Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Do not deceive yourselves"
Text: Jeremiah 37:9
THE FALSE HOPE OF JUDAH
When the Egyptians appeared on the scene, the Chaldeans withdrew. They interpreted this as an indication that the Babylonians were gone for good! This was a false hope!
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying,
‘The Chaldeans will surely depart from us,’ for they will not depart.
For though you had defeated the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained only wounded men among them,
they would rise up, every man in his tent, and burn the city with fire.'”
Jeremiah 37:9-10
1. “Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying,
‘The Chaldeans will surely depart from us,’ for they will not depart'”
a) The problem of deception.
i) To think that the Chaldeans would depart forever
was nothing more than deception.
ii) There could be self-deception.
b) Judah had not reckoned with the grave reality of the following:
i) The LORD had already proclaimed judgment against Judah.
ii) God had confirmed this judgment through Jeremiah the prophet.
iii) Judah had not fathomed the war-plans and power of the Chaldeans.
2. The departure of the Chaldeans
a) This was a tactical withdrawal.
b) This was not a permanent departure.
c) Even if it was possible for Judah to defeat the bulk of the Chaldean forces.
i) This was more of a rhetorical statement than a fact.
ii) The Chaldeans were not to be underestimated.
3. The resilient power of the Chaldeans
a) They would fight to the bitter end.
b) Even the wounded would stand up against their enemies (Judah) and defeat them.
c) They were famed for their resilience in wars.
d) Judah did not have such a fighting spirit in its army.