Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah”
Text: Jeremiah 51:59
THE PROPHECY OF JEREMIAH
“The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah,
the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah
to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And Seraiah was the quartermaster.
So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that would come upon Babylon,
all these words that are written against Babylon.
And Jeremiah said to Seraiah,
‘When you arrive in Babylon and see it, and read all these words.'”
Jeremiah 51:59-61
1. “The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And Seraiah was the quartermaster”
a) This visit to Babylon was not recorded anywhere else in the Scriptures.
b) There was a plot to rebel against Babylon by countries that were neighbours of Judah (Cf. Jeremiah 27).
c) Zedekiah was summoned to Babylon to appear before king Nebuchadnezzar to explain Judah’s involvement in this plot.
d) Zedekiah was accompanied by his quartermaster called Seraiah.
2. “So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that would come upon Babylon, all these words that are written against Babylon”
a) Jeremiah had written in a book about the evil that would befall Babylon.
b) The contents of Jeremiah 50-51 would be in this book of prophecy against Babylon.
3. “And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, ‘When you arrive in Babylon and see it, and read all these words'”
a) Firm instruction from Jeremiah the pro0phet.
b) This was a prophet’s authority being exercised.
c) Seraiah would have to obey Jeremiah as the prophet of God.
d) Seraiah would be accompanying King Zedekiah.
e) But he had another mission to fulfil.
i) He must read what Jeremiah had written as a prophecy from God.
ii) This would demand much from Seraiah.
iii) He would have to exercise faith and courage
to obey this command from Jeremiah.