1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: Let us pray. But Jeremiah said, they shall not deliver THEE. Obey. 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: I beseech THEE the voice of the Lord, which I 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,319 Speaker 1: speak unto THEE. So it shall be well unto THEE, 4 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: and thy soul shall live Jeremiah thirty eight twenty. With 5 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: each new breath I take to day, I will give 6 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: thanks for the words found in the Bible. As in 7 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,319 Speaker 1: the days of Jeremiah, I thank you in advance for 8 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: sending people my way, like the Ethiopian Eunuch, into day's reading. 9 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: When others seek to throw me into a cistron and 10 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 1: try to muddy my character and name, I thank you 11 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: that through the clothing of kindness and humility, you will 12 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: provide a way for me out of that muddy pit 13 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: when the hands of influence shift around me. Because I 14 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: have integrity, I will receive uncommon favor and uncommon choices 15 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: regarding the desires of my heart, even in the midst 16 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: of my enemies. No matter what may come my way, 17 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: I am resting in the finished work God. I am 18 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: at peace because I know that I am a child 19 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: of God in Jesus name. Amen, thank you for praying 20 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: with me today. Continue listening for an incredible Bible story 21 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com. 22 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 2: God protects Jeremiah and our last story, we learned about 23 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 2: King Zeddekiah's stubbornness against the Babylonians. He fought against them 24 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 2: despite Jeremiah's warnings. Jeremiah continued to warn people that fighting 25 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 2: against babylon was a vain attempt, like grasping it air. 26 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: Those warnings got Jeremiah beaten and thrown into prison. Now 27 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 2: Jeremiah remains in the courthouse as a captive and watches 28 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 2: as the Chaldeans and Babylonians pick up our Judah piece 29 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: by peace. In this story, we watched the demise of 30 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 2: Judah through the eyes of Jeremiah. The old prophet is beaten, 31 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 2: stripped of wealth, and thrown into mud by his own people. 32 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 2: It would be foreigners and enemies that show him kindness. 33 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 2: Inspired by the Book of Jeremiah. 34 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 35 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. Thanks for joining us. In 36 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 3: our last episode, we saw a desperate but still prideful 37 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 3: King Zedekiah seeking good news from Jeremiah. He was holding 38 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 3: out hope that Judah could hold off the Babylonian onslaught 39 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 3: and drive them out of the land. But jeremih Emaiah 40 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 3: was not in the business of telling people what they 41 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 3: wanted to hear. He was God's man, God's messenger. Even 42 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 3: if the message was one of judgment. He delivered. This 43 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 3: cost Jeremiah, including scorn and beatings from those who opposed him. Still, 44 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 3: devastation was coming from the Chaldeans. And today we'll hear 45 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 3: the things Jeremiah experienced as Judah crumbled. God will call 46 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 3: him to sacrifice his own wealth and freedom for the 47 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,359 Speaker 3: sake of others. And through it all the Lord will 48 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 3: be with him, protecting his profit and using him to 49 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 3: tell a story of ultimate redemption. So let's listen today 50 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 3: to God's word. 51 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 2: The prophet Jeremiah had been shut up in the courthouse 52 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: of Zedekiah for a long while. During that time, King 53 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 2: Nebukanezza began his second wind of attacks against Judah. The 54 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 2: Chaldeans broke down the walls and burned the city streets, 55 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: and neber Caonezza waltzed in without struggle. The land was 56 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: large it would take the Babylonian's weeks to reach Jerusalem. 57 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 2: There was a sense of urgency in King Zedekiah as 58 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 2: he rallied more men to fight. He fought against Neber 59 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 2: Canezzar and the Chaldeans despite Jeremiah's warnings. One day Jeremiah 60 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 2: was praying in a solitary part of the court house, 61 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 2: God whispered to him, as he once did to Elijah. 