The Indestructible Word (1)

Pray Psalm 53.6.
Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God brings back the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

Sing Psalm 53.5, 6.
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
The wicked flee in shame; their ways our God rejects.
Renew Your people in Your Name with great effects!
Let great rejoicing sound once we renewed have been,
and let salvation’s Word resound from us again!

Read and meditate on Jeremiah 34.1-22.

Prepare.
1. What was God’s Word to Zedekiah?

2. What happened to the Hebrew slaves in Jerusalem?

Meditate.
God sent Jeremiah to Zedekiah once again to proclaim his fate. The city of Jerusalem would surely fall to Nebuchadnezzar, and Zedekiah would be taken into captivity to Babylon. He would die in peace there (v. 5), but that was hardly consolation. Zedekiah would see his sons slain before his eyes, the last sight he would see before Nebuchadnezzar blinded him and took him captive.

My sense of the action in this chapter is that, at verse 8, Babylon had withdrawn from their siege, perhaps to wait for more supplies, or to fight off some other enemy. With a little window of peace, Zedekiah decided to make a noble – and safe – gesture: to free all the Hebrew servants in Jerusalem (vv. 8, 9). He declared this as a covenant and called the people to enter it with him. Many complied and set their Hebrew servants free. But it wasn’t long before the people snapped back to their selfish, sinful ways, and took their former servants back into bondage once again (vv. 10, 11).

Through Jeremiah, God warned the people (1) about the solemnity of making covenants (vv. 12, 13) and (2) what the Law of God taught concerning Hebrew servants (v. 14). The people were guilty of transgressing on both counts, having abandoned their covenant with Zedekiah and enslaving their servants again (vv. 15, 16). The people had proven their bent toward sin, and God promised to bring judgment against them (vv. 17-21). He would bring the Babylonians back to Jerusalem to finish the work He had begun with them under the kingship of Jehoiakim (v. 22).

The princes and people of Jerusalem showed that they had no regard for liberty (v. 17). Consequently, they would lose their own when Nebuchadnezzar returned.

We have been set free in Jesus from the power of sin. Let us prove our bent toward Christlikeness by refusing to become slaves to wickedness in any way.

Reflect.
1. What does this passage teach about the role of the Law of God in the community of God’s people?

2. How does obeying God’s Law check our natural bent to sin (cf. Rom. 7.7, 12)?

3. God’s covenant required the shedding of blood for all who would enter it (vv. 18, 19). How do we enter God’s covenant? How can we be renewed in it?

The king himself, as well as the people, were reduced to the greatest extremities, and yet they would not be admonished by God's Prophet; and hence it is expressly said in 2 Chronicles 36:16, that Zedekiah did not regard the word of the Prophet, though he spoke from the mouth of the Lord, by whom he had been sent. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Jeremiah 34.1

Lord, let Your truth set me free from all sin today as I…

Pray Psalm 53.1-5.
Pray for the lost and all who struggle with obedience to God and His Word. Pray for yourself as well, that you might walk the path He has marked out for you this day.

Sing Psalm 53.1-5.
Psalm 53.1-5 (Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God at all!”
Corrupt are they in whole and part, unjust and small.
Not one of them does good; God sees their wicked ways.
None understands the Word of God or gives Him praise.

Have all these wicked men no knowledge of God’s grace?
The Church they hate with passion and seek not God’s face.
Lord, strike their hearts with fear, where fear was not before.
And scatter all who camp so near Your holy door.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).