Today's Reading:

Jeremiah 33
Jeremiah 34
Jeremiah 35
Jeremiah 36
Jeremiah 37

Jeremiah was not locked in a dark prison or normal jail cell at this point. He was confined “in the courtyard of the guard,” inside the royal palace complex (Jeremiah 32:2; 33:1). King Zedekiah was angry that Jeremiah kept preaching that Jerusalem would fall to Babylon and that the people should surrender. Zedekiah was afraid of his own officials, yet he also secretly respected Jeremiah, looking to him for a prayer or word from the Lord. Keeping Jeremiah in the courtyard was a compromise by not allowing him to preach publicly and also not keeping him in the pits of a cistern or prison. This was basically house arrest inside of the palace grounds. He was allowed to have food and visitors (including the scribe Baruch). Later, when the officials wanted him dead, he was thrown into the muddy cistern.

God did not wait until Jeremiah was free; He continued to speak to him in the midst of trials. God’s grace is not limited to our circumstances or by the walls that people put around us. God invited Jeremiah (and us) to ask for the hidden things only He can reveal. His plans of restoration, forgiveness, joy, and the coming Messiah are all plans that seemed impossible during the time of war. This makes Jeremiah 33:3 an invitation of grace. God was ready to reveal His plan in the middle of judgment.

Have you ever felt confined by people or circumstances, and discovered that God was still speaking “great and unsearchable things” to you in that place?

While confined in jail (house arrest), the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time. Even in jail, the Lord keeps talking to His prophets. God declared that while He would have to slay the people in His wrath and hide His face from Jerusalem, He also promised a restoration. God said to call to Him, and He would tell him unsearchable things (33:3); these were secret plans that He wanted His people to know! He would heal the people and rebuild the city, cleansing them from their sins. Joy will come again. The prominent thanksgiving saying in Jeremiah 33:11 is, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; His love endures forever.” Normal, peaceful life would resume. The righteous Branch from David’s line (Jesus) would do justice. Jerusalem would then be called “The Lord Our Righteousness.” This was a hint at the future perfect King. From then on, day and night, David’s throne and the Levite priests would continue. The people from the other nations had noticed that the Lord allowed His two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, to fall. God made His promise and guaranteed that the covenant would last.

In chapter 34, during the midst of war, God told Jeremiah to go to King Zedekiah of Judah and let him know that Nebuchadnezzar was coming to burn down the city. He would see him firsthand, face to face, knowing he would look into the eyes of his killer. The silver lining of this death proclamation was that he would not die by sword. He would at least have a peaceful death, which is much preferred. All of the slaves were declared free by King Zedekiah, and the people of the land had agreed. But at the last minute they reneged and were made slaves again. This violated the old laws from (Deuteronomy 15 and Exodus 21) of freeing the slaves every 7 years. Just as the ancestors did not obey, neither did this generation. Therefore, God said, “Freedom you will get: free to fall by the sword and be killed, free to have plagues, and free to have famine.” That was a plot twist. God said that the men who had violated His covenant

would be like the calf that they cut in two and walked between the pieces. This reference to making a promise and walking between the cut pieces was an oath reminiscent of when God and Abraham were making a covenant. Abraham (Abram) had cut out the pieces, but God put him to sleep and took the oath Himself (Genesis 15:7-21). Like the animals, God will cut them in two. Those who had walked between the calf pieces had broken the covenant; therefore, they would die. Their bodies would become food for the birds and animals. Babylon would burn down the city.

The Rechabite’s (were a faithful family group, from the time of Jehu who helped him wipe out Baal worship). They were descendants of the Kenites and related to Moses’ father-in-law. They were known for tent-dwelling and metalworking. They were not to drink wine, build houses, sow seeds, or plant vineyards. They must live as nomads in a life of simplicity separate from the pagan cultures around them. They were dependent upon God. God used them like a parable, as a living lesson against Judah by testing their faith. The Rechabites obeyed their ancestors’ commands, while Judah ignored God’s commands through the prophets. Jeremiah invited them with hospitality to Hanan’s room in the temple, as he was a man of God. He offered them wine, and because the Rechabites kept their law, they declined the drink. Jeremiah was to take this lesson and use it to remind Judah how to obey the laws of the Lord. Disaster would come to Judah for not obeying. On the other hand, Jehonadab would never fail to have descendants to serve the Lord for keeping his commands.

In chapter 36, Jeremiah was told by God to write down all of His words. Baruch, the scribe, dictated them onto the scroll and then took it and read it to the people in hopes that when they heard all of the disasters to come, they would turn and repent. Micaiah heard the words of the Lord and went to the officials. The officials had Baruch read the scroll to them as well and then reported it to King Jehoiakim. The king burnt the scroll in a brazier with no fear. He was staying in his winter palace, showing casual arrogance, with no mourning or repentance. God had Jeremiah write a second scroll with extra judgments, including that the king’s family would be punished and would have no heir on the throne. God’s words endure forever. Even if His words are burnt, they will multiply. This can be viewed like a permanent truth (Isaiah 40:8): His word stands forever.

Zedekiah became the appointed king by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, taking over the palace. Again, God’s words were not at the forefront. Yet, he asked Jeremiah to pray for them. This was before Jeremiah’s house arrest. They had temporary relief due to Egypt, so God made the Egyptians go home and had Babylon return to Jerusalem to burn the city. God declared that even if only wounded soldiers were left, they would still burn down Jerusalem. Jeremiah went to claim his land within the Benjamin territory of Judah and was arrested, accused of desertion. He pleaded innocence, and after a long time in prison, Zedekiah privately asked if there was any word from God. Jeremiah answered with truth that Zedekiah would be delivered into the hands of the Babylonians and begged for his own life to be spared from prison. Jeremiah was allowed to stay in the courtyard and was given a daily allowance of bread.

Today's Discussion question:

Have you ever felt confined by people or circumstances, and discovered that God was still speaking “great and unsearchable things” to you in that place?

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