Jeremiah 39:1-10 – Be serious and don't trifle with God

Jeremiah 39 described the fall of Jerusalem. A simple calculation from the facts given in verses 1-2, shows that it took the Babylonians 18 months to break into Jerusalem and captured it. And in those days when a city had been conquered, the generals of the conquering army would normally seize it and take their seats at the city gate.  This was how the general claimed victory over the city in which they had been defeated. So verse 4 says that “all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.” These Babylonian names show that they were people that spoke another language. These verses clearly indicate the fulfillment of what God had declared in Jeremiah 5:15 years ago.  He said, saying: “Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel…It is an enduring nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.”

Verses 4-6 tell us how Zedekiah and his officials tried to escape. They ran out of the city by night through the gates located at the king’s garden. But they were pursued and overtaken by the Babylonians and captured at the plain of Jericho and brought before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah. Although Zedekiah was not killed, he and his family were severely treated. His sons and nobles were executed before him before he was blinded and bound in chains and brought to exile in Babylon where he died. How true  Ezekiel 12:13 was. It was said that he would be brought to Babylon, but his eyes shall not see it. The Babylonians also torched the palace and the houses of the people and had Jerusalem razed with fire. The rest of the people were also taken into captivity in Babylon. Only the poorer pleasant  were left behind in Judah and given vineyards to look after.

The fall of Jerusalem clearly proves that God says what He meant and meant what He says. He delivered the disaster as promised. Judah was punished for their disobedience, and refusal to listen to God’s warnings. What they had experienced is a reminder to us that disobedience always exacts a heavy price. We don’t need a disaster to wise up. This passage was recorded for our learning. Know that God meant every word He says.  So be wise up, take God seriously, listen to His Word, and be careful to obey.