Jeremiah 37
Chapter 37 of Jeremiah depicts the end of the Kingdom of Judah, where King Zedekiah does not accept Jeremiah’s warnings even in the face of Babylon’s threats, and instead clings to empty hope and help from outside. This chapter reveals Jeremiah’s faithful prophetic ministry, as well as the distrust and confusion of Judah’s king and people.
1verseZedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
2verseBut neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, listened to the LORD’s words, which he spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.
3verseZedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray now to the LORD our God for us.”
4verseNow Jeremiah came in and went out among the people, for they had not put him into prison.
5versePharaoh’s army had come out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
6verseThen the LORD’s word came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
7verse“The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘You shall tell the king of Judah, who sent you to me to inquire of me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help you, will return to Egypt into their own land.
8verseThe Chaldeans will come again, and fight against this city. They will take it and burn it with fire.”’
9verse“The LORD says, ‘Don’t deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely depart from us;” for they will not depart.
10verseFor though you had struck the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and only wounded men remained among them, they would each rise up in his tent and burn this city with fire.’”
11verseWhen the army of the Chaldeans had withdrawn from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,
12versethen Jeremiah went out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to receive his portion there, in the middle of the people.
13verseWhen he was in Benjamin’s gate, a captain of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!”
14verseThen Jeremiah said, “That is false! I am not defecting to the Chaldeans.” But he didn’t listen to him; so Irijah seized Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
15verseThe princes were angry with Jeremiah, and struck him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison.
16verseWhen Jeremiah had come into the dungeon house and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days,
17versethen Zedekiah the king sent and had him brought out. The king asked him secretly in his house, “Is there any word from the LORD?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” He also said, “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”
18verseMoreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you, against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison?
19verseNow where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you, nor against this land’?
20verseNow please hear, my lord the king: please let my supplication be presented before you, that you not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.”
21verseThen Zedekiah the king commanded, and they committed Jeremiah into the court of the guard. They gave him daily a loaf of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
King Zedekiah’s Request and Jeremiah’s Counsel (Verses 1–10)
After Zedekiah became king, when he was put in trouble by Babylon’s invasion, he asks Jeremiah to seek God’s help on his behalf. However, Jeremiah prophesies that even if Babylon’s army withdraws for a moment, it will eventually return and destroy Judah. This repeatedly reminds us of the message of judgment for people who do not obey God.
Jeremiah’s Imprisonment and Unfair Treatment (Verses 11–16)
When the Babylonian forces withdraw temporarily, Jeremiah is arrested for treason while trying to leave the city for personal reasons. He suffers while imprisoned, yet this shows symbolically the misunderstanding and hardship that one who proclaims the truth can face in the world, as well as the cost of living in accordance with God’s will.
Zedekiah’s Secret Question and Jeremiah’s Plea (Verses 17–21)
King Zedekiah secretly summons Jeremiah and asks him about Babylon’s fate. Jeremiah continues to deliver the same message of judgment, pleading for help so that he will not die in prison. In response, Zedekiah instructs those who are to watch Jeremiah to provide him with more flexible treatment and supply him with bread.
Points to Ponder
- We need to reflect on what, in a real crisis, we truly rely on. We can compare our faith in trusting God’s Word with how we rely on external circumstances or human methods.
- Through Jeremiah, we can learn that the path of a mission to proclaim the truth can sometimes become a path of misunderstanding, hardship, and loneliness.
Try Applying It to Me
- In the face of a crisis of faith, let’s check whether I, too, have the courage to firmly hold on to God’s will and proclaim it boldly like Jeremiah.
- As we live through practical difficulties that come when we follow God’s will, we can apply in our daily lives how I am protecting my heart and faith, and how I am seeking God’s help.
