Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Jeremiah 32:1-2 (NIV)
“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.”
Jeremiah 32:1-2 (MSG)
“The Message Jeremiah received from God in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah. It was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was holding Jerusalem under siege. Jeremiah was shut up in jail in the royal palace.”
*******************************************
“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the king of Judah.” -AMPLIFIED
“These opening verses give the context for the entire chapter. Jerusalem fell in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, so this message comes in Jerusalem’s last year. The city has been besieged since the tenth month of the previous year, placing the prophesy about half-way through the siege. Jeremiah has been prophesying that the Jews should go out and surrender to the invading army if they wish to live (Jer. 21:9-10) and that Zedekiah will be taken captive by Babylon (Jer. 34:21). Since these words can be construed as treason, Jeremiah has been put in prison.” ~Melissa Beaty
Jeremiah, chapter 31, closed out with a description of the New Jerusalem. We took the time to research further what Scripture had to say about the city which the Lord will restore one day. In Jeremiah, we find the Lord declaring that this city will be holy unto Him, and a day will come, during the Messiah’s reign, that it will never again be destroyed. God’s Message:
“The whole valley—the corpses, the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Kidron Valley to the corner of the Horse Gate to the east—will be holy to the Lord. It will never be uprooted or demolished again.” -Jeremiah 31:40 (CSB)
As we turn to Jeremiah 32, we find giving us some historical background. We find that he has been detained. In fact, he is being held against his will, a prisoner in the courtyard of the guard.
“The Eternal spoke again to Jeremiah in the 10th year of Zedekiah’s reign as king of Judah. This was also the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign as king of Babylon. At this time, Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonian army, and Jeremiah the prophet was being held in the court of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.” -(VOICE)
Jeremiah gives us a few important details in these two opening verses, which paint a picture for us of what was taking place in Jerusalem at this point in time.
- 1.) It was the tenth year of the reign of Zedekiah.
- 2.) It was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign.
- 3.) What follows is a Message from the Lord.
- 4.) Jeremiah received this Message while he was imprisoned.
- 5.) This Message was received while Jerusalem was under attack by the Babylonian army.
2 Kings 15 gives us much of the same information:
“On the 10th day of the 10th month, during the 9th year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon’s king) and his entire army surrounded Jerusalem. They camped outside the city and built siege ramps around it. The city remained under siege until the 11th year of Zedekiah’s reign.” -2 Kings 25:1-2 (VOICE)
“Zedekiah was the last king before the final conquest of the Babylonians over Judah, and the final conquest began in his tenth year. Jeremiah wrote this even as Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem. It was an almost unbelievably stressful crisis for the whole city.” ~David Guzik
The question you may be asking yourself, why Jeremiah was imprisoned? And the answer is simply because he prophesied that the city of Jerusalem would be taken by the king of Babylon.
We learn that Jeremiah was being imprisoned and persecuted for the simple fact that he was being obedient to the Lord (while the rest of Israel was not).
“The following message came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah (which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign). At this time Jeremiah was imprisoned in the dungeon beneath the palace, while the Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem.” -(TLB)
“Jeremiah was at that time a prisoner, in a prison within the king’s house. The king could keep him from revealing God’s will to the people, but he could not keep God from revealing himself to him. Prisons hinder us from communion with men, but often contribute to God’s people freer and sweeter communion with him. In the mean time the desperate hardness of this prince and these people’s hearts appear, in that the fear of an enemy besieging them could not awe them from such outrageous acts of persecution.” ~Matthew Poole
Scripture reminds us that our walk with God will not always be easy. In fact, we can expect to be challenged and even persecuted for our faith. We are given guidance and encouragement in Scripture, in order to help us know what to expect and how to handle persecution.
