1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: Let us pray. But Jeremiah said, they shall not deliver THEE. Obey. 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 1: I beseech THEE the voice of the Lord, which I 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: speak unto THEE, so it shall be well unto THEE, 4 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: and thy soul shall live Jeremiah thirty eight twenty. With 5 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: each new breath I take to day, I will give 6 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: thanks for the words found in the Bible. As in 7 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: the days of Jeremiah, I thank you in advance for 8 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: sending people my way, like the Ethiopian eunuch in to 9 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: day's reading. When others seek to throw me into a 10 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: cistron and try to muddy my character and name, I 11 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: thank you that through the clothing of kindness and humility, 12 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: you will provide a way for me out of that 13 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: muddy pit. When the hands of influence shift around me. 14 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: Because I have integrity, I will receive uncommon favor and 15 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: uncommon choices regarding the desires of my heart, even in 16 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: the midst of my enemies. No matter what may come 17 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 1: my way, I am resting in the finished work God. 18 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: I am at peace because I know that I am 19 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: a child of God in Jesus' name. Amen, thank you 20 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 1: for praying with me today. Continue listening for an incredible 21 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 1: Bible story brought to you by Bible in a Year 22 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: dot com. 23 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: You know your principles, priorities, and practical health care needs 24 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:47,199 Speaker 2: better than anyone else. That's why Christian Healthcare Ministries empowers 25 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: you to personalize your health care as an alternative to 26 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 2: health insurance. You can have freedom over your health care 27 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 2: decisions and doctors with affordable programs, and when you join 28 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 2: your surrounded by fellow believers who share the same values. 29 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 2: Learn more by visiting Chministries dot org slash prey. 30 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 3: God protects Jeremiah and our last story. We learned about 31 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 3: King Zedekiah's stubbornness against the Babylonians. He fought against them 32 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 3: despite Jeremiah's warnings. Jeremiah continued to warn people that fighting 33 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 3: against babylon was a vain attempt, like grasping at air. 34 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,239 Speaker 3: Those warnings got Jeremiah beaten and thrown into prison. Now, 35 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 3: Jeremiah remains in the courthouse as a captive and watches 36 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 3: as the Chaldeans and Babylonians pick up our Judah peace 37 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 3: by peace. In this story, we watched the demise of 38 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 3: Judah through the eyes of Jeremiah. The old prophet is beaten, 39 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 3: dripped of wealth, and thrown into mud by his own people. 40 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 3: It would be foreigners and enemies that show him kindness. 41 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:12,799 Speaker 3: Inspired by the Book of Jeremiah. 42 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 4: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 43 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,799 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year podcast. Thanks for joining us. In 44 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 4: our last episode, we saw a desperate but still prideful 45 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 4: king Zedekiah seeking good news from Jeremiah. He was holding 46 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 4: out hope that Judah could hold off the Babylonian onslaught 47 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 4: and drive them out of the land. But Jeremiah was 48 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 4: not in the business of telling people what they wanted 49 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 4: to hear. He was God's man, God's messenger, even if 50 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 4: the message was one of judgment. He delivered. This cost Jeremiah, 51 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 4: including scorn and beatings from those who opposed him. Still, 52 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 4: devastation was coming from the Chaldeans, and today we'll hear 53 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 4: the things Jeremiah experienced as Judah crumbled. God will call 54 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 4: him to sacrifice his own wealth and freedom for the 55 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 4: sake of others, and through it all the Lord will 56 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 4: be with him, protecting his prophet and using him to 57 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 4: tell a story of ultimate redemption. So let's listen today 58 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 4: to God's word. 59 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 3: The Prophet Jeremiah had been shut up in the courthouse 60 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 3: of Zedekiah for a long while. During that time, King 61 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 3: Neberconezzar began his second wind of attacks against Judah. The 62 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 3: Chaldeans broke down the walls and burned the city streets, 63 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 3: and Neberconezzar waltzed in without struggle. The land was large 64 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 3: it would take the Babylonian's weeks to reach Jerusalem. There 65 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 3: was a sense of urgency in King Zedekiah as he 66 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 3: rallied more men to fight. He fought against Neberconezzar and 67 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 3: the Chaldeans, despite Jeremiah's warnings. One day Jeremiah was praying 68 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 3: in a solitary part of the courthouse, God whispered to him, 69 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 3: as he once did to Elijah. In that still and 70 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 3: quiet voice, the Lord made his will known to the prophet. 