‘While Jeremiah was at the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah the son of Hananiah was there; and he arrested Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are going over to the Chaldeans!” (v.13)
In 589 B.C. the Babylonian invasion of Judah was interrupted when the Pharaoh of Egypt marched north against Nebuchadnezzar’s armies, drawing the Babylonians away from Jerusalem. Against God’s warnings, many in Judah looked to Egypt as their salvation. Many opposed Jeremiah’s message instructing Judah to submit to the Babylonians.
Taking advantage of the Babylonian lull, Jeremiah set out for his home in Benjamin. Before making it out of Jerusalem, however, he met an accusation of treason: “You are deserting to the Babylonians!” (v.13). Despite Jeremiah’s protest, he was arrested, beaten, and imprisoned in a vaulted cell in a dungeon. He remained there for a long time until King Zedekiah called for him, perhaps hoping for a favorable word from God. Instead, Jeremiah reasserted his earlier message against Zedekiah and Judah. In other words, the Babylonian withdrawal was only temporary. This was not what the king wanted to hear, so he threw Jeremiah back into prison with a meager ration of bread.
If that was not enough, another group of pro-Egyptian officials were also not pleased with Jeremiah’s message. To them, Jeremiah was demoralizing Judah’s soldiers. Securing the king’s permission, they seized Jeremiah and threw him into a cistern full of mud. And that was where Jeremiah would have remained if it were not for a kind act of support and encouragement. Ebed-Melek, a royal official sympathetic to Jeremiah’s word, and a true worshiper of God (see Jer. 39:15–18), saw the wrong that was done to Jeremiah and did something about it. With the help of thirty men, he rescued Jeremiah from the muddy pit.
Not everyone in Judah was opposed to God’s prophet! Faithful, godly leadership in the church is so important, yet not always appreciated. Even God’s servants need support and encouragement through prayer, and appreciation for their leadership.
The Truth: “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you.” (Hebrews 13:7a)
In 589 B.C. the Babylonian invasion of Judah was interrupted when the Pharaoh of Egypt marched north against Nebuchadnezzar’s armies, drawing the Babylonians away from Jerusalem. Against God’s warnings, many in Judah looked to Egypt as their salvation. Many opposed Jeremiah’s message instructing Judah to submit to the Babylonians.
Taking advantage of the Babylonian lull, Jeremiah set out for his home in Benjamin. Before making it out of Jerusalem, however, he met an accusation of treason: “You are deserting to the Babylonians!” (v.13). Despite Jeremiah’s protest, he was arrested, beaten, and imprisoned in a vaulted cell in a dungeon. He remained there for a long time until King Zedekiah called for him, perhaps hoping for a favorable word from God. Instead, Jeremiah reasserted his earlier message against Zedekiah and Judah. In other words, the Babylonian withdrawal was only temporary. This was not what the king wanted to hear, so he threw Jeremiah back into prison with a meager ration of bread.
If that was not enough, another group of pro-Egyptian officials were also not pleased with Jeremiah’s message. To them, Jeremiah was demoralizing Judah’s soldiers. Securing the king’s permission, they seized Jeremiah and threw him into a cistern full of mud. And that was where Jeremiah would have remained if it were not for a kind act of support and encouragement. Ebed-Melek, a royal official sympathetic to Jeremiah’s word, and a true worshiper of God (see Jer. 39:15–18), saw the wrong that was done to Jeremiah and did something about it. With the help of thirty men, he rescued Jeremiah from the muddy pit.
Not everyone in Judah was opposed to God’s prophet! Faithful, godly leadership in the church is so important, yet not always appreciated. Even God’s servants need support and encouragement through prayer, and appreciation for their leadership.
The Truth: “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you.” (Hebrews 13:7a)
