August 18, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Jeremiah 38 - Though Jeremiah wasn't killed for being a prophet, he was certainly persecuted.  This chapter reveals his dungeon experience of being placed in an old well and sinking into the mud at the bottom!  God raised up an Ethiopian man, Ebed-Melech, to seek help for Jeremiah.  He got thirty men, ropes, and old rags and lowered the rags and rope to Jeremiah and pulled him to safety.  The king, Zedekiah, had Jeremiah come to see him, and Jeremiah basically gave Zedekiah one last chance to do what God said.

Jeremiah 39 - Zedekiah didn't listen to Jeremiah.  He tried to escape the Babylonians but was captured.  His punishment was cruel.  He was forced to watch the execution of his sons and then his eyes were gouged out so that the last visual memory he had was his sons' death.  The Babylonians released Jeremiah from prison and God gave a special promise to Ebed-Melech.

Jeremiah 40 - Now that Babylon has conquered Jerusalem it is noteworthy to see that even the Babylonian captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, knew enough of Jeremiah's prophecy to say, "Now the Lord has brought it, and has done just as He said" verse 3.  This captain gave Jeremiah freedom and some money and let him go wherever he chose.  Meanwhile, a man named Gedaliah, was appointed as governor over Judea, verse 5.  Another man, Johanan, who was captain of Jewish forces that remained, warned Gedaliah of an assassination attempt on his life from another man, Ishmael.  Gedaliah accused Johanan of lying.  This is an example of listening to warnings.

Psalm 74 - This Psalm, written by Asaph, cries out to God as the people of Israel feel cast away by God.  It was obviously written around the time of the Babylonian invasion of their land.  Of all the things that are in this Psalm a complaint is given that "We do not see signs; there is no longer any prophet..."  This is what happened when the people of God refused to listen to God's call for repentance.

Psalm 79 - Again, Asaph speaks of the devastation and destruction of Jerusalem by invading armies.  The Jewish people have become a reproach to their neighbors, verse 4.  Asaph pleads with God not to remember former iniquities, verse 8, and then cries for His help, verse 9.  A promise of help causes Asaph to end the Psalm on a note of praise, "So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations" verse 13.