In the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he took Jehoiachin prisoner. As the Lord had said beforehand, Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the treasures from the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace. He stripped away all the gold objects that King Solomon of Israel had placed in the Temple. King Nebuchadnezzar took all of Jerusalem captive, including all the commanders and the best of the soldiers, craftsmen, and artisans - 10,000 in all. Only the poorest people were left in the land. II Kings 24:12c-14
Just like the people of Jerusalem, our time is short this week. For Jehoiachin and many of the leading citizens of the city, their time has run out! One would think that the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s words would open the people’s eyes and hearts, but unfortunately, they live up to God’s description of them - hardhearted and stubborn! After Jehoiachin is taken to Babylon, his brother Zedekiah swears an oath of allegiance to King Nebuchadnezzar and takes the throne. We quickly discover how double-minded King Zedekiah is. He refuses to believe the prophetic words spoken by Jeremiah, even though he has seen them come to pass. And yet when he rebels against King Nebuchadnezzar after he had taken an oath in the name of YHWH that he would be faithful to Babylon, he calls Jeremiah in give him God‘s words concerning Egypt‘s plans for attack. As much as we would like to think it strange, don’t we see the same heart in people today? How often do friends or family members who have lived their lives in rebellion to God’s Word and His ways call us when they are in dire circumstances? And like Zedekiah, rarely are they ready to embrace God’s ways and change. They just want relief from the pressure and misery that engulfs them. Jeremiah continues. Kings may come and go, but Jeremiah’s message stays the same - “Your time has run out and the end is in sight!”
Jeremiah’s imprisonment resulting from the false accusation that he was defecting to Babylon is a truly intriguing story. Just when it would seem that things couldn’t get much worse, those who would like to see him dead are give free license by the king to carry out their plan. It is interesting to see who comes to Jeremiah’s rescue. It’s easy to just read this part and not consider the man Ebed-Melech. You may want to slow your pace and familiarize yourselves with this unsung hero.
Zedekiah’s secret meeting with Jeremiah reveals much about a hardened heart. Zedekiah wants to know what God is saying, but when he hears it, his fears of his own imagination are greater than the words of Jeremiah. No matter how many times Jeremiah tells him that it will go well with him if he obeys God’s words, Zedekiah can’t bring himself to trust God. The change demanded of him is more than he is willing to pay, and so he will hold on to what is! And in doing so, he will lose everything!!!
While Jeremiah is busy prophesying to the king in Jerusalem, Ezekiel is hearing God’s call in the land of captivity. When you are in dire circumstances, it calls for drastic measures, and God makes certain that Ezekiel has a good grasp on Who it is that is calling him into service. Moses may have encountered the Burning Bush in the wilderness, but Ezekiel meets the All-Consuming Fire by the River Kebar. Through Ezekiel’s vision, we are given a glimpse of the Throne Room of God. Beings that existed long before man stand ready to do his bidding. Cherubim with four faces, four wings, and an untold number of eyes are described in detail. But even the words used are mind boggling. So often people want to understand “heaven,” and yet struggle to comprehend Ezekiel’s description of the presence of God in the heavenlies. Ezekiel struggles to even find the words to paint the picture of what his eyes have beheld. Continually he uses the phrase “was like.” He grasps for the closest thing he can to describe his heavenly encounter.
We quickly learn that Ezekiel is instructed in the same speaking methods of Jeremiah - the illustrated message! When you read what these men must do to bring God’s message, you can only marvel at their obedience. Their lives were COMPLETELY given to bring forth God’s word! What powerful examples for us today as we continue to walk in a world that refuses to hear God’s voice. May our eyes and ears and hearts be open to be obedient to display God’s word through our everyday lives!!!
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