Isaiah 38
Jeremiah 38 depicts a situation in which the prophet Jeremiah is persecuted by King Zedekiah of Judah and by those in power, and it also shows how he boldly conveys God’s will even in the midst of it. This chapter can be divided into four main parts. First, there is the scene in which Jeremiah continues to proclaim the coming destruction of Jerusalem and that they must surrender to Babylon, thereby earning hatred (verses 1–6). Second, there is the process by which Jeremiah is rescued from the cistern through the intervention of King Zedekiah (verses 7–13). Third, there is the scene in which King Zedekiah meets Jeremiah secretly, wanting to hear his prophecy (verses 14–23). Fourth, there is the circumstance in which Jeremiah had no choice but to conceal his conversation from other officials (verses 24–28).
1verseIn those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, “The LORD says, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’”
2verseThen Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
3verseand said, “Remember now, LORD, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight.” Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4verseThen the LORD’s word came to Isaiah, saying,
5verse“Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘The LORD, the God of David your father, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
6verseI will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.
7verseThis shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he has spoken.
8verseBehold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps.”’” So the sun returned ten steps on the sundial on which it had gone down.
9verseThe writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness:
10verseI said, “In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years.”
11verseI said, “I won’t see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
12verseMy dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night you will make an end of me.
13verseI waited patiently until morning. He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me.
14verseI chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security.”
15verseWhat will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul.
16verseLord, men live by these things; and my spirit finds life in all of them. You restore me, and cause me to live.
17verseBehold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
18verseFor Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth.
19verseThe living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do today. The father shall make known your truth to the children.
20verseThe LORD will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the LORD’s house.
21verseNow Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.”
22verseHezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I will go up to the LORD’s house?”
Persecution and God’s Message
As a result of Jeremiah faithfully delivering God’s message, he is threatened by the king, the nobles, and the soldiers. When he keeps saying that he must surrender to Babylon in order to live, the key authorities regard it as “something that harms public sentiment” and decide to kill him (verse 4). Even in this life-or-death situation, Jeremiah is rescued again, thanks to help from an outsider named Ebed-Melech and Zedekiah’s passive consideration, giving him the opportunity to share God’s word once more. This process conveys the message that those who speak the words of truth may sometimes face suffering, but God’s providence protects them.
Zedekiah’s Fear and Choice
King Zedekiah fears Jeremiah, yet because he is mindful of public opinion, he cannot truly listen to what he says. Jeremiah advises the king to surrender to Babylon, but the king hesitates out of fear (verse 19). Zedekiah’s struggle between truth and reality shows how important the choices a leader must make between conviction and fear can be. In the end, Zedekiah, sadly, fails to make the right decision and instead asks that Jeremiah’s conversation be kept secret.
Points to Ponder
- It suggests that speaking the truth itself can sometimes come with loneliness, misunderstandings, and crises.
- Through the example of Ebed-Melech, the foreigner who helps Jeremiah, we can learn that we too can find the strength to take small courage for the truth.
- Reflect on how difficult it is to make courageous decisions according to God’s will between fear and reality—and yet how necessary it is.
Try Applying It to Me
- In the community or circumstances I’m part of, I look back to see whether I have ever left out or hidden the truth that I should have spoken because of fear.
- Like Jeremiah, I can make it a week of trying to speak with sincerity—speak the right words and words that bring good influence—with courage.
- I ask in prayer, seeking the courage to stand on the side of truth even in small matters, and to quietly reach out my hand when someone is facing hardship.
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