“Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him, arose and struck Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.” (v.2)
In the last chapter a murderous plot was hatched against Gedaliah, who had been appointed governor of Jerusalem by the king of Babylon. Johanan warned Gedaliah that Ishmael was planning to kill him, but Gedaliah wouldn’t believe him (Jer. 40:15-16). Sadly, the plot was true, and Gedaliah was assassinated.
In much the same way, Jeremiah had warned God’s people to surrender to the Babylonians (because it was God’s discipline) but no one listened, and as a result many died during the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem. Had all the individuals in this incident simply repented of their idol worship and self-sufficiency, and turned to God, all their striving in the flesh would have been avoided.
Jeremiah had already shared with them God’s desire to give them a hope: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (29:11, NIV). But their own stubbornness pushed their hearts away from trusting God and the peace and security He would have provided.
Don't let that happen to you. Heed the counsel of God through His Word, and those in your life who know Him. It just may save your life.
The Truth: “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God.” (Psalm 146:5)
In the last chapter a murderous plot was hatched against Gedaliah, who had been appointed governor of Jerusalem by the king of Babylon. Johanan warned Gedaliah that Ishmael was planning to kill him, but Gedaliah wouldn’t believe him (Jer. 40:15-16). Sadly, the plot was true, and Gedaliah was assassinated.
In much the same way, Jeremiah had warned God’s people to surrender to the Babylonians (because it was God’s discipline) but no one listened, and as a result many died during the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem. Had all the individuals in this incident simply repented of their idol worship and self-sufficiency, and turned to God, all their striving in the flesh would have been avoided.
Jeremiah had already shared with them God’s desire to give them a hope: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (29:11, NIV). But their own stubbornness pushed their hearts away from trusting God and the peace and security He would have provided.
Don't let that happen to you. Heed the counsel of God through His Word, and those in your life who know Him. It just may save your life.
The Truth: “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God.” (Psalm 146:5)
