Chapter 39

Well, Johno’s Commentary returns! I hope you’re ready!

The sadness is once again palpable. In Chapter 39 and verse 1, Jeremiah baldly and bleakly records the date that the Babylonians finally broke through the wall of Jerusalem and captured Zedekiah.

The prophecy that Zedekiah would not be killed comes true, but in a horrendous and disturbing way – the Babylonians force him to watch the execution of all his children; then they blind him and take him as a captive to Babylon.

Throughout the years, Jeremiah has been trying to persuade the king to surrender and go quietly. Evidently the Babylonians have got wind of this, because in verses 11 and12, they grant him his freedom. So now Jeremiah wanders the damaged walls. He must have wondered about the irony here; he is freed by the very people he told his people to surrender to, yet I doubt that it made him feel good about it!

Finally, Ebed-Melek (the Ethiopian who has devoted much time to keeping Jeremiah away from his enemies) is told that his faithfulness will be rewarded, and he will not be killed.

A fairly short chapter, to be honest. How can we gain something out of it?

I think the answer is to look at this scenario here. As I write, the Fukishima Nuclear Plant disaster enters its third month. And we have seen it many times on the news. One general consensus relating to this is that people are describing this even as “The worst-case scenario”. Similarly Jeremiah 39 is where you’d have to admit that the people of Judah have reached their low point. Where to from here?

And yet, God is still looking after His own. Jeremiah and Ebed-Melek are promised that their safety will not be compromised despite the circumstances.

When we face times of trouble, it is important for us to realize that God hasn’t been taken out of the picture. Nothing there has changed. God still loves us. God is still watching out for us. God does not fail!

So if you feel yourself to be going through the tough times, remember that He is still there, and He is the one who will be with us and never forsake us.