Jeremiah in the Cistern

In Chapter 37 Jeremiah was thrown into prison under false charges of desertion

He spent days in a dungeon.

He privately gave the Word of the Lord to the King.

Egypt is a global player again.

In Chapter 39 The fall of Jerusalem takes place after repeated warnings and prophecies to this outcome.

We are looking at a nation in the throes of death - literally moments away from destruction.

In the middle is this account in Jer. 38.

Jeremiah has been released from the dungeon to the court of the guards with the ration of a loaf of bread per day.

He continues teaching “Thus says the Lord” (v.3)

He used the expression neʾum Yahweh (“declares the Lord”) more than anyone else in the OT (176 times; see 1:8 for explanation of this phrase).

He is cast into the cistern for speaking the Word of the Lord.

Rescue by an immigrant eunuch official

Risks his life (or at least his position) by questioning the King’s ethics.

Concerned for the life of another to whom he owes nothing.

Private word with King Zedekiah

Surrender and you will be spared - surrender to the conquering enemy was surrender to the Lord. Yet the king as many others were not willing to humble themselves in order that the Lord’s will be accomplished above their own.

In the vision/prophecy that the Lord offers - the King is mocked by the women in his harem as they are led to the Babylonian King’s harem. Their words are (v.22) “…Your feet are sunk in the mud...” This is ironic concerning Jeremiah’s recent predicament.

It is better to be in the mud for being obedient to the Word of the Lord than to be in the mud for being disobedient to the Word of the Lord.

Helpful Contrasts in Jer. 38:

Jeremiah with the King - in the Mud

Eunuch with the King

A foreign captive of Israel (Eunuch) is willing to do what is right because of his value for the life of another while the King of God’s people is not willing to do what is right to spare the lives of his own subjects.

The King is not willing to risk his own pride to do what is right and the eunuch is willing to risk much more.

God’s will will play out one way or another - but will you be found humble and obedient, or arrogant and stubborn?

How willing are you to do what is right? Are you faithfully living according to God’s Word?

Are you in the mud because of bad decisions that you have made? The Lord’s offer for rescue and deliverance is available to you. It may not mean the path is made easy, but it does mean that your life will be secure in the hands of a loving Father who will redeem your soul and guide your life.