Jeremiah

Jeremiah 34:1-7

The Lord sent a message to Zedekiah; it was one he'd heard before.  The sure Word of God is worth repeating since we are slow often slow to grasp it as the truth.  These were dire circumstances.  The city was under siege by all of Nebuchadnezzar's army.  The idea that Jerusalem would fall into the hands of Babylon was once a ridiculous prophecy.  It was now believable and right before them.  Zedekiah wouldn't die in the battle, yet he would be taken captive.  Zedekiah did stand before Nebuchadnezzar.  He was forced to watch his sons executed as the last thing he would see before his eyes were gouged out.  He spent many years imprisoned before dying.  The Lord let Zedekiah know he would have the funeral of a king.  They would burn incense for him as they had his fathers before him.  The point is that Zedekiah's death would be nothing like his father's.  Jehoiakim was executed, not mourned and left unburied (Jer 22:18-19). 

Jeremiah 34:8-11

Zedekiah and the people made a covenant to let the slaves go free.  Hebrews were not supposed to be kept in long term slavery.  They could be held in servitude for determined amount of time, but no longer than six years (Ex 21:2; Deut 15:12).  All the people made this covenant and freed the slaves.  But then Babylon lifted the siege at the advance of the Egyptian army (Jer 37:6-15).  As soon as the siege lifted the people changed their mind and took the slaves back. 

Jeremiah 34:12-

The only thing worse than breaking God's law is repenting of it, but only temporarily.  This was an incredible display of hardheartedness.  They did what was right in repenting (turning from sin) but then turned from their turning.  Because of this the Lord declares their freedom.  They would no longer be yoked to Him, they were free to go to judgment.  They would face the sword, famine and pestilence.  They would face captivity. 

A covenant was ratified by passing through the parts of the sacrificed animal.  Those making the covenant agreed that the breaking of the covenant terms meant they would be treated like the animal split in two parts.  The Lord determined that those who broke the covenant would be treated like the calf. 

While the people may have felt they had been saved by Babylon's retreat and that they could once again do as they wished, this would be but a brief respite for the Lord's purpose.  He would turn the Babylonians around and they would return to Jerusalem and complete the siege. 

©2018 Doug Ford