The Fall of Jerusalem

Jeremiah 39

651 years had passed from the time Moses stood on a hill overlooking the Promised Land while Joshua began to assemble the Israelites for battle to take the land the Lord had given them. Now, hundreds of years later, the Babylonians had taken Jerusalem and were carrying off the last of the Israelites into captivity for the next 70 years. Zedekiah, the last king of Israel, was hunted down and made to watch the murder of his family, only to have his eyes gouged out and be led off to Babylon. All the nobles of Judah were also killed, leaving only the poor and those being marched into exile. The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan, the commander of the imperial guard, carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with those who had surrendered to him, and the rest of the people (verse 9).

It was not a good time for the Israelites at all. When Jeremiah came onto the scene, he warned the nation to turn back to the Lord. Thirty-nine chapters later, we see that the people did not listen to him. However, we can also see the Lord working in all of this. After the battle was over, Nebuchadnezