Kings & Things

Kings & Things

Jeremiah 21-22

Chapters 21 & 22 of Jeremiah contain messages that Jeremiah had for specific kings of Judah among other things. The first message we see in chapter 21 is directed to the last King of Judah, Zedekiah. This reminds us that the book is not written in chronological order. It helps to understand that when interpreting the book. These messages remind us that God’s grace was extended to the kings who reigned in Jeremiah’s day.

1. The King sends messengers to Jeremiah (1-7).

A. Zedekiah reaches out to Jeremiah in desperation.

The Pashhur mentioned here is not the same as the priest of that name in chapter 20. Pashhur was a common name and this particular fellow was a political representative. He is sent along with a priest named Zephaniah to speak to Jeremiah. According to 52:24 he was the priest second in rank.

Zedekiah was the final king of Judah before the last group of people were deported to Babylon. Around 597 BC he was made king by Nebuchadnezzar. The city had already been conquered by Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar removed Zedekiah’s nephew, Jehoiachin, and made Zedekiah king (2 Kings 24:17). His original name was Mattaniah. The changing of a king’s name by another king symbolized the power the one had over the other.

Nebuchadnezzar was ruling over Judah through Zedekiah. Josephus gives us some history on this. He tells us that Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon and made an alliance with Egypt. It was his belief that Egypt could save Judah from the Babylonians. His plan backfired. When Nebuchadnezzar realized what he did he brought he came to finish what he started against Jerusalem. When Zedekiah realized Egypt was going to be no help he panicked. He had nowhere to go. He decides to go to Jeremiah. His hope is that Jeremiah will pray for the people and God will spare them.

B. Jeremiah tells them resistance is useless (3-5).

Even though they have weapons in their hands, those weapons would be useless. God is the One who is fighting against them. If they fight the Babylonians, they are in fact fighting against God. It is God who is bringing the Babylonians against the people. God is not going to help them because God is the One who is disciplining them.

Notice:

I myself will fight against you (5)

I will strike down the inhabitants of the city (6)

I will give over Zedekiah (7)

Notice the threefold description of God’s emotion in verse 5:

In anger

In fury

In great wrath

There’s something else I want you to notice in verse 5. There we have the outstretched hand and strong arm of God mentioned. That phrase was used to bring comfort to god’s people in places like Deut. 5:15. Now the strong arm of the Lord was not stretched out to help them. It was stretched out against them.

C. The news was bad for Zedekiah (5-7).

God was clear that everyone in the city would perish or be taken captive. Even the animals would be killed. Some would die by disease others by sword. The people who survived would be exiled into Babylon. Notice another threefold description at the end of verse 7.

God will not pity them

God will not spare them

God will not have compassion on them

2 Kings 25 records what happened to Zedekiah. He was captured. His sons were killed before his eyes. His eyes were then gouged out. He was bound with fetters and taken to Babylon where he died. The last thing he saw was his sons killed.

2. Grace was available to those who would submit to the will of God (8-10).

A. The people could be spared (8-9).

The only way they could survive is if they put down their weapons and submitted to the discipline God was bringing against the nation. It was no use to fight. To fight the army was to resist the will of God. If they were intent on staying in Jerusalem they would die by famine, sword, or disease. If they surrendered to the Babylonians, they could live. Their own life would be the spoils of war for them. That’s the only thing they could save.

B. The city could not be spared (10).

Jerusalem would fall. The Babylonians would conquer it. God had made His decision. The city would be burned with fire. Zedekiah’s actions were the nail in the coffin for the city. Babylon would make an example of them for rebelling against them. But more accurately, the Lord was making an example of them for resisting His discipline.

This should remind us that we cannot save this world. This world is going to be destroyed. The Bible says it will be. The only thing that can be spared is people. Those who submit to Christ can live in a new land by the grace of God.

3. Warnings are given (11-14).

A. A warning to the royal line (11-12).

God tells the kings to rule justly. Too many politicians can be bought. That is nothing new. God warns that His judgment is waiting on those who corrupt justice. Money should not sway judges. The poor should be protected from the sins of the corrupt rich.

B. A warning to the holy city (13-14).

Jerusalem thought she could not fall. The people of Jerusalem boasted as if they were in an impregnable city. God would burn the city down as easily as a forest burns down. Their assumption of safety was wrong. Living in the holy city would not protect them from a holy God.

No matter what city or nation you live in it can fall. It can fall quickly. The only safe place in this world is in the hands of Christ.

4. A General word for the Kings of Judah and the people (22:1-9).

A. Jeremiah is to address the King and his court (1-2).

We don’t know who the king was at this time. They were virtually all bad, so it doesn’t matter much. He has to go down to the palace and preach to the king. This was dangerous and we should commend his obedience.

B. What God requires of rulers (3).

The rulers are to protect the lower class from the injustices that abound in a corrupt culture. Look at the groups mentioned:

The victims of robbery

The resident aliens

The orphans

The widows

They are also told not to shed innocent blood. In context this would mean that innocent people were not put to death. An example of a wicked king allowing the innocent to be put to death is Ahab and Naboth.

C. The Jews could enjoy a prosperous nation (4-5).

A king would always be on the throne if they obeyed God.

Chariots and horses symbolize strength. The king and the people could experience prosperity if they obeyed God. But if they did not the Lord would destroy the nation.

D. A description of God’s judgment on Jerusalem (6-9).

Jerusalem housed the royal family. It as the place of God’s presence and protection. Gilead and Lebanon are mentioned because of the wood that was obtained from these places. This wood was used to build palaces (1 Kings 7:2-5). Jerusalem had been like these beautiful and strong forests to the Lord but the Lord would build a fire with them if He needed to. If He does that this proud and beautiful city would become a place of scorn. The testimony of the city would be the people broke the commands of God and God destroyed the city for it.

