Chronological Bible Study – Aug 18

What I Noticed Today (Jeremiah 38-40; Psalms 74, 79)

Jeremiah 38

In verses 1-3, Jeremiah repeats the word of the Lord in front of a group of officials and people of the city saying the city shall die by the sword, pestilence, and famine but whoever surrenders to the Babylonians will live.

In verses 4-6, the officials demanded Jeremiah be killed for treason, and the weak Zedekiah handed Jeremiah over to them to do as they see fit. They took Jeremiah to the house of Malkijah’s house and lowered him into a cistern by ropes and Jeremiah sank into the mud at the bottom.

In verses 7-13, only one official, Ebed-Melech, a Cushite (some translations say Ethiopian) eunuch, a gentile, went to the king saying that these officials had acted wickedly by putting Jeremiah into the cistern where he would die. Zedekiah ordered Ebed-Melech to take men and remove Jeremiah from the cistern and hold him in the guard’s courtyard.

In verses 14-16, Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah for another secret meeting telling the prophet not to hide anything from him. Jeremiah was hesitant, but the king guaranteed his safety.

In verses 17-23, Jeremiah repeats the judgment from the Lord. Zedekiah needed to surrender to the Babylonians. If he did, he would save the city and his life. If he refused, the city would be taken and burned, and Zedekiah would be taken captive. Zedekiah was more worried about the Judeans who had already deserted to the Babylonians, but Jeremiah assured him his life would be spared. However, if he refused to surrender, his wife and children and he would be taken captive by the Babylonians, and the city burned with fire.

In verses 24-28, Zedekiah refused to listen to Jeremiah once again and told him not to tell anyone about their conversation. If anyone did question him, he was to simply say he had pleaded with the king not to send him back to prison in Jonathan’s house. Officials did question Jeremiah, and he told them what the king told him to say. Jeremiah remained in the guard’s courtyard prison until the day that Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians.

Jeremiah 39

In verses 1-4, the Babylonians began their siege of Jerusalem in the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah (January 15, 588 B.C.), and lasted until the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year (July 18, 586 B.C., a siege of about 30 months). The city walls of Jerusalem were broken through and took control of the city. Zedekiah tried to escape with his family

In verses 5-7, the Babylonians chased after Zedekiah and captured him. Nebuchadnezzar forced Zedekiah to watch as his sons and nobles were killed. Then Zedekiah’s eyes were put out; he was put in shackles and taken to Babylon.

In verses 8-10, the Babylonians set fire to the city and broke down the city walls. Nebuzaradan, the commander of the imperial guard, took captive the remaining people in the city and those who had defected and carried them off to Babylon. He left only some very poor people behind to tend the vineyards and fields.

In verses 11-14, Nebuchadnezzar was aware of Jeremiah, sent for him, and turned him over to Nebuzaradan with instructions that no harm should come to him. Jeremiah was turned over to Gedaliah, who was appointed the governor of the Judah. Gedaliah was the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan

In verses 15-18, we jump back in time from before the city fell when the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah regarding Ebed-Melech. Because Ebed-Melech had spoken up for and rescued Jeremiah, and because he trusted in the Lord, the Lord saved his life from the Babylonians.

Jeremiah 40-45

Jeremiah 40-45, records events after the fall of Jerusalem. Even though the people had witnessed the fall and all of Jeremiah’s prophecies came true, the people still refused to trust God.

Jeremiah 40

In verses 1-6, Jeremiah had been taken in chains with other captives to the city of Ramah. Nebuzaradan acknowledged Jeremiah’s prophecies, saying he knew God had brought this disaster on the people of Judah because they had sinned against Him! Nebuzaradan released Jeremiah and told him he was free to go wherever he wanted; if to Babylon, Nebuzaradan promised to look after him, if back to Jerusalem, Nebuzaradan suggested Jeremiah stay with Gedaliah.  Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah and stayed with him.

In verses 7-12, when the people, including the remaining army, heard that Gedaliah was appointed governor, they began to return and met Gedaliah at Mizpah.

Gedaliah assured the army officers that they would be safe if they surrendered and he encouraged them to settle in the land and harvest the summer crops. News of Gedaliah’s appointment as governor reached Jews who had scattered to Moab, Ammon, Edom and they all returned to Judah.

In verses 13-16, trouble begins to surface in Judah. Johanan son of Kareah (v. 8) reported to Gedaliah that Ishmael son of Nethaniah (v. 8) was plotting to kill Gedaliah. Gedaliah did not believe them, so Johanan met secretly with Gedaliah and offered to kill Ishmael. Gedaliah could not believe the accusation made against Ishmael and he forbid Johanan from killing him. 

Psalm 74

Psalm 74 is Asaph’s prayer to God to remember the people after their enemies had destroyed the sanctuary.

In verses 1-2, Asaph asks God not to continue to be angry with His people.

In verses 3-9, Asaph laments the destruction of the sanctuary and that there is no one to give spiritual counsel to the people.

In verses 10-17, Asaph asks God how long these enemies would be allowed to mock God before God crushed them.

In verses 18-23, Asaph asked God not to forget his covenant with the people by protecting His people and defeating their enemies.

Psalm 79

In Psalm 79, Asaph describes the devastation of Jerusalem and begs God to deliver them from their enemies.

In verses 1-4, Asaph laments the division of the people, the defilement of the temple, and how the Israelites had been mocked by their enemies.

In verses 5-12, Asaph pleaded with God not to remember the sins of the people, and to not be angry with the Israelites, but to pour out His anger on their oppressors.

In verse 13, Asaph says that once the people were restored, they would praise God forever.

Tomorrow: 2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.