ebed-Melech. He and thirty men gathered rags and a rope. They fled the palace to the cistern and pulled Jeremiah from the sinking mud.
Jeremiah wiped the mud off his feet and caught his breath. He spoke to the people of Jerusalem through clinched teeth, “For twenty-three years I have told you over and over to repent and turn back to the Lord. And for twenty-three years, you have not listened. Your wicked kings, false prophets, and false gods cannot save you now.”
And King Nebuchadnezzar's army tumbled the walls of Jerusalem to the ground. They set fire to the king's palace. Then they led the captives in chains from Judah to exile in Babylon. Just as Jeremiah prophesied.
We can learn three key lessons from Jeremiah's life:
Jeremiah was obedient to God's call. He didn't follow the crowd. Instead, he followed God and did His will.
Jeremiah worshiped the one true God with a sincere heart while everyone else worshiped their false gods.
Jeremiah ran the race God set before him with endurance. Even when no one listened.
But God listened. And He answered Jeremiah's prayers. God delivered Jeremiah just like He promised He would. God listens to your prayers, too. And He will answer and deliver you.
*retold from the book of Jeremiah.
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