When God's Word Comes To Pass

You have been warned

Have you ever been warned and did not heed the warning until the consequences happen?

Jeremiah has been preaching repentance to Judah, to Jerusalem over 27 years of his 40 year ministry. The moment of consequences, the fall of Jerusalem comes to pass in this pivotal chapter. This transpires in 586BC.

The scene:

Jerusalem has resisted Babylon for years, even though Jeremiah preached repent and surrender.

King Zedekiah has repeatedly ignored God’s warnings, even when had personal time with the Lord’s prophet Jeremiah.

In our passage tonight we will see

The Fall of Jerusalem (vv.1-3)

The Fate of Zedekiah (vv.4-10)

The rescue of Jeremiah and Ebed-Melech (vv.11-18)

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Big Idea: God’s word of judgment and God’s word of salvation both stand firm; He brings down the proud and preserves the faithful. This gives us hope even in the darkest moments.

The Fall of Jerusalem

Jeremiah 39:1–3 “Now when Jerusalem was captured in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it; in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the city wall was breached. Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.”

Jeremiah 39:4–8 “When Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and went out of the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the gate between the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and they seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him. Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes at Riblah; the king of Babylon also slew all the nobles of Judah. He then blinded Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in fetters of bronze to bring him to Babylon. The Chaldeans also burned with fire the king’s palace and the houses of the people, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem.”

Jeremiah 39:9–13 “As for the rest of the people who were left in the city, the deserters who had gone over to him and the rest of the people who remained, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard carried them into exile in Babylon. But some of the poorest people who had nothing, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard left behind in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time. Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, saying, “Take him and look after him, and do nothing harmful to him, but rather deal with him just as he tells you.” So Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard sent word, along with Nebushazban the Rab-saris, and Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the leading officers of the king of Babylon;”

Jeremiah 39:14–18 “they even sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guardhouse and entrusted him to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he stayed among the people. Now the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the court of the guardhouse, saying, “Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold, I am about to bring My words on this city for disaster and not for prosperity; and they will take place before you on that day. “But I will deliver you on that day,” declares the Lord, “and you will not be given into the hand of the men whom you dread. “For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as booty, because you have trusted in Me,” declares the Lord.’ ””

Is there anything that stands out to you in this passage, and why?

The Fall of Jerusalem

God’s plan, God’s predetermined plan comes to historical. We see God’s sovereign reign over a rebellious, disobedient Jerusalem. In reflecting for life today, people are still disobedient and will face the justice of God and the faithful the mercy of God. God keeps His word, His promises, even when judgment is looming over His people.

Babylon breaches the city walls after a long seige.

Babylonian officials take their seats at the Middle Gate — this is symbolic of total control of the City.

This is prophesy fulfilled that Jeremiah repeated (Jer21, 32, 34)

People may often mistake the longsuffering (patience) of God as His absence. But when God speaks, God acts.

Key point: God’s word of judgment is not theoretical — it comes to pass exactly as He said.

Question to consider: Why do people often mistake the patience of God for the approval of God?

Zedekiah’s flight and his capture

The king, Zedekiah tries to escape, but gets captured. This fulfilled what he was told by Jeremiah previously. God’s word holds true and you cannot escape God’s judgment if you refuse to repent. For us today, this judgment looks very severe, and we know that Christ took on the judgment on our behalf. Our consequences (sin) turns to redemption when we have faith, repent and act on that repentance. Also seen in these verses is the consequences of ignoring divine instructions and trying to run, hide, escape from inevitable judgment. That we too cannot ignore sin, it must be dealt. Zedekiah’s tragedy is not cruelty but consequence. He repeatedly rejected God’s mercy.

Zedekiah tries to escape by night — a picture of desperation.

He is captured near Jericho.

He has to watch his sons be killed, then be blinded and then taken to Babylon.

Zedekiah’s fate fulfills Jeremiah’s prophesy; He would see the king of Babylon, then be taken to Babylon but never see it. (Jer32:4, 34:3, and Eze12:13)

Jerusalem is destroyed, burned; the people are exiled except for the poor left behind.

The destruction is total, yet God preserves a remnant.

Key Point: Running from God never leads to safety; ignoring His word leads to ruin.

God protects Jeremiah, again

Amidst the chaos all around, Jeremiah sees God’s protection, God’s deliverance again. God’s providential care of Jeremiah as a prophet protected him, just as His care protects His people, His word today.

Faithfulness may be ignored for a season, but God never forgets His servants.

Nebuchadnezzar orders protection over Jeremiah.

Jeremiah is entrusted to Gedaliah and this makes him able to live among the people.

God vindicates Jeremiah after years of rejection and suffering

Key Point: God knows how to protect His faithful servants even when judgment falls around them.

Question to consider: How does remembering the sovereignty of God help us during difficult world events?

God’s promise to Ebed-melech

Ebed-melech faith is rewarded with God’s protection. A perfect illustration of God’s justice and mercy. We can see the importance of courage and trust in God’s promises regardless of our situations. God honors those who uphold righteousness. God sees the quiet acts of courage. Faith is not about status but trust.

Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian who rescued Jeremiah from the cistern (Jer38:7-11), receives a personal word from God

God promises to save him because he trusted in the Lord.

A foreigner shows more faith than Judah’s king (Zedekiah).

Key point: God honors courageous faith, even from unexpected people.

Application Section

God’s word is true; so take God’s word seriously

God’s timetable may differ from ours, but His Word never fails.

Jeremiah had been preaching of the forthcoming judgment for decades and now it came to be.

Ask yourself are there area’s where I treat God’s word, God’s warnings, or His promises lightly?

Pride leads to ruin

Zedekiah’s downfall is a warning against stubbornness and self-reliance vs. God reliance.

We need to examine ourselves to see where pride may keep us from obedience..

Faithfulness is not forgotten

Jeremiah and Ebed-melech show that God honors those who trust Him

Stay faithful even if in little things, or little moments. God does not forget! You do not have to be a Jeremiah, just be faithful to what God has called you to.

Trust God’s Sovereignty

Even in judgment, God is working toward restoration, yet in the midst of judgment and the fall looked like defeat, God remained in control.

Respond while there is time

Zedekiah heard the call, the message repeatedly, heard the invitation yet did not respond

A day is coming when the option to respond will be removed and the world will have judgment handed out. God calls for obedience today — not someday. Consider (Heb3:15)

Conclusion

As we have seen in the passage tonight one of the darkest times in Israel’s history, it is also one of the clearest demonstration of God’s faithfulness.

The prophesy over the years from Jeremiah of judgment came; Jerusalem fell, and Zedekiah’s rebellion ended in tragedy.

God protected Jeremiah and rescued Ebed-melech.

It is the same God who fulfilled His warnings also fulfilled His promises. Holding onto that truth should be humble us and encourage us. God’s word never fails.

Take away from Jer39.

God’s faithfulness guarantees both His warnings and His promises. Therefore, wise people respond to His Word today, trusting that obedience always leads to His blessings and that faithfulness is never forgotten by God.