Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison"
Text: Jeremiah 32:2
JEREMIAH IN PRISON
The prophet Jeremiah had to suffer much for the sake of the LORD. His messages were not popular. Many were angry at what he preached.
King Zedekiah was the last of the Davidic kings. He was infuriated when he heard the messages of the prophet Jeremiah. He imprisoned the prophet.
“The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD
in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah,
which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.
For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem,
and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison,
which was in the king of Judah’s house.”
Jeremiah 32:1-2
1. “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar”
a) The word of the Lord continued to come to Jeremiah.
b) The historical context was twofold:
i) Zedekiah was now a king of Judah for 10 years.
ii) Nebuchadnezzar was king for 18 years.
2. “For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem”
a) The Babylonian army had besieged Jerusalem.
b) Nebuchadnezzar used the siege approach in war:
i) To weaken Judah.
ii) To intimidate.
iii) To reduce the loss of lives of the Babylonian forces.
iv) This was usually a very effective method.
3. “And Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison,
which was in the king of Judah’s house”
a) Jeremiah was shut away in the court of the prison.
b) This particular prison was in the house (palace) of King Zedekiah.
c) This may be seen as “a royal prison”.
i) The king would have quick access to the prisoner.
ii) Jeremiah may be a prisoner but he was also a prophet of the LORD.
iii) Zedekiah was careful about how he treated Jeremiah.