Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"They did not obey the voice of the LORD"
Text: Jeremiah 43:7
THE DISOBEDIENCE OF ISRAEL
Disobedience seemed to characterise Israel. It also became the characteristic hallmark of Judah.
“So Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces,
and all the people would not obey the voice of the LORD,
to remain in the land of Judah.
But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces
took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to dwell in the land of Judah,
from all nations where they had been driven—
men, women, children, the king’s daughters, and every person whom
Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam,
the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah.
So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD.
And they went as far as Tahpanhes.”
Jeremiah 43:4-7
1. “So Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces,
and all the people would not obey the voice of the LORD, to remain in the land of Judah”
a) Johanan, the leading captain once again took charge.
b) He and all the other captains did not want to obey the LORD.
c) They refused to dwell in Judah.
2. “But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces
took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to dwell in the land of Judah,
from all nations where they had been driven”
a) The captains took all the remnant of Judah.
b) The make-up of the remnants.
i) These had come from other places.
ii) The diaspora caused by the Babylonian conquest had seen many exiled.
iii) But their desire was to return to their homeland, Judah.
3. “Men, women, children, the king’s daughters, and every person whom
Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam,
the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah”
a) A more detailed look at the remnant of Judah:
i) Men and women
ii) Children
iii) Daughters of the king
iv) The poor of the Land who were allowed to live in Judah.
b) Included were two notable people:
i) Jeremiah the prophet.
ii) Baruch who was the scribe of Jeremiah.
4. “So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD.
And they went as far as Tahpanhes”
a) The captains gathered the remnant of Judah.
b) They marched everyone to Egypt.
c) They blatantly refused to obey the voice of the LORD.