Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"That no one should keep a Jewish brother in bondage"
Text: Jeremiah 34:9
AN ATTEMPT TO RULE JUSTLY
The word from the LORD, that Zedekiah would not be killed by the sword may have heartened him somewhat. He made a special covenant with all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD,
after King Zedekiah had made a covenant
with all the people who were at Jerusalem to proclaim liberty to them:
that every man should set free his male and female slave —
a Hebrew man or woman —
that no one should keep a Jewish brother in bondage”.
Jeremiah 34:8-9
1. “This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD,
after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people
who were at Jerusalem to proclaim liberty to them”
a) King Zedekiah had made a special covenant with all who dwelt in Jerusalem.
b) His rule was a little different from other kings.
i) He could have made a royal decree.
ii) He could have made this a law.
c) He chose to make a covenant instead.
i) This was more consultative.
ii) He did not wish to rule as most ancient despots did.
iii) Ancient despots do not consult much; they just decreed laws.
2. “That every man should set free his male and female slave—
a Hebrew man or woman—that no one should keep a Jewish brother in bondage”
a) The contents of this special covenant:
i) Every slave owner was to free all who were slaves.
ii) Both male and female slaves were to be given their freedom.
b) No Hebrew man or woman was to be a slave to a Jewish master.
i) The Hebrew man was a brother.
ii) And a brother was not to be in bondage as a slave.
3. An ancient Mosaic law
a) The Mosaic law was very clear (Exodus 21:2).
b) A Hebrew man may find himself a slave.
c) He may be bought by a fellow Jew.
d) The Hebrew slave will serve his bond for 6 years.
e) On the 7th year he is to be released; he is no longer a slave.
4. Jerusalem’s guilt
a) It had enslaved its own people.
b) The Mosaic law had been broken.
c) Zedekiah sought to address this problem.