Jeremiah 21
Brendaonline.com1. The word which came vnto Ieremiah from the Lord, when king Zedekiah sent vnto him Pashur the sonne of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the sonne of Maaseiah the priest, saying;
God spoke to Jeremiah again. Between chapter 20 and chapter 21 has been at least 20 years according to commentators who studied this chapter. God spoke to Jeremiah when the change of administration changed, but the Word of the Lord was the same because the leadership did not change nor did the people.
2 2. Enquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for vs (for Nebuchad-rezzar king of Babylon maketh warre against vs) if so be that the Lord will deale with vs, according to all his wondrous workes, that he may goe vp from vs.
The king wanted Jeremiah to ask God to defend them from Nebuchadnezzar. When we ask someone else to pray for us, sometimes it is evident that we feel guilty of sin and do not think God will listen to us. So we find someone we know has a relationship with God and ask them to pray instead of ourselves.
3 3. ¶ Then saide Ieremiah vnto them. Thus shall yee say to Zedekiah,
Jeremiah sends a message to the king,
4 4. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Behold, I will turne backe the weapons of warre that are in your hands, wherewith yee fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Caldeans, which besiege you without the walles, and I will assemble them into the middest of this citie.
God responds to the request of his people because of their ongoing sin and refusal to stop: I will not help you fight against your enemies. I will allow them to defeat you behind the walls and I will allow them to get into the midst of the city. You will not win against the people I sent to subdue you.
5 5. And I myselfe will fight against you with an out stretched hand, and with a strong arme, euen in anger, and in furie, and in great wrath.
God told them He too will fight against them. God has asked at least 40 years for His people to return to Him, but they did not. Now God has started His wrath and He said He will not listen but fulfill all that He will do to His people for their ongoing sins.
6 6. And I will smite the inhabitants of this citie both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
The Lord Himself said He will make sure both man and beast die who at one time lived in that city.
7 7. And afterward, saith the Lord, I will deliuer Zedekiah king of Iudah, and his seruants, and the people, and such as are left in this citie from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seeke their life, and and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword: hee shall not spare them, neither haue pitie, nor haue mercy.
God said He will hand-deliver His people who did not die from the pestilence or disease, or by the sword or from starvation into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar who will finish them off. If you escape from one enemy you will surely fall into the hands of another one.
8 8. ¶ And vnto this people thou shalt say; Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
God told Jeremiah to tell the people they could live as a slave or die at the hands of those he allowed to overtake them.
9 9. He that abideth in this citie, shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Caldeans, that besiege you, he shall liue, and his life shall be vnto him, for a pray.
You will die or live as a slave if they do not kill you. All of this is the consequence of your disobedience and I am God and will see to it happening.
10 10. For I haue set my face against this citie for euill and not for good, saith the Lord; it shall be giuen into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burne it with fire.
I am God and My face is against you for evil and not for good. I will destroy the same city I gave to you as a gift.
11 11.¶ And touching the house of the king of Iudah, say; Heare yee the word of the Lord.
Now God is sending an announcement to the King of Judah.
12 12. Oh house of Dauid, thus saith the Lord, Execute iudgement in the morning, and deliuer him that is spoiled, out of the hand of the oppressour, lest my furie goe out like fire, and burne, that none can quench it, because of the euill of your doings.
Some of the people will live. God is saying if you survive, do right on every level in life. If not I will destroy you. God is tired of the separation of state and what we call church. God expect all to do right.
13 13. Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rocke of the plaine, saith the Lord, which say, Who shall come downe against vs? or who shall enter into our habitations?
You boast of who will come against you? God said I will.
14 14. But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the Lord: and I will kindle a fire in the forrest thereof, and it shall deuoure all things round about it.
The children of Israel were a rich nation. They had the best of everything. God cared nothing of the things. If God does not have the heart of the people, He will destroy the people and the things too.
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