Jeremiah

Chapter 21:1-7 (ESV) - This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying, “Inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all his wonderful deeds and will make him withdraw from us.”

Then Jeremiah said to them: “Thus you shall say to Zedekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city. I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath. And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great pestilence. Afterward, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people in this city who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their lives. He shall strike them down with the edge of the sword. He shall not pity them or spare them or have compassion.’

Question to consider: Do you think Zedekiah turned to the LORD in repentance here? Why or why not?

Some time had passed since Jeremiah’s dirge after being beaten for declaring the word of the LORD. King Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years and became a vassal king to Nebuchadnezzar during the final three years of his reign. He rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, and the Babylonians destroyed the countryside of Judah, replacing Jehoiakim with his son, Jehoiachin, who only reigned three months before being taken into Babylonian captivity along with the temple treasures. Nebuchadnezzar replaced him with his brother, Zedekiah who would reign another eleven years before Jerusalem was completely destroyed.

It was sometime during this reign that Zedekiah sent to Jeremiah two priests to inquire of the LORD. Even though they had the names Pashhur and Zephaniah, this Pashhur was the son of Malchiah who was from a different order than Pashhur son of Immer, and the book of Zephaniah was written by the son of Cushi (not Maaseiah). It’s possible that the name Pashhur was given as an indication that he was among those who supported Baal worship in order to remain at peace with the nations.

Because Jeremiah’s prophecies had come to pass rather than those who proclaimed peace when there was no peace, Zedekiah sent these men to see if the LORD could relent from His judgment and have Babylon draw back from their siege.

The Ninevite king of Jonah’s day required the entire kingdom (both people and cattle) to be dressed in sackcloth and ashes, and all called upon the LORD in repentance that He may relent from the judgment that was proclaimed by Jonah. It wasn’t until well into the judgment of Jerusalem that Zedekiah sent these false prophets to Jeremiah as a last-ditch effort to try and persuade the LORD. There was no sign of repentance, no hint of humility from Zedekiah— just desperation.

Rather than stretching out His arm against Babylon, the LORD made it clear through Jeremiah to these men that He intended to join in on the battle against Jerusalem so that the walls would be breached, and the city and king be treated without mercy.

The LORD would have Jeremiah deliver a more detailed message directly to the people and king in tomorrow’s passage, but it’s worth noting that God is not foolish. He knows the difference between a sincere and contrite heart and a politician who attempts to manipulate his way into a desired outcome.

Prayer

Blessed are You, Holy Father, king of the universe who knows the heart of mankind and all his wicked ways. Thank You for Your mercy and for sovereignly bringing about the redemption of all who call upon the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns eternally with You and the Holy Spirit. Amen.