62 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: In that still and quiet voice, the Lord made his 63 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 2: will known to the prophet. Your uncle Hanamel will visit 64 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 2: you in desperation. He will want to sell you his 65 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 2: land in Anathoth. Jeremiah's eyes widened at the words of 66 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 2: the Lord. Anathoth was already under siege from Babylon. Any 67 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 2: land his uncle would want to sell him would be 68 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 2: utterly worthless. It was the Lord's intention for Jeremiah to 69 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 2: use his money to redeem his uncle and save him 70 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 2: in hard times. Sure Enough, the next day, Hanamel came 71 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 2: to visit his nephew at the court house. He begged 72 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 2: Jeremiah to buy them land off him. He said that 73 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: he desired for the land to stay in the family. However, 74 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: Jeremiah knew it was because the Babylonians had taken it 75 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 2: and the land was of no use to anyone now 76 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,679 Speaker 2: Buying the land would be relieving his uncle of a burden. 77 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 2: Jeremiah knew that the Lord had called him to this, 78 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: so he bought the land and gave the deed to 79 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 2: his friend Baruk for safe keeping. The deed would be 80 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 2: an image of future redemption. To own that land would 81 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 2: mean certain Babylonian slavery, so Jeremiah redeemed his uncle so 82 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: he could be free. This is what the Lord would 83 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: do for his people. He would pay the price of 84 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 2: slavery so that his loved ones might live free. Jeremiah 85 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 2: rejoiced in the Lord, but continued to feel sorrow in 86 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 2: his heart for Judah's fate. Days passed and the siege 87 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 2: of Babylon continued. Jeremiah went to the roof of the 88 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 2: court house. He could see the horrors of the Chaldeans 89 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: in the distance. They had destroyed most of the world 90 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 2: walls of Jerusalem. Zedekiah and his men had destroyed a 91 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 2: few of the homes to create a makeshift wall to 92 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 2: keep the Chaldeans out. When that didn't work, they stacked 93 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: on dead bodies to turn away the enemy. God saw this, 94 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 2: and his heart broke. The blighted wind came in from 95 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 2: the north and Jeremiah began to sob. The Lord spoke 96 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 2: to him again, saying, I am the Lord who has 97 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: made the earth. I will restore this city once again. 98 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: I will heal them and reveal my goodness. The Lord's 99 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: words touched Jeremiah's heart as he looked upon the ashy 100 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 2: city below. How could God fix this, Jeremiah must have thought, 101 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 2: I will cleanse my people from the guilt of their sins. 102 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 2: I will forgive them and wash them clean. After this destruction, 103 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 2: there shall again be the sound of wedding bells, the 104 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,559 Speaker 2: voice of a groom singing over his bride. All shall 105 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 2: be made whole again. God declared. This was another image 106 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: of what God would do in his people. Hundreds of 107 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 2: years from then, a new king would arise and walk 108 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 2: the streets of Jerusalem. He would enter and wash the 109 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: people white as snow. Jeremiah continued to do his best 110 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: to warn the people of Judah. As they passed by 111 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 2: the court house. He told them they had a choice, 112 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 2: remain in Judah and be made captives, or flee to 113 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: the Chaldeans and be spared. Jeremiah's words were like poisoned 114 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 2: to the men trying to fight the princes and commanders 115 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 2: marched to the king and said, you cannot let this 116 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 2: man live. His words are quenching the fire of our soldiers. 117 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: Every time they hear him speak, they lose more hope 118 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 2: for victory. I agree. King Zedekiah replied, do as you 119 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 2: wish with him. My hands are clean of it. The 120 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: king's answer only partially pleased the princes, for they desire 121 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 2: Jeremiah dead, but did not want his blood on their hands. 122 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 2: Emamiyah was praying to the Lord in his room when 123 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 2: he heard the door creak open. He turned around and 124 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 2: saw the princes and some guards with clubs and ropes. 125 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 2: More beatings. Jeremiah had become accustomed to them. By now 126 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: he had come to expect brutality over kindness. The men 127 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: beat him and bound him. Jeremiah's bruised and bloody body 128 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 2: was dragged through the courtyard towards an old cistern. It 129 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 2: was deep and no longer flowing with water. However, it 130 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 2: was filled with mud and moss. Jeremiah was let down 131 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 2: into the cistern on ropes. His feet touched the mud below, 132 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 2: and he tried to find steady footing. 