Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"And I will show you mercy"
Text: Jeremiah 42:12
OVERCOMING FEAR
The remnant of Judah were in a fix. They were in a position where any decision would be awkward and difficult. Fear was felt deeply.
“‘Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid;
do not be afraid of him,’ says the LORD,
‘for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand.
And I will show you mercy,
that he may have mercy on you and cause you to return to your own land.'”
Jeremiah 42:11-12
1. “‘Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,’ says the LORD, ‘for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand'”
a) The remnant feared the king of Babylon.
i) He had destroyed the temple.
ii) He had conquered the nation of Judah.
iii) Gedaliah, their appointed governor had been assassinated.
iv) The fear was of the reprisal that could be devastating.
v) This sense of fear was deep and deadly.
b) The challenge to the remnant.
i) To believe that God would be with them.
ii) To believe that He would save them and deliver them
from the wrath of the king of Babylon.
2. “And I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you
and cause you to return to your own land”
a) God would show them mercy.
b) He would cause the king of Babylon to show mercy to the remnant.
i) The assassination of Gedaliah was not their fault.
ii) The perpetrators had fled to Ammon.
c) The remnant need not flee to another land.
d) They can stay in Judah without fear.
e) But they must exercise trust that God would fulfil His promise to show mercy.