Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah 38:6

JEREMIAH NARROWLY ESCAPES DEATHWhen we come to chapter 38, Jeremiah is still confined to the court of the prison, and he faithfully relays God’s Word to his people even though his personal safety is endangered. The princes of Judah consider him a traitor to his country and a demoralizing influence among the people; so they get permission from the king to silence Jeremiah by putting him in the dungeon. Again God sent someone to his rescue (vv. Jer_38:7-13). This is a thrilling rescueI hope you will read the text carefully. After this, Zedekiah the king secretly asked Jeremiah to tell him what the Lord was saying to him now. And he promised to save Jeremiah from those who were seeking his life.

Jeremiah 38:17

Again he said, “Surrender! You can’t resist this man.”

Jeremiah 38:18

Jeremiah is pleading with Zedekiah to surrender to save his own life and the life of his people. His refusal to follow the course of action which Jeremiah presents will doom his nation. Zedekiah is a coward at heart. He tries to make peace with everybody and to please everybody. He is a typical politician. As a result, he pleases nobody.

Jeremiah 38:21

A study of this period of Judah’s history reveals that womanhood was pretty much corrupt. When womanhood becomes corrupt in any nation, there is very little hope for it on the moral plane. This is the picture here. The foolish king will not heed the warning of God through Jeremiah. Instead he will continue to listen to the optimistic forecast of the false prophets. In chapter 39 the awful carnage that Jeremiah had been predicting takes place.