71 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 3: Your uncle Hannamel will visit you in desperation. He will 72 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 3: want to sell you his land in Anathoth. Jeremiah's eyes 73 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 3: widened at the words of the Lord. Anathoth was already 74 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 3: under siege from Babylon. Any land his uncle would want 75 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 3: to sell him would be utterly worthless. It was the 76 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 3: Lord's intention for Jeremiah to use his money to redeem 77 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 3: his uncle and save him in hard times. Sure Enough, 78 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 3: the next day, Hanamel came to visit his nephew at 79 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 3: the court house. He begged Jeremiah to buy the land 80 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 3: off him. He said that he desired for the land 81 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 3: to stay in the family. However, Jeremiah knew it was 82 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 3: because the Babylonians had taken it and the land was 83 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 3: of no use to any one. 84 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:44,679 Speaker 1: Now. 85 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 3: Buying the land would be relieving his uncle of a burden. 86 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 3: Jeremiah knew that the Lord had called him to this, 87 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 3: so he bought the land and gave the deed to 88 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 3: his friend Baruk for safe keeping. The deed would be 89 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: an image of future redemption. To own that land would 90 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 3: mean certain Babylonian slavery, so Jeremiah redeemed his uncle so 91 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 3: he could be free. This is what the Lord would 92 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 3: do for his people. He would pay the price of 93 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 3: slavery so that his loved ones might live free. Jeremiah 94 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 3: rejoiced in the Lord, but continued to feel sorrow in 95 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 3: his heart for Judah's fate. Days passed and the siege 96 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 3: of Babylon continued. Jeremiah went to the roof of the 97 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 3: court house. He could see the horrors of the Chaldeans 98 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 3: in the distance. They had destroyed most of the walls 99 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 3: of Jerusalem. Zedekiah and his men had destroyed a few 100 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 3: of the homes to create a makeshift wall to keep 101 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 3: the Chaldeans out. When that didn't work, they stacked on 102 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 3: dead bodies to turn away the enemy. God saw this, 103 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 3: and his heart broke. The blighted wind came in from 104 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 3: the north, and Jeremiah began to sob. The Lord spoke 105 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 3: to him again, saying, I am the Lord who has 106 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 3: made the earth. I will restore this city once again. 107 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 3: I will heal them and reveal my goodness. The Lord's 108 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 3: words touched Jeremiah's heart as he looked upon the ashy 109 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 3: city below. How could God fix this, Jeremiah must have thought, 110 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 3: I will cleanse my people from the guilt of their sins. 111 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 3: I will forgive them and wash them clean. After this destruction, 112 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 3: there shall again be the sound of wedding bells, the 113 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 3: voice of a groom singing over his bride. All shall 114 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:34,679 Speaker 3: be made whole again. God declared. This was another image 115 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 3: of what God would do in his people. Hundreds of 116 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 3: years from then, a new king would arise and walk 117 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 3: the streets of Jerusalem. He would enter and wash the 118 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 3: people white as snow. Jeremiah continued to do his best 119 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 3: to warn the people of Judah. As they passed by 120 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 3: the court house, he told them they had a choice 121 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 3: remain in Judah and be made captives, or flee to 122 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 3: the Chaldeans and be spared. Jeremiah's words were like poisoned 123 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 3: to the men trying to fight. The princes and commanders 124 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 3: marched to the king and said, you cannot let this 125 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 3: man live. His words are quenching the fire of our soldiers. 126 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 3: Every time they hear him speak, they lose more hope 127 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 3: for victory. I agree. King Zedekiah replied, do as you 128 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 3: wish with him. My hands are clean of it. The 129 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 3: king's answer only partially pleased the princes, for they desire 130 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,719 Speaker 3: Jeremiah dead, but did not want his blood on their hands. 131 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 3: Jeremiah was praying to the Lord in his room when 132 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 3: he heard the door creak open. He turned around and 133 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 3: saw the princes and some guards with clubs and ropes. 