- 1.) “Dear ones, don’t be surprised when you experience your trial by fire. It is not something strange and unusual, but it is something you should rejoice in. In it you share the Anointed’s sufferings, and you will be that much more joyful when His glory is revealed. If anyone condemns you for following Jesus as the Anointed One, consider yourself blessed. The glorious Spirit of God rests on you. But none of you should ever merit suffering like those who have murdered or stolen, meddled in the affairs of others or done evil things. But if you should suffer for being a Christian, don’t think of it as a disgrace, as it would be if you had done wrong. Praise God that you’re permitted to carry this name.” -1 Peter 4:12-16 (VOICE)
“People often suffer because of poor decisions that result in shame, but the people of God face persecution for their faithfulness that leads to honor and glory.” -VOICE footnote
- 2.) “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—the kingdom of heaven is theirs. And blessed are you, blessed are all of you, when people persecute you or denigrate you or despise you or tell lies about you on My account. But when this happens, rejoice. Be glad. Remember that God’s prophets have been persecuted in the past. And know that in heaven, you have a great reward.” -Matthew 5:10-12 (VOICE)
“How did Jesus expect His disciples to react under persecution? (In Matthew 5:12 He said), “Rejoice and be glad!” We are not to retaliate like an unbeliever, nor sulk like a child, nor lick our wound in self-pity like a dog, nor just grin a bear it like a Stoic, still less pretend we enjoy it like a masochist. What then? We are to rejoice as a Christian should and even “leap for joy” (Lk. 6:23).” ~John Stott
- 3.) “Your task will be fraught with betrayal: brother will betray brother, even to the point of death; fathers will betray their children, and children will rebel against their fathers, even to the point of death. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next town. This is the truth: you will not be able to witness to every town in Israel before the Son of Man comes. Everyone will hate you because of Me. But remember: the one who stays on the narrow path until the end will be saved.” -Matthew 10:21-23 (VOICE)
“When the Christians, upon these occasions, received martyrdom, they were ornamented, and crowned with garlands of flowers; for which they, in heaven, received eternal crowns of glory.” ~John Foxe
- 4.) “If people mistreat or malign you, bless them. Always speak blessings, not curses.” -Romans 12:14 (VOICE)
“Persecution is the tribute that the wicked pay to the saint.” ~Charles Spurgeon
- 5.) “But this beautiful treasure is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us. We are cracked and chipped from our afflictions on all sides, but we are not crushed by them. We are bewildered at times, but we do not give in to despair. We are persecuted, but we have not been abandoned. We have been knocked down, but we are not destroyed. We always carry around in our bodies the reality of the brutal death and suffering of Jesus. As a result, His resurrection life rises and reveals its wondrous power in our bodies as well. For while we live, we are constantly handed over to death on account of Jesus so that His life may be revealed even in our mortal bodies of flesh. So death is constantly at work in us, but life is working in you.” -2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (VOICE)
“When you face persecution, remember that you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ.” ~Charles Spurgeon
My friend, as followers of Christ we should not think it strange when we are persecuted for His sake. Remember, this world is not our home. We are just pilgrims passing through, on our way home. If Christ experienced persecution, and we know He did, we should expect nothing less. So, when you are persecuted, pray for those who persecute you. Bless them, do not curse them. Rejoice and be glad, for one day you will be rewarded for your faithfulness to the Lord.
“Even in the midst of persecution, the joy of the Lord is our strength.” ~Corrie ten Boom
My Prayer:
Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, you have not promised that life would be easy. In fact, you have warned that your followers would experience persecution for your sake. But you have also promised that you will be with me every step of the way. You have promised to be my Rock, my Strong Tower, my Fortress, and my Deliverer. Help me to respond as Jesus did when He was persecuted. He did not retaliate in anger, but you turned the other cheek. He blessed those who cursed Him. He responded in love, not hate. Help me to become more like my Lord. Please, help me to remember that the joy of the Lord is my strength, that you walk with me through every situation, that I have nothing to fear because you are always with me. Thank you, Lord. ❤
Growing with God 