133 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: He sank. 134 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 2: The mud consumed him and darkness enveloped him. E Bed, 135 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 2: the Ethiopian eunuch, was strolling around the courtyard when he 136 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 2: heard the snickering of passing walkers. It came to his 137 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 2: attention that Jeremiah was tossed into the muddy cistern to 138 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 2: rot with no food or water. He immediately went to 139 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 2: the king and said, this is truly evil. Jeremiah is 140 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 2: a man of God and was left in that well 141 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 2: to starve. Give me permission to fish him out before 142 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 2: judgment falls on all of us. The king gave his 143 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 2: passive permission, and immediately Ebed gathered thirty men to tight 144 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 2: clothing together to make a rope. Ebed brought the makeshift 145 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 2: rope and his men down to the cistern. He peered 146 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 2: down to see Jeremiah's motionless body consumed by the mud. 147 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 2: We are going to rescue you, he shouted. When the 148 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 2: rope comes down, tie it under your arms. Jeremiah was 149 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 2: barely conscious. He had gone days without food or water 150 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 2: and was beginning to think he would die there in 151 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 2: that cistern. He was pulled out and given a little 152 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 2: food to eat and water to drink. Not much could 153 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 2: be spared, since Judah was still in decline. Jeremiah remained 154 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 2: in the court house, recovering from his near death experience 155 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 2: in the cistern. He was quiet, of late and filled 156 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 2: with contemplation. The prophet was about to go to sleep 157 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 2: when his door op He had been summoned to meet 158 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 2: King Zedekiah. Jeremiah was escorted out of the courthouse. He 159 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 2: walked next to the guard past the palace. He had 160 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 2: thought he would meet the king in the palace as usual. However, 161 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 2: they were making their way towards the temple. It was 162 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 2: late and the distant sound of war had subsided for 163 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 2: the night. All that remained was the silent crackling of 164 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 2: fire in the moving breeze. Jeremiah saw King Zedekiah sitting 165 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 2: at the steps of the third gate of the temple. 166 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 2: He approached the king. There was silence for a moment 167 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 2: as the king looked blankly into the distance. There was 168 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 2: a crack in his normally impassive and expressionless face. Zedekiah sighed, 169 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 2: I will ask you this one question, the king said, 170 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:51,679 Speaker 2: still looking blankly into nothing, Hide nothing from me. I 171 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 2: only want the truth. The truth usually gets me beaten 172 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 2: or worse, Jeremiah replied. The king looked at Jeremiah somberly. 173 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 2: I swear you will not be harmed, nor will I 174 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 2: deliver you back into the hands of those who want 175 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 2: you dead. The king paused. He looked like a defeated man, 176 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:16,319 Speaker 2: a weary man. What will come of us, Zaidekiah asked. 177 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:20,599 Speaker 2: There were cracks in his voice as he spoke. Jeremiah 178 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,359 Speaker 2: sat beside the king, looking into the nothingness next to him. 179 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 2: If you surrender, your life will be spared. The city 180 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 2: won't be burned to the ground. You and your house 181 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: shall live, he explained. But if you do not surrender 182 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 2: and you continue fighting, many more will die. This city 183 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: will be reduced to ashes. I fear that if I surrender, 184 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 2: I will be given over to the men who deserted 185 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 2: Judah to be with the Chaldeans. They are not happy 186 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 2: with me and will kill me, the king confessed. Jeremiah 187 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 2: shook his head. You won't be given to them. Heed 188 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 2: God's warnings now, and the Lord Lord will deal well 189 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 2: with you. Refuse in all your house will be captive 190 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 2: to Babylon, he said, with a pleading tone. Zedekiah rose 191 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: up from the temple steps and began to walk away. 192 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 2: He paused, and turned to Jeremiah, saying, do not speak 193 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 2: of our conversation tonight, and I will let you live. 194 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 2: So Jeremiah remained in the courthouse as the city was preached. 