JEREMIAH - CHAPTERS 37-40 GEDALIAH

GEDALIAH

Jeremiah 37-40

Taught by:  Carolyn Sissom

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Jer.: 40:6:  “Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land… (Vs...11-13) Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; Even all the Jews returned out of all places where they were driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.  Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah.”

Who is Gedaliah?  His name means “whom Jah has made great.  Jehovah is great, great things of Jehovah':

Mizpah means watchtower

When the Lachish letters were found in 1935, a seal inscribed, “Belonging to Gedaliah, who is over the house,” was found in ashes left by Nebuchadnezzar’s fires at Lachish.  Gedaliah’s wise regime prospered (40: 9-12).

Jeremiah’s circumstances (40: 1-4) are that he is in chains, or manacles.  He had to share the indignities and hardships of those who deserved a fate from which his warnings would have saved them.  After his providential release, Jeremiah chose to go to his own people that were left in the land”

Jeremiah 4); 2-5:  And the captain of the guard (Nebuzaradan) took Jeremiah, and said unto him, the Lord your God has pronounced this evil upon this place (Judah.  Now the Lord has brought it, and done according as he has said: because you have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.  And now, behold I loose you this day from the chains which were upon your hand.  If it seems good unto you to come with me into Babylon come; and I will look well unto you; but if it seems ill unto you to come with me into Babylon, forbear; behold all the land is before you:  wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, thither go.  Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, to whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah and dwell with him among the people; or go wheresoever it seems convent unto you to go.  So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.”

Let’s back up in our story-line to Chapters 37 and 38.  These two chapters tell of Jeremiah’s imprisonment.  During the time of the 18-month siege, when the Babylonians had temporarily withdrawn, Jeremiah attempted to leave the city to go to his home in Anathoth. 

This, because of his persistent advice to yield to the King of Babylon, it appeared to his countrymen as if he might be attempting to join the enemy.  On suspicion that Jeremiah was a traitor and working to the interest of the Babylonians, he was imprisoned.  Zedekiah was friendly to Jeremiah, but he was a weak king.

37:2 “Neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the Lord, which he spoke by the prophet, Jeremiah. And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maasciah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the Lord our God for us.”

In the spring of 587 B.C., Pharaoh’s army came forth out of Egypt to relieve Jerusalem, and the Chaldeans withdrew. (37:5).  Then came the word of the Lord unto the prophet, Jeremiah saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, thus shall you say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.  And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it and burn it with fire.”

Instead of trusting God, Judah had made a secret alliance with Egypt against Assyria.  Egypt came to the help of Judah, but a reported crisis at home caused Pharaoh to call his army back.

During the time the Chaldeans withdrew, Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself from the midst of the people.   Jeremiah was apprehended and charged with desertion and imprisoned in the dungeon.   God helped by causing Zedekiah to alleviate the severity of his imprisonment in committing him to the court of the prison and providing him with a daily piece of bread.  (Baker’s Street:  Oriental towns have a special place for various trades.)  The food of prophets, a walk in fire, as a meal offering.

Jeremiah had access to the public from the stockade, so he courageously repeats his prophecy of doom.  His message remains unchanged and his statement is now used against him.  There are four witnesses who accuse him.   In their view Jeremiah was a traitor.  Like Pilate, Zedekiah is too weak to oppose popular clamor though he knows the prisoner to be innocent.  The misinterpretation of the motives of those who speak in God’s name is to be expected.

Jeremiah was taken and lowered into the dungeon.  Here we have another Bible hero, in 38:7 “Now when Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which were in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; he was  sitting in the gate of Benjamin;  Ebed-melech went to the king’s house, and spoke to the king say, My lord, the king , those men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is, for there is no more bread in the city.  The king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying take thirty men with you and take up Jeremiah, the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.”.  

In chapter 39: 15-18:  Provision is made for Ebed-Melech.  Jeremiah does not forget him.  Though many do forget those who aid them in times of dire trouble, His kindness to God’s servant in his time of need is recognized by God and was the base of his salvation.  (Read 39: 15-18)  “Go speak to Bed-melech the Ethiopian, saying Thus says the Lord of Host of Israel…I will deliver you in that day, says the Lord: and you shall not be given into the hands of the men of whom you are afraid.  For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but your life shall be for a prey unto you; because you have put your trust in me, says the Lord.”

(Vs. 17) “Then Zedekiah, the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the Lord? “

A secret interview:  Once again Zedekiah sends for Jeremiah.  This time he meets him at a temple entrance.  Jeremiah wisely demands assurance of security in view of the known hostility of the king toward him. 

The solemn Hebrew oath is given “By the life of the Lord who gives us our lives”.  Should Zedekiah break his word it would be assumed that he would be put to death by God for doing so.  Jeremiah assures him that his life will be spared if he will surrender to the King of Babylon.  Zedekiah refused.  His sin would be a direct cause of Jerusalem’s downfall.  Sin among men often create positions where there s no perfect solution or way out.  So Jeremiah was held safe in the stockade until the city fell.   Jeremiah was one of the Lord’s hidden ones.  Col. 3:1-3:  “For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Chapter 39:  This chapter tells of the fall of Jerusalem.  This dramatic event is so momentous in the history of God’s people it is recounted four times in scripture. (Here, Ch. 52, 2 Kg. 25; 2 Chr. 36)  With the fall of Jerusalem, prophecies made over the preceding forty years now come to pass.  The eighteen month siege (January 588-587) takes its toll through famine and the Babylonians make a breach and the weakened defenders capitulate. 

Nebuchadnezzar, knowing of Jeremiah’s life-long admonition to Jerusalem to submit to him, now offered to confer upon the prophet any honor that he would accept, even a worthy place in the Babylonian court! (39:2; 41:1) 

First we see the burning of the city and the fate of Zedekiah. (39: 11-10).  The Word of God through Jeremiah was vindicated.  The city was destroyed and Zedekiah’s sons were killed, his eyes put out, and he was carried in chains to Babylon. 

God’s warnings finally give way to God’s judgments, and Jeremiah is the only man to have any say in his own future!  Offered  a place of honor, he chooses instead to throw in his lot with the have-nots left behind in the land of Judah.

Like Moses as described in Hebrews 11: 25-26:  “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.”

The King of Babylon charged his captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, to afford protection for Jeremiah.  This was done by committing him to the care of Gedaliah who had been appointed to be the governor of the subjected and broken people.  The remembrance of Ebed-melech is a revelation of the fact that when the judgment and vengeance of God comes, it never proceeds without discrimination, and those who put their trust in him are delivered!

In Chapter 41, we have the murder of Gedaliah.  Ishmael, with a company of ten men, slew Gedaliah.  A sorrowing band on the way to Jerusalem was murdered en-masse.  (41: 5-8)  There were 80 men with offerings and incense in their hand to bring into the house of the Lord.  Ishmael fled to Ammon.  We can compare this Ishmael, the killer with the Ishmael of Genesis as a symbol for the flesh and the carnal mind!  The Ishmael of Genesis was a wild man and points to the beast nature.

Gedaliah had been warned, but foolishly ignored it.   The flesh wants to kill you.  He will do it with the help of ten men, the Decalogue or Ten Commandments!  The law of sin and death. (Rom 8: 1-6).

We will start next week with the Remnant rescued Chapter 41: 11

Taught by:  Carolyn Sissom

Text from F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary, Donald Wiseman and Principles of Present Truth by: Kelly Varner.

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