134 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 3: More beatings. Jeremiah had become accustomed to them. By now, 135 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 3: he had come to expect brutality over kindness. The men 136 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 3: beat him and bound him. Jeremiah's bruised and bloody body 137 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 3: was dragged through the courtyard towards an old cistern. It 138 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 3: was deep and no longer flowing with water. However, it 139 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 3: was filled with mud and moss. Jeremiah was let down 140 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 3: into the cistern on ropes. His feet touched the mud below, 141 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 3: and he tried to find steady footing. He sank, the 142 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 3: mud consumed him, and darkness enveloped him. Ebed, the Ethiopian eunuch, 143 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 3: was strolling around the courtyard when he heard the snickering 144 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 3: of passing walkers. It came to his attention that Jeremiah 145 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 3: was tossed into the muddy cistern to rot with no 146 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:32,319 Speaker 3: food or water. He immediately went to the king and said, 147 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 3: this is truly evil. Jeremiah is a man of God 148 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 3: and was left in that well to starve. Give me 149 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 3: permission to fish him out before judgment falls on all 150 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 3: of us. The king gave his passive permission, and immediately 151 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 3: Ebd gathered thirty men to tight clothing together to make 152 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 3: a rope. Ebed brought the makeshift rope and his men 153 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 3: down to the cistern. He peered down to see Jeremiah's 154 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 3: motionless body consumed by the mud. We are going to 155 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 3: rescue you, he shouted. When the rope comes down, tie 156 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 3: it under your arms. Jeremiah was barely conscious. He had 157 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,439 Speaker 3: gone days without food or water, and was beginning to 158 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 3: think he would die there in that cistern. He was 159 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 3: pulled out and given a little food to eat and 160 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 3: water to drink. Not much could be spared since Judah 161 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 3: was still in decline. Jeremiah remained in the court house, 162 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 3: recovering from his near death experience in the cistern. He 163 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 3: was quiet of late and filled with contemplation. The prophet 164 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 3: was about to go to sleep when his door opened. 165 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 3: He had been summoned to meet King Zedekiah. Jeremiah was 166 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 3: escorted out of the court house. He walked next to 167 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 3: the guard past the palace. He had thought he would 168 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 3: meet the king in the palace as usual. However, they 169 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 3: were making their way towards the temple. It was late 170 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 3: and the distant sound of war had subsided for the night. 171 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 3: All that remained was the silent crackling of fire in 172 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 3: the moving breeze. Jeremiah saw King Zedekiah sitting at the 173 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,839 Speaker 3: steps of the third gate, of the temple. He approached 174 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,599 Speaker 3: the king. There was silence for a moment as the 175 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 3: king looked blankly into the distance. There was a crack 176 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 3: in his normally impassive and expressionless face. Zedekiah sighed, I 177 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 3: will ask you this one question, the king said, still 178 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:25,559 Speaker 3: looking blankly into nothing, Hide nothing from me. I only 179 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 3: want the truth. The truth usually gets me beaten or worse, 180 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 3: Jeremiah replied. The king looked at Jeremiah somberly. I swear 181 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 3: you will not be harmed, nor will I deliver you 182 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,839 Speaker 3: back into the hands of those who want you dead. 183 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 3: The king paused. He looked like a defeated man, a 184 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 3: weary man. What will come of us, Zedekiah asked. There 185 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 3: were cracks in his voice as he spoke. Jeremiah sat 186 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 3: beside the king, looking into the nothingness next to him. 187 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 3: If you surrender and your life will be spared. The 188 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 3: city won't be burned to the ground. You and your 189 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 3: house shall live, he explained. But if you do not 190 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 3: surrender and you continue fighting, many more will die. This 191 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:17,839 Speaker 3: city will be reduced to ashes. I fear that if 192 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 3: I surrender, I will be given over to the men 193 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 3: who deserted Judah to be with the Chaldeans. They are 194 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 3: not happy with me and will kill me, the king confessed. 195 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,960 Speaker 3: Jeremiah shook his head. You won't be given to them. 196 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 3: Heed God's warnings now, and the Lord will deal well 197 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 3: with you. Refuse in all your house will be captive 198 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 3: to Babylon, he said, with a pleading tone. Zedekiah rose 199 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 3: up from the temple steps and began to walk away. 200 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 3: He paused and turned to Jeremiah, saying, do not speak 201 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 3: of our conversation tonight, and I will let you live. 202 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 3: So Jeremiah remained in the courthouse as the city was preached. 