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Chapter 17:19-27 (ESV) - Thus said the LORD to me: “Go and stand in the People's Gate, by which the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, and say: ‘Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates. Thus says the LORD: Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction.
“‘But if you listen to me, declares the LORD, and bring in no burden by the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but keep the Sabbath day holy and do no work on it, then there shall enter by the gates of this city kings and princes who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their officials, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And this city shall be inhabited forever. And people shall come from the cities of Judah and the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the Shephelah, from the hill country, and from the Negeb, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD. But if you do not listen to me, to keep the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and shall not be quenched.’”
Question to consider: Why does the LORD choose the Sabbath as His final plea for Judah to listen to Him?
The People’s Gate was the one next to the king’s palace. It was also called the Gate of David. The LORD especially wanted the “kings” to hear this message, but He had Jeremiah visit the other gates which people exited the city so that everyone could hear.
I assume by the “kings of Judah”, the LORD referred to the sons of Josiah. 1 Chronicles 3:15 listed them, “The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.” After Pharaoh Neco murdered Josiah in Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29), he appointed Josiah’s son Shallum as king who was also called Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized). He only reigned three months before Pharaoh Neco deposed and imprisoned him and appointed his brother, Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up).
This word from the LORD was thought to be given at the time of Jehoiakim. I have to wonder if it came during the three month reign of his brother, Jehoahaz, which would mean the LORD’s statement, “you kings of Judah,” implied that Jehoahaz would not be a king very long. Both of these men worked to undo the reforms of their father, Josiah, and in both 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings were noted as doing evil in the eyes of the LORD.
Personally, I find it heartbreaking that these sons would have worked to undo the reforms of their father who was moving Judah to repentance and had heeded the prophetic warnings of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. I wonder who or what interfered with his sons that they would spurn their father in this way. Maybe they were mentored by some of the false prophets who poisoned their minds against their father in their formative years.
The work of a parent to bring up their children in the faith is never-ending. Even when our children are grown and out of the house, we should support them in their faith and be involved in the spiritual formation of our grandchildren.
At this point Judah was lost and had completely gone their own way. The LORD’s warning of judgment was now a plea for them to remember the Sabbath so that they may set aside their burdens, worship and hear His voice, and turn back to Him. While I would never advocate for a family to limit their spiritual relationship with Christ to Sunday morning worship, it is a place to start if they have gone away from the church. The word of God is mighty to save and can cut through the noise of the rest of the world. What a blessing it is when a church is faithful to preach the word so that everyone can see our need for Christ and receive Him. Unfortunately, Judah would not heed this warning, and under the reign of Jehoiakim, the countryside was lost to Babylon.
Dear heavenly Father, please awaken in us a desire to know You in Your word and let it change us from the inside out. May the distractions and burdens of this world melt away as we turn back to You and hold to the fulfillment of the Sabbath, Christ Jesus. Amen.