August 13, 2023
Jeremiah 42
Lessons Learned
by Wayne Gaeddert
Prelude:
Chapter 37:11-15 Jeremiah was put in prison for leaving Jerusalem. (Babylon had withdrawn from Jerusalem to fight the Egyptians who were coming up out of Egypt to help Judah battle Babylon.)
Chapter 38:2-3 Jeremiah’s counsel from the LORD to Jerusalem—surrender to Babylon.
38:6 Jeremiah was put in a cistern for suggesting Jerusalem surrender.
Chapter 39:2 The Babylonians breach Jerusalem’s city wall.
:4 King Zedekiah flees from the city but is captured.
:6 The king’s sons are killed as the king watches.
:7 The king’s eyes are put out and he is taken captive.
:8 Jerusalem is burned and the walls are broken down.
:9-10 Those left in Jerusalem were taken captive with the exception of some poor people who did not own anything.
:12 The captain of Babylon’s army says, “Do not harm Jeremiah”
Chapter 40:2-6 Jeremiah was released as a Babylonian captive.
: 7 Babylon set up Gedaliah as governor over the land of Judah.
:13-15 Johanan uncovers a plot of the king of the Ammonites to kill Gedaliah.
:16 Gedaliah does not believe the report of Johanan
Chapter 41:2 Gedeliah is killed by Ishmael, one of the chief officers of the king of the Ammorites.
:11-15 Johanan pursued Ishmael to recover those taken captive by Ishmael, but Ishmael escaped.
:17-18 Johanan and those he rescued plan to go to Egypt because they are afraid of how Babylon will respond to Gedaliah being killed by Ishmael.
Application:
· Some times God makes you wait for an answer to prayer.
· Trusting God is demonstrated by obeying Him.
· Obedience changes how God responds.
· Do you make ‘deals’ with God when you are in a pinch and then not follow through?
· Asking for God’s direction and then refusing to follow His answer has severe consequences.
Postlude:
Chapter 43:2 Jeremiah was accused of telling them a lie. God did not say, “Do not go to Egypt.”
:4 They did not obey.
:5-6 Johanan took everyone to Egypt including Jeremiah and Baruch.
Chapter 44:12-14 Those who disobeyed God’s word by going to Egypt when told not to go, will die by the sword and famine. None of them will return to the land of Judah.
:15,17 The wives made offerings to other gods in Egypt just like they did in Judah.
:16 The word spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you.
:29 “This shall be the sign to you, declares the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, in order that you may know that my words will surely stand against you for harm:”