203 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 3: Jeremiah woke up to the earth shaking beneath him. The 204 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 3: Chaldeans had taken another side of the wall. The rocks 205 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 3: fell to the floor and shook the earth. Zedekiah had 206 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 3: not listened to the words of Jeremiah and raised his 207 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 3: sword against the Chaldeans. However, he was met with a 208 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 3: force too great to comprehend. Jeremiah watched from a distance 209 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 3: as Zedekiah's army retreated to the palace gardens. One by one, 210 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,319 Speaker 3: they were picked off, Spears were driven through their hearts, 211 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 3: and their heads were put on pikes. Tears streamed down 212 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 3: Jeremiah's face as he watched King Zedekiah beg for mercy. 213 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:38,319 Speaker 3: The king was beaten, bound and sent off to Babylon. 214 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 3: Jeremiah sat in his room and waited. He knew it 215 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 3: was only a matter of time before the Babylonian commanders 216 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 3: stormed the court house in search of wealth. The captain 217 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 3: of Babylonian guard, Nebuzaradan, had his men searched the court house. 218 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 3: They took captives, gold, silver, and precious documents. They scoured 219 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 3: every room in closet until it was empty. Jeremiah's door 220 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 3: burst open and he was drug out into the courtyard 221 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 3: before an Abuzaradan. Jeremiah leaned in to receive another beating. However, 222 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 3: he was met with a warmness from the captain. King 223 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 3: Nebukonezzar had heard of Jeremiah. He heard of his warnings 224 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 3: to the people of Judah, and took pity on Jeremiah 225 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 3: for being a messenger of reason. Although Babylon was evil, 226 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 3: there was a glimmer of mercy in their actions towards Jeremiah. 227 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 3: He was given food, water, and a bodyguard to escort 228 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 3: him back to his home. He was also offered a 229 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 3: place beside Nebuzaradan. Jeremiah had a privilege. No one else 230 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 3: in Judah had a choice, a choice to remain with 231 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 3: his people or live in the comforts of Babylon. With 232 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 3: that freedom, he chose to dwell among the remaining inhabitants 233 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 3: of Judah. There he cared for them in his old 234 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 3: age and helped them pursue God despite their suffering. As 235 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 3: Jeremiah looked into the distance, he could see a pillar 236 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 3: of flames where the temple was being burned. Everyone watched 237 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 3: in sorrow as the temple crumpled. Jeremiah's heart swelled with sadness. 238 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 3: He did not turn his eyes from the temple. As 239 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 3: he stared out at the distance, he remembered the image 240 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 3: of God showed him of the potter and clay. The 241 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 3: old pot was broken, so a new one could emerge, 242 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 3: more beautiful. Out of death would come new life. This 243 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 3: was the rhythm of creation, This was the way of 244 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 3: the Lord. 245 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 4: As we begin today's reading, Jeremiah is confined to Zekiah's 246 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 4: courthouse while the king and his armies try in vain 247 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 4: to hold off the assault of nebkan Azer's forces. But 248 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 4: at last the Chaldeans broke through the walls, and the 249 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 4: Babylonian king entered the land, headed for Jerusalem and King Zetekiah. 250 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 4: Judah was in ruins, cities set ablaze as the Chaldeans 251 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 4: marched through, taking and doing whatever they please. And so 252 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 4: in this context, the Lord spoke one day to Jeremiah. 253 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 4: This time the message was not for Zedekiah or the 254 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 4: people of Judah. It was for Jeremiah himself. God told 255 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 4: him his uncle Hannamel was going to come to him 256 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 4: desperate and try to sell his land to Jeremiah. His 257 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 4: property had no value, as the Babylonians had taken that 258 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 4: part of Judah. This wasn't an investment opportunity for Jeremiah. 259 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 4: It was a sacrifice. Buying the land from Hannamel would 260 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 4: take an enormous burden off the shoulders of his uncle 261 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 4: and rescue him from certain slavery. Jeremiah was faithful to 262 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 4: the Lord's will and bought the land. It was a 263 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 4: redemptive act that gave Hannemel a freedom he had done 264 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 4: nothing to earn and had no hope to attain on 265 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 4: his own. Through Jeremiah's sacrifice, God was showing his people 266 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 4: what he would do for them and for us. Paying 267 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 4: the price for our freedom is act of pure grace. 