5. A message concerning King Shallum (10-12).

Weep for King Shallum not his father.

His father was the godly King Josiah. He died around 609 BC. It was common to mourn for kings who had passed, especially good ones. Jeremiah even wept when Josiah died (2 Chronicles 35:24-25). Josiah was in heaven now.

Shallum, also known as Jehoahaz, was an evil king. His name was changed by a Pharoah of Egypt. He reigned as king for three months and was exiled to Egypt where he died (2 Kings 23:31-35). After Shallum was exiled Jeremiah preached to the people concerning the event. He said Shallum would not be rescued, he would not return to the land.

Josiah was in heaven. Shallum was on his way to hell. Pity Shallum not Josiah.

6. A Message concerning King Jehoiakim (13-19).

A. The sins of Jehoiakim (13-14).

Jeremiah is hard on this king. In fact, he’s harder on him than any other. He reigned from 609 BC- 597 BC. He and Jeremiah clashed constantly. He is the King who burned the prophecies of Jeremiah (36:23). Look at how Jeremiah describes him:

He built his house by unrighteousness and his upper rooms by injustice.

He made his neighbor serve him for nothing.

He set out to build himself a great house.

Basically, he heavily taxed the people (2 Kings 23:34-35).

He didn’t care about anyone but himself. He did what he could to get the money to pay off Egypt and build a lavish lifestyle for himself.

B. The father of Jehoiakim (15-17).

His father, Josiah, was a godly man. Josiah was a king. Jehoiakim brought shame to the title. Just because he lived in a cedar home that didn’t make him a king. Josiah ruled as a King in a righteous way. He cared for everyone, even the weak. Jehoiakim was dishonest, greedy, and violent.

Character is not genetic. Righteousness comes from a relationship with God. Jehoiakim rejected his fathers God and therefore became a wicked man.

C. The end of Jehoiakim (18-19).

His family will not mourn for him when he dies.

In fact, no one will. His death will be like the death of a donkey. A donkey was simply dragged outside of the city when it died.

The Bible doesn’t tell us how he died. It does tell us that in the second siege of Jerusalem Nebuchadnezzar bound him to take him to Jerusalem (2 Chr. 36:5-8). Josephus says he had he had his body thrown over a wall. Jeremiah prophesied that this evil king would have no burial and there is enough evidence to point to the fact that he did.

7. A message concerning Jerusalem (20-23).

A. The scope of the judgment (20-21).

Lebanon and Bashan represented the Northern part of the land and Abarim the South. From the North to the South the land was devastated. God reminds them that He spoke to them in their prosperity. In other words, when things were going well for them, He spoke to them. He warned them if they embraced idolatry there would be a price to pay. The tendency of the nation had always been to refuse the instructions of the Lord. Now their once prosperous nation was devastated from the North to the South.

B. Their leaders and lovers could not help them (22-23).

The shepherds mentioned in verse 22 were the leaders of the nation. They led the nation into idolatry. Now the wind of God’s judgment would blow them into captivity. The lovers mentioned in verse 22 were the nations they made allies with. These nations could not help because many of them would be conquered as well.

Verse 23 is a reference to the palace in Jerusalem built with the mighty cedars of Lebanon. Not even the King or those close to him would be safe.

8. A message concerning Jehoiachin (24-30).

A. Jehoiachin will be exiled (24-27).

Jehoiachin was only king for three months. He began his reign at 18 but was quickly removed and deported to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:8-17). He even took the kings mother into captivity. The bible says Jehoiachin was an evil king. God had no regard for him. Look at what is said about him in verse 24. God says even if this man were the signet ring of His right hand He would fling him off. Signet rings were valuable because they represented the authority to give decrees and authorize documents. A king did not throw away his signet ring. God is saying that He will not overlook a person’s character because of the value of their position.

God is going to fling this ring off of His hand and it will land in Babylon. Jehoiachin lived as a prisoner in Babylon for over 35 years. He was eventually released from prison but lived the rest of his life in Babylon (52:31-34).

B. The Lord questions the people (28-29).

Is this man a despised , broken pot, a vessel no one cares for? He has been tossed away like a disposable dish. This is the King and he is tossed aside as if he is worthless.

Why are he and his children hurled and cast into a land they do not know? Even though he was only 18 he had children. If God will remove the king and his children everyone should beware.

Look at verse 29. The Lord repeats the word “Land” three times. He wants to get their attention. He wants them to understand how serious things are. God has removed the King and his children to a foreign land. What does God have to do to get their attention? You would think such a drastic measure would wake the people up. But it does not. They continue in their idolatry.

C. The fate of Jehoiachin (30).

God says, “Write this down.” That means what He is about to say is important and certain. The word “write” refers to the recording of a registry of citizens. When the registry is recorded it will be as if Jehoiachin had no children. We know he had children because we just saw that in verse 28. It will be as if he had no children because none of his sons would succeed him on the throne. Jehoiachin is in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:12). There is an interesting piece of information about him. He was the last of the Judean Kings. Zedekiah was his uncle and he reigned after Jehoiachin but Jehoiachin outlived Zedekiah.

In these two chapters we see that not even Kings are above the Word of God. In fact, they are more accountable than the average person. When we vote we should consider who are putting in charge. Character matters. A nation that embraces idolatry and encourages sin can expect the discipline and the judgment of God. The good new is if you are saved Christ is your King. He will never lead you into sin. He will never be taken captive. He will never harm you for His own benefit. Thank God we have a King who is worth serving and who will be on the throne for all eternity.