Jeremiah is imprisoned

JEREMIAH      CHAPTER 37

King Nebuchadnezzer appointed Zedekiah to be king of Judah and Zedekiah sent a reprentative to Jeremiah to ask him to pray to the Lord God for them. At this time, the army of Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt appeared at the southern border of Judah.

The Lord gave Jeremiah the answer for the king and said to tell the king that the Babylonians would come back and capture the city and burn it to the ground. The Lord further said that the Babylonians were not gone for good and even if their army was destroyed, they would have their warriors stagger from their tents and burn the city.

When the Babylonian army left Jerusalem because of Pharoah's approaching army, Jeremiah started to leave the city on his way to the land of Benjamin to see the property he had bought. But as he walked through the Benjamin Gate, a sentry arrested him and accused him of defecting to the Babylonians.  Jeremiah protested, but the sentry would not listen and took him before the officials.  They had Jeremian flogged and imprisoned in the home of Jonathan the secretary. Jonathan's house had been converted into a prison and Jeremiah was put in a dungeon cell.

Later King Zedekiah secretly requested that Jermiah come to the palace where the king asked him if he had any messages from the Lord.
"Yes," said Jeremiah, "you will be defeated by the king of Babylon."

Then Jeremiah asked the king what crime he had committed? And he asked where the prophets were who told him that Babylon's king would not attack? He begged the king to not send him back to the dungeon. So King Zedekiah commanded that Jeremiah not be returned to the dungeon. Instead he was put in the palace prison and was given a loaf of fresh bread every day as long as there was any left in the city.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Zedekiah and his officials didn't really want to listen to Jeremiah's words, they only wanted the blessings of his prayers. They wanted a superficial religion that wouldn't cost them anything. We have many people in our world today who do the same thing. But God is not pleased with people who come to him looking for what they can get instead of seeking a relationship with him.

King Zedekiah was pathetic! He flip-flopped between surrender and resistance and was too frightened and weak to use his authority wisely. He was desperate when he asked Jeremiah to come to the palace and was probably hoping for some good news from God.

Weak and pathetic leaders are common throughout the world. Only those whose doctrines are backed by faith in the Lord will be successful. Pray that in the coming days of politics in our country, that our leaders will get their act together and realize that God is the only one in charge!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH:

Pray for my grandson and new baby Gunar who was born with kidney problems.

Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our famers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.