Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift"
Text: Jeremiah 40:5
GEDELIAH THE SON OF AHIKAM
Gedaliah’s family history was rather impressive. Shaphan, his grandfather was sent by king Josiah to consult with prophetess Huldah concerning a scroll of the law of Moses that had been found (2 Kings 22). Ahikam, the father of Gedaliah saved Jeremiah from being put to death by some evil princes (Jeremiah 26). Gedaliah had been appointed the governor of the land of Judah. The nation would no longer have kings to rule.
“Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said,
‘Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,
whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah,
and dwell with him among the people.
Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go.’
So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go.
Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah,
and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land.”
Jeremiah 40:5-6
1. “Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said,
‘Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,
whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah,
and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go.’
So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go”
a) Jeremiah had not decided where he wanted to go.
i) Ramah?
This was his hometown.
ii) Jerusalem?
But this city had been destroyed
iii) Babylon?
Nebuzaradan had given him an invitation to go with him to Babylon. He would undertake to care for Jeremiah.
b) Nebuzaradan made another suggestion.
i) He can go to Gedaliah, the newly appointed governor of Judah and its cities.
Jeremiah may feel it safer to stay with the governor of the land.
ii) Jeremiah may choose to go elsewhere if he wished.
c) A personal gift from Nebuzaradan.
i) Jeremiah was given rations (the land of Judah was devastated).
ii) He was also given a personal gift from the captain of the guard.
iii) He then officially released Jeremiah from his chains.
2. “Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah,
and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land”
a) Jeremiah decided to go and live in Mizpah.
b) This was the city from which Gedaliah governed the few cities
that were left to Judah.
c) Jeremiah dwelt among the people who were spared from being executed.
d) Perhaps Jeremiah felt he could still contribute towards the governing of the land.
i) His knowledge of God was vast.
ii) He was an acknowledged true prophet of God.
iii) He had vast amount of wisdom gained over the years.