July 21, 2026 - Jeremiah 40-45

The Babylonians had come into the city.  The city was destroyed, the temple was in ruins, and the people were being taken into exile to far-away Babylon.  For a time, Jeremiah had been arrested and placed in chains but was then released.  A fascinating episode then transpired:  “The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, ‘The LORD your God pronounced this disaster against this place.  The LORD has brought it about, and has done as he said.  Because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you’” (40:2-3).  Jeremiah was then given the choice of either accompanying the exiles to Babylon or remaining in the land under the governor, Gedaliah.  He chose the latter.  However, there was a plot against Gedaliah, led by Ishmael who was sent by the king of the Ammonites, and Gedaliah was murdered.  Those involved in the plot, fearing the Babylonian response, fled to Egypt, forcing Jeremiah to go with them, though, he had warned them not to flee to Egypt.  The Lord had warned, “My wrath will be poured out on you when you go to Egypt.  You shall become an execration, a horror, a curse, and a taunt” (42:18).  This brings me back to the words of the Babylonian captain (40:2-3).  Even he could see Israel’s failure and understand the consequences.  God’s own people would not even though, as God declared, “I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!’  But they did not listen” (44:4-5).  When God speaks, we must listen and obey.  A wonderful old hymn of commitment to follow God wholeheartedly:

All to Jesus I surrender,

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.   -- Judson W. Van DeVenter (1896)