Day 231 of the podcast, reading Jeremiah 35-38 NET, read along at:
https://netbible.org/bible/Jeremiah+35-38/
This is day 231 of our journey.
Jeremiah 35 introduces the Rechabites. These people were a wandering tribe that had taken refuge from the Babylonians in Jerusalem. They had, long before the events of this passage, received specific instructions from their ancestor on how they were to live their lives and had remained faithful to his commands for many generations. The Rechabites serve as a stark contrast to the Jews who have refused to remain faithful to the Word of the Lord. In Jeremiah 36, God has Jeremiah write down all the words he has received. This scroll is read in the temple, to the officials, and eventually to King Jehoiakim. King Jehoiakim burned the scroll and sent to have Jeremiah arrested. But, God protected Jeremiah and instructed him to make another copy of the scroll. Jeremiah 37-38 tell of the interactions between Jeremiah and King Zedekiah. King Zedekiah ruled at the whims of his officials. At times, he seems to listen to Jeremiah and protects him from persecution but then allows his officers to throw him into a pit to execute him. Eventually, he gives permission for Jeremiah to be rescued from death. In all this time of persecution and threat of death, Jeremiah's message remains the same. Judah will be overthrown. Babylon will not relent until the city is burned and the King is taken into exile.
Join me in Jeremiah 35-38 and see the difference between faithfulness and deceit.
Key verses:
Jeremiah 35:19
So the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel says, ‘Jonadab son of Rechab will never lack a male descendant to serve me.’”
Jeremiah 36:30
So the Lord says concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah, “None of his line will occupy the throne of David. His dead body will be thrown out to be exposed to scorching heat by day and frost by night.
Jeremiah 37:9
Moreover, I, the Lord, warn you not to deceive yourselves into thinking that the Babylonian forces will go away and leave you alone. For they will not go away.
Jeremiah 38:23
“All your wives and your children will be turned over to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape from them but will be captured by the king of Babylon. This city will be burned down.”
All Scriptures are from the NET.