195 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 2: Jeremiah woke up to the earth shaking beneath him. The 196 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 2: Chaldeans had taken another side of the wall. The rocks 197 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 2: fell to the floor and shook the earth. Zedekiah had 198 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 2: not listened to the words of Jeremiah and raised his 199 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 2: sword against the Chaldeans. However, he was met with a 200 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 2: force too great to comprehend. Jeremiah watched from a distance 201 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 2: as Zedekiah's army retreated to the palace gardens. One by one, 202 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 2: they were picked off, spears were driven through their hearts, 203 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 2: and their heads were put on pikes. Tears streamed down 204 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: Jeremiah's face as he watched King Zedekiah beg for her. 205 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 2: The king was beaten, bound and sent off to Babylon. 206 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 2: Jeremiahs sat in his room and waited. He knew it 207 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 2: was only a matter of time before the Babylonian commanders 208 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 2: stormed the courthouse in search of wealth. The captain of 209 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 2: Babylonian guard, Nebuzaradan, had his men searched the courthouse. They 210 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 2: took captives, gold, silver, and precious documents. They scoured every 211 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 2: room in closet until it was empty. Jeremiah's door burst 212 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 2: open and he was drug out into the courtyard before 213 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 2: an Abuzaradan. Jeremiah leaned in to receive another beating. However, 214 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 2: he was met with a warmness from the captain. King 215 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 2: Nebukonezzar had heard of Jeremiah. He heard of his warnings 216 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 2: to the people of Judah, and took pity on Jeremiah 217 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 2: for being a messenger of reason. Although Babylon was evil, 218 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 2: there was a glimmer of mercy in their actions towards Jeremiah. 219 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 2: He was given food, water, and a bodyguard to escort 220 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 2: him back to his home. He was also offered a 221 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:07,320 Speaker 2: place beside Nebuzaradan. Jeremiah had a privilege no one else 222 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 2: in Judah had a choice, a choice to remain with 223 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 2: his people or live in the comforts of Babylon. With 224 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,199 Speaker 2: that freedom, he chose to dwell among the remaining inhabitants 225 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 2: of Judah. There he cared for them in his old 226 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 2: age and helped them pursue God despite their suffering. As 227 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 2: Jeremiah looked into the distance. He could see a pillar 228 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: of flames where the temple was being burned. Everyone watched 229 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 2: in sorrow as the temple crumpled. Jeremiah's heart swelled with sadness. 230 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 2: He did not turn his eyes from the temple. As 231 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 2: he stared out at the distance, he remembered the image 232 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 2: of God showed him of the potter and clay. The 233 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: old pot was broken, so a new one could emerge, 234 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 2: more beautiful. Out of death would come new life. This 235 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 2: was the rhythm of creation. This was the way of 236 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 2: the Lord. 237 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 3: As we begin today's reading, Jeremiah is confined to Zedekiah's 238 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 3: courthouse while the king and his armies try in vain 239 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 3: to hold off the assault of nevickan Azer's forces. But 240 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 3: at last the Chaldeans broke through the walls and the 241 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 3: Babylonian king entered the land, headed for Jerusalem, and King 242 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 3: Zedekiah Judah was in ruins, cities set ablaze as the 243 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 3: Chaldeans marched through, taking and doing whatever they please. And 244 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 3: so in this context, the Lord spoke one day to Jeremiah. 245 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 3: This time the message was not for Zedekiah or the 246 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 3: people of Judah. It was for Jeremiah himself. God told 247 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 3: him his uncle Hanamel was going to come to him 248 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 3: desperate and try to sell his land to Jeremiah. His 249 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 3: property had no value, as the Babylonians had taken that 250 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 3: part of Judah. This wasn't an investment opportunity for Jeremiah. 251 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 3: It was a sacrifice. Buying the land from Hannamel would 252 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 3: take an enormous burden off the shop of his uncle 253 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 3: and rescue him from certain slavery. Jeremiah was faithful to 254 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 3: the Lord's will and bought the land. It was a 255 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 3: redemptive act that gave Hannemel a freedom he had done 256 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 3: nothing to earn and had no hope to attain on 257 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 3: his own. Through Jeremiah's sacrifice, God was showing his people 258 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 3: what he would do for them and for us. Paying 259 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 3: the price for our freedom. It is an act of 260 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 3: pure grace. The battle continued, with Zedekiah and his forces 261 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 