Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon"
Text: Jeremiah 27:12
A PERSONAL WORD TO ZEDEKIAH
Jeremiah worked hard not only at preaching the word of God in prophecy. He also made an effort to speak to Zedekiah the king personally.
“I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah
according to all these words, saying,
‘Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon,
and serve him and his people, and live!
Why will you die, you and your people,
by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence,
as the LORD has spoken
against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?'”
Jeremiah 27:12-13
1. “I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words”
a) Jeremiah knew that Zedekiah was easily influenced by his courtiers.
b) He knew his character well.
c) Perhaps a personal audience might encourage and strengthen him.
2. “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live”
a) To bear the yoke of the king of Babylon.
i) It would require humility to bear this yoke.
ii) It was a necessity for they were already paying tribute to Babylon.
iii) Rebellion was foolishness.
b) Serving the king and his people:
i) It will be humbling.
ii) It would be a huge step from royalty to servitude.
c) But they would live.
i) They would not be hunted down.
ii) They would not be executed.
iii) They would not be punished by the LORD.
3. “Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD has spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon”
a) This punishment would come from the LORD.
b) This had already been given as a forewarning.
c) Why would they risk their very lives to die?
i) By the sword
ii) By famine
iii) By pestilence