Every king, every nation and every soldier would rather go down in flames rather than surrender. Surrender is something shameful and disgraceful. And here was Jeremiah, telling everyone that they needed to surrender to the Babylonians and if they didn’t, they would die and Jerusalem would be torched.
This infuriated the officials. They told the king that what Jeremiah was saying was causing people to lose morale and courage to fight. So King Zedekiah told them to do as they wished.
The officials then put Jeremiah into a muddy cistern. No food. No water. Only thick, sinking mud that would rot the flesh.
When Ebed-me leach heard Jeremiah was in the cistern, he went to the king to plead for Jeremiah’s life. The king agreed and with 30 men they tied clothes and rags together to lift Jeremiah out of the cistern. All ropes and other necessities were being used for war.
Zedekiah would once again summon Jeremiah, this time secretly. He wanted to know what the Lord was saying.
‘What’s the point?’ Jeremiah asked. ‘If I tell you the truth, you will kill me. Nor will you listen to me.’
Zedekiah swore he would not kill Jeremiah.
So again Jeremiah said the same thing. Surrender and live.
It wasn’t what Zedekiah wanted to hear, but he heard it anyway. He also honored his word and did not harm Jeremiah. Rather he told Jeremiah that when the officials asked what they talked about, Jeremiah was to tell them he asked not to be sent back to Jonathan’s house for punishment.
—
When I meditate on this I think of how much Jeremiah suffered. Not only was there a shortage of food, but Jeremiah continually found himself in prison and in miserable circumstances. Always it seemed his life was being threatened.
And yet God always intervened to save his life. In the most dire of circumstances someone would come to this rescue.
God didn’t spare him from suffering. The life of a prophet was rough. But God continued to spare his life so that he might continue to be a voice of truth.
Does that mean God will always spare our lives? No. James died. Stephen died. Paul died. Peter died. Sometimes there are martyrs for the faith. But it isn’t because God isn’t faithful. Even in death our lives surrendered to him can still speak.
But for Jeremiah his purpose was strong. Speak the truth at all costs. You will suffer. You must trust me with your life and when you die know that it was My time.
And so Jeremiah spoke. He didn’t run in terror at their death threats like Uriah. And he did not compromise the truth even at risk of his life. He stayed the course.
A worthy inspiration.