3: fighting in futility against Babylon. Jeremiah watched in horror and 262 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 3: grief as his homeland was destroyed, the dead bodies piling 263 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 3: up left and right, and he wept for Judah. God 264 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 3: spoke to him again with words of hope. Listen to 265 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 3: God's promise found in Jeremiah thirty three, verses six through eight. Behold, 266 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 3: I will bring it to health and healing, and I 267 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 3: will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity 268 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 3: and secure I will restore the fortunes of Judah and 269 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 3: the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were 270 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,959 Speaker 3: at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt 271 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,880 Speaker 3: of their sin against Me, and I will forgive all 272 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 3: the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. This 273 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 3: is a tremendous promise from God's word to all of 274 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 3: us when we confess our sins, turn our hearts to Him, 275 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 3: even in the most challenging moments. His faithfulness, his goodness, 276 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 3: all his promises are there to strengthen and help us, 277 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 3: and to encourage us, and yes, forgive us when we 278 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 3: need forgiveness. God reminds Jeremiah and all of us that 279 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 3: when we face adverse circumstances, God can use these things 280 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 3: to cleanse us of our sin and our rebellion against Him. 281 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 3: So Jeremiah continued to do what God called him to do, 282 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 3: and today we heard how yet again, those who didn't 283 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 3: want to hear of condemnation and judgment sought to take 284 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 3: Jeremiah's life. He was seized and thrown into a cistern, 285 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 3: but at the last moment God sent a man to 286 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 3: rescue him. We then hear an earnest conversation between Jeremiah 287 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,919 Speaker 3: and a weary king Zedekiah. The arrogance and anger of 288 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 3: the king seemed broken, replaced by fear of what would 289 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 3: happen to him. Jeremiah came to him as a caring 290 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 3: shepherd and a wise counselor, urging this man to surrender 291 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 3: as much to God's will as to the Babylonians. But 292 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 3: Zedekiah doesn't listen to the last warning and continues to 293 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:37,159 Speaker 3: flee and fight, until one by one his men are killed, 294 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 3: along with his sons, slaughtered right before his eyes. Zedekiah's 295 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 3: eyes are gouged out, and he's taken away in captivity 296 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:49,199 Speaker 3: to Babylon. Such a tragic sad ending that could have 297 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 3: been avoided if only Zadekiah had listened to God's warnings. 298 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 3: As for Jeremiah, he obeyed and found mercy in the 299 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 3: side of the Lord, even kindness by the Babylonian commander. 300 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,959 Speaker 3: He is given a choice to go to Babylon to 301 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 3: live in comfort or to stay with his people. Jeremiah 302 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 3: chooses to remain in Judah to serve his people, even 303 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 3: as Jerusalem and God's Temple crumble to the ground. But 304 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 3: this man of God knows that the Lord one day 305 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 3: will make all things new, because our God is always 306 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 3: faithful to his word, and his goodness and mercy is eternal. 307 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 3: Let's pray, Lord God, May we always listen and obey you. 308 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 3: May we always do your will and trust you. And 309 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 3: when we disobey, may we find forgiveness as we confess 310 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 3: our sins. Lord, we thank you for the story of 311 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 3: Jeremiah and this man of God who is faithful to 312 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 3: you all the days of his life. May we also 313 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:57,959 Speaker 3: live in commitment and consecration to you in Jesus's name. Amen. 314 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,919 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 315 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 3: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Let me encourage 316 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 3: you to download the prey dot com app and always 317 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,400 Speaker 3: make Bible reading and Bible study a priority in your 318 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 3: life along with prayer. If you enjoyed this podcast, share 319 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 3: it with someone you love. Let someone know because by 320 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:22,439 Speaker 3: sharing this podcast, you can truly make a difference in 321 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 3: someone's life. And if you want more resources from me, 322 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,919 Speaker 3: Jack Graham, as to how you can grow in your 323 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 3: Christian life, then go to Jack Graham dot org. That's 324 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org. God bless you.