The Truth in Print Vol. 20 Issue 1, Feb. 2014

A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,

2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)

 

Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com

 

Jeremiah and the Unfaithful Remnant (Jer. 40-45)

 

   You may wish to review “Zedekiah Would not Listen” (Nov. 2013) at http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/zedekiah.htm to better understand what is happening in Jerusalem and Judah during the days of Jeremiah. In that prior study we noted that the word of the Lord was fulfilled. The king of Babylon slew Zedekiah’s sons, all the nobles of Judah, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah to carry him to Babylon. Jerusalem is burned (cf. Jer. 39:5-8; Jer. 52; 2 K. 25). What God says He’ll do to those who do not listen and obey is exactly what He does! (cf. Jer. 40:2-4). God protected Jeremiah as Jerusalem burned (Jer. 40:1-6; 39:11-14). Next Jeremiah dwells in Mizpah with Gedaliah whom the king of Babylon made governor over Judah, and the poor left in the land (Jer. 40:7).

 

Those Left in the Land Had a Promise with Provision:

 

   The captains left in the field returned to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They were told not to fear the Chaldeans, but dwell in the land and serve Babylon and it would be well with all. That included the Jews scattered abroad — they returned and gathered summer fruit in abundance (Jer. 40:8-12).

    Baalis the king of Ammon sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to kill Gedaliah. Ishmael did kill Gedaliah and all the Jews with him at Mizpah, as well as the Chaldeans found there (41:1-8). Having killed others also he took captive the remnant in Mizpah and headed for the sons of Ammon (41:10). Johanan and his commanders intercepted them (the people return to Johanan) but Ishmael escaped with eight men. Afraid now of the King of Babylon because of Gedaliah’s death — they stayed in Geruth Chimham beside Bethlehem, in order to proceed on to Egypt (41:11-18). Their plan is to go to Egypt. No surprises from this bunch! Their plan is not to stay in Judah. Why after being told they’d be ashamed of Egypt as they were of Assyria! (cf. Jer. 2:36-37).

 

Please Pray for Us Jeremiah!

 

   All the captains and all the people from the least to the greatest came to Jeremiah:  Jeremiah 42:2-3 (KJV) 2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) 3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.

 

   God told Jeremiah they would be ashamed and in their time of trouble they’d say to him, “Arise, and save us” (Jer. 2:26-27). They did not listen to the words of the Lord yet wanted prayers from the one who spoke them! They’re covering all the bases — just in case. It isn’t working!

 

Sarcasm —“I have heard you”

 

   Jer 42:4  Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.

 

   Here’s a response that is based upon understanding God’s word. God had told Jeremiah that he would be “free” among them, and He would cause the enemy to make supplication to him in a time of disaster and distress (Jer. 15:11). Jeremiah knew they were enemies of his (Jer. 20:12).

 

Whether it is Pleasant or Unpleasant We Will Listen!

 

   Jeremiah 42:5-6 (KJV) 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. 6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

 

   God’s answer again is favorable: (1) abide in the land and I’ll build you up (42:8-10), (2) don’t be afraid of the king of Babylon for I’ll deliver you from his hand (vs. 11), (3) and I’ll show you mercies and he will return you to your own land (vs. 12). 

 

 If You Go to Egypt I’ll Deal with You the Same Way I Dealt with Jerusalem!

 

  Jer 42:18  For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "As My anger and wrath have been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so My wrath will be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. And you will become a curse, an object of horror, an imprecation and a reproach; and you will see this place no more."

 

You Should Clearly Understand This!

 

     Jeremiah 42:19-22 (KJV) 19  The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. 20  For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. 21  And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you. 22  Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

   This is “how” others’ prayers that we ask for come before God when we have no intention of obeying.  People do make lying promises at such times!

 

Jeremiah You Are Such a Liar!

 

   Jeremiah 43:1-3 (KJV) 1And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words, 2 Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: 3 But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.

   All he’s prophesied has come to pass. They are living that Liar’s words right now! And blaming the obedient one who did listen! Baruch helped Jeremiah in the days of Zedekiah (Jer. 32:12,16). Chapter 45 is about Baruch who listened and cast aside the great plans he was making for himself under king Jehoiakim. He was rewarded with his own life.

 

They Went to Egypt and Took Jeremiah and Baruch

 

   Jeremiah 43:5-7 (KJV) 5 But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah; 6  ...and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. 7 So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.

 

                                                                                                                  I’ll Set Nebuchadnezzar Right in Front of You!

 

   Jeremiah 43:9-11 (KJV) 9 Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; 10 And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.

 

I Will Punish You As I Have Punished Jerusalem Repeated

 

      Jeremiah 44:13-14 (KJV) 13  For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: 14  So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.

 

 

The Remnants Final Answer!

 

   Jeremiah 44:15-19 (KJV) 15  Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, 16  As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.19  And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

 

God’s Final Answer!

 

   Jeremiah 44:24-28 (KJV) 24 Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:
25 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows. … 27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. 28 Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah,
and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.

  

   What God says He’ll do to those who do not listen and obey — is exactly what He does!

 

By Bob Lovelace

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NOTE: Here are two more articles dealing with the days of Jeremiah: “Zedekiah Would not Listen” and Jeremiah’s Lamentations – Look Who’s Cast into Hell!

To learn more call, visit or visit our website at: http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com

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