268 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 4: The battle continued, with Zedekiah and his forces fighting in 269 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 4: futility against Babylon. Jeremiah watched in horror and grief as 270 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 4: his homeland was destroyed, the dead bodies piling up left 271 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 4: and right, and he wept for Judah. God spoke to 272 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 4: him again with words of hope. Listen to God's promise 273 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 4: found in Jeremiah thirty three, verses six through eight. Behold, 274 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 4: I will bring it to health and healing, and I 275 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 4: will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity 276 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,439 Speaker 4: and security. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and 277 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 4: the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were 278 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 4: at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt 279 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 4: of their sin against me, and I will forgive all 280 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 4: the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. This 281 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,239 Speaker 4: is a tremendous promise from God's word to all of us, 282 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 4: when we confess our sins turn our hearts to Him 283 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 4: even in the most challenging moments. His faithfulness, his goodness, 284 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 4: all his promises are there to strengthen and help us 285 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 4: and to encourage us and yes, forgive us when we 286 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 4: need forgiveness. God reminds Jeremiah and all of us that 287 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 4: when we faced adverse circumstances, God can use these things 288 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:21,640 Speaker 4: to cleanse us of our sin and our rebellion against Him. 289 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 4: So Jeremiah continued to do what God called him to do, 290 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 4: and today we heard how yet again those who didn't 291 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 4: want to hear of condemnation and judgment sought to take 292 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 4: Jeremiah's life. He was seized and thrown into a cistern, 293 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 4: but at the last moment God sent a man to 294 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 4: rescue him. We then hear an earnest conversation between Jeremiah 295 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:49,439 Speaker 4: and a weary king, Zadekiah. The arrogance and anger of 296 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 4: the king seemed broken, replaced by fear of what would 297 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 4: happen to him. Jeremiah came to him as a caring 298 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 4: shepherd and a wise counselor, urging this man to surrender 299 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 4: as much to God's will as to the Babylonians. But 300 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 4: Zedekiah doesn't listen to the last warning and continues to 301 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:10,679 Speaker 4: flee and fight until one by one his men are killed, 302 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 4: along with his sons slaughtered right before his eyes. Zedekiah's 303 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 4: eyes are gouged out, and he's taken away in captivity 304 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 4: to Babylon. Such a tragic sad ending that could have 305 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 4: been avoided if only Zadekiah had listened to God's warnings. 306 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 4: As for Jeremiah, he obeyed and found mercy in the 307 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 4: side of the Lord, even kindness by the Babylonian commander. 308 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,479 Speaker 4: He is given a choice to go to Babylon to 309 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 4: live in comfort, or to stay with his people. Jeremiah 310 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 4: chooses to remain in Judah to serve his people, even 311 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 4: as Jerusalem and God's Temple crumble to the ground. But 312 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 4: this man of God knows that the Lord one day 313 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 4: will make all things new. Because our God is always 314 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:01,640 Speaker 4: faithful to his word and his goodness, mercy is eternal. 315 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 4: Let's pray, Lord God, May we always listen and obey you. 316 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 4: May we always do your will and trust you. And 317 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 4: when we disobey, may we find forgiveness as we confess 318 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 4: our sins. Lord, we thank you for the story of 319 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 4: Jeremiah and this man of God who was faithful to 320 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 4: you all the days of his life. May we also 321 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:31,479 Speaker 4: live in commitment and consecration to You in Jesus' name. Amen. 322 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 4: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 323 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 4: I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Let me encourage 324 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 4: you to download thepray dot com app and always make 325 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 4: Bible reading and Bible study a priority in your life 326 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:50,199 Speaker 4: along with prayer. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it 327 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,439 Speaker 4: with someone you love. Let someone know because by sharing 328 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 4: this podcast you can truly make a difference in someone's life. 329 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,959 Speaker 4: And if you want more resources from me, Jack Graham 330 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 4: as to how you can grow in your Christian life, 331 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 4: then go to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack Graham 332 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 4: dot org. God bless you.