Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"The poor of the land"
Text: Jeremiah 52:16
THE PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND
Jerusalem was systematically destroyed. The royal family members were executed. The Temple and the homes of the rich people were demolished. Who would be left behind?
“Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive
some of the poor people, the rest of the people who remained in the city,
the defectors who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen.
But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard
left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers.”
Jeremiah 52:15-16
1. “Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poor people,
the rest of the people who remained in the city,
the defectors who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen”
a) Both rich and poor people were exiled to Babylon.
b) There were those who had stubbornly refused to leave their homes
and had remained in the city of Jerusalem.
c) There were the defectors who had once sworn loyalty to the king of Babylon.
d) There were the craftsmen (skilled workers).
2. Why were they taken from Jerusalem?
a) The foolish ones who remained:
i) Their focus was to protect their property and their wealth.
ii) Both were taken away or destroyed before their eyes.
b) The defectors:
i) They would be sent to Babylon to face the king.
ii) They could be charged for treason.
c) The craftsmen:
i) No skilled workers would be left behind to rebuild Jerusalem.
ii) Potentially, they could rebuild Jerusalem.
3. “But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land
as vinedressers and farmers”
a) Nebuzaradan exercised wisdom here.
b) He left some of the poor of the land.
i) As vinedressers.
ii) As farmers.
c) This would ensure that the land would not be completely desolate.