Living by Fear or Faith?

[Jer 38:14-28]

This section sounds a lot like the same story in chapter 37 but with some key differences.

The accusation against Jeremiah in chapter 37 is desertion (37:13) but in this chapter it’s demoralizing the troops (38:4).

In chapter 37 Jeremiah was put into a dungeon (37:15) but in chapter 38 it’s a cistern (38:6).

In chapter 37 Jeremiah meets with Zedekiah in the palace (37:17) but in chapter 38 he meets with him in the temple (38:14).

Finally, the conversations are different. In chapter 37 the focus is on judgment (37:17-20) but here in chapter 38 the emphasis in on surrender (38:18).

These differences are important to mention so that we don’t just skip over this section thinking we’ve already heard all we need to know.

There’s a lesson in this section about living by fear or faith.

Zedekiah’s Fear

Zedekiah was so afraid he couldn’t make up his mind.

He welcomed the Babylonians at first and then rebelled against them.

He let the slaves go free then changed his mind and put them back in chains.

He put Jeremiah in the dungeon then he let him go free.

He refused to listen to God but he also wanted to hear what he had to say.

Fear will make a person indecisive and that’s what it did with Zedekiah. So in verse 14 Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him secretly in the temple in order to hear God’s word to him.

And Jeremiah told him pretty much the same thing as before:

Jeremiah 38:17–18 (CSB)

“This is what the Lord, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned, and you and your household will survive. But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans. They will burn it, and you yourself will not escape from them.’ ”

Another way to put this is that the way of salvation was presented clearly to Zedekiah, again: surrender to Babylon or burn.

God is so very patient with Zedekiah as he is with us.

2 Peter 3:8–9 CSB

Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

God wants Americans to come to repentance, and Russians, and Ukrainians. He’s not delaying, he’s being patient.

God was patient with Zedekiah but Zedekiah was more afraid of the Babylonias and his own people than he was of God.

Jeremiah 38:19 CSB

But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am worried about the Judeans who have defected to the Chaldeans. They may hand me over to the Judeans to abuse me.”

I hear what you’re saying Jeremiah but I just can’t do it.

Now, fear of and by itself isn’t a sin. There are lot’s of things that we should be afraid of depending upon our circumstances. But fear becomes sin when it leads us to not trust in God.

God’s people are often initially afraid but then they take their fears to God and live by faith.

David was afraid.

Psalm 56:3–4 CSB

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Everyone has fears. The Christians in Ukraine are afraid they’ll be overrun by the Russians but they’re casting their fears on the Lord and living by faith.

Did you know that over 78% of adults in Ukraine identify as orthodox Christians as compared with 63% of adults in the United States? By that measure they are more of a Christian nation than we are so I think there might be some things we can learn from them.

When given a chance to flee the country so many are choosing to stay and saying things like this family: “We have decided to stay, both as a family and as a church. When this is over, the citizens of Kyiv will remember how Christians have responded in their time of need.”

It’s been said that bravery is not the absence of fear, it’s about having the courage to be vulnerable – to press on in spite of fear.

Are the Ukrainians afraid? Of course they are. But their faith in God keeps them pressing on.

Maybe you are afraid. Maybe you’re afraid of what others will think. Maybe you’re afraid of what might happen if you tell someone about that secret sin. Maybe you’re afraid of losing your reputation, or your job, or your country.

Be brave. Face the truth and obey God, no matter what the consequences.

Unfortunately, in the end, Zedekiah feared people more than he feared God and suffered a terrible fate.

Jeremiah 38:23 CSB

All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. You yourself will not escape from them, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon and this city will burn.’ ”

Unfortunately, when we don’t trust in God it affects more than just ourselves.

Jeremiah’s Fear

Now, usually in the book of Jeremiah there’s an opportunity to make a contrast between the one who is faithful with the the one who is not. But in this section both of the examples are mostly negative.

Zedekiah was more afraid of what people thought of him than he was about doing what was right but it seems so was Jeremiah.

Remember, Zedekiah didn’t want anyone to know he had met with Jeremiah so he told Jeremiah to put a spin on the facts if he was questioned.

Jeremiah 38:24–25 CSB

Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Don’t let anyone know about this conversation or you will die. The officials may hear that I have spoken with you and come and demand of you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king; don’t hide anything from us and we won’t kill you. Also, what did the king say to you?’

Jeremiah 38:26 CSB

If they do, tell them, ‘I was bringing before the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’ ”

Well, what Zedekiah told him to say wasn’t exactly the truth, but the surprising thing is, Jeremiah went along with it.

Jeremiah 38:27 (CSB)

All the officials did come to Jeremiah, and they questioned him. He reported the exact words to them the king had commanded...

In other words, Jeremiah didn’t live by faith, he lied. There just doesn’t seem to be anyway around it. We could say he was just being obedient to the king but that’s really no excuse. Acts 5:29 says we must obey God rather then men.

But Jeremiah was afraid of what might happen to him. He was afraid the king would kill him if he didn’t spin the truth.

In the past, Jeremiah had been faithful in preaching God’s word and had suffered a lot as a result, but he wasn’t perfect. Living by faith instead of by fear isn’t easy and it seems like Jeremiah’s fears got the better of him.

What’s the lesson for us? Past performance is no guarantee of present success. 1 Cor 10:12 says, “So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.” So be humble about ourselves and with others.

Sometimes we like to think in terms of “us” versus “them” but there is really only “us.” Everyone needs the Lord. Zedekiah and Jeremiah both needed the same thing. They both needed a Savior from sin.

Jesus the Christ, fully God and fully man, was the only man to never commit a single sin. He never gave into his fears. He always lived by faith. Even when he was being led to his own crucifixion he kept trusting in his father in heaven so he could be Jeremiah’s savior and the Savior of all who trust in him.

So trust in Christ. That’s what Christians in Ukraine are doing and it’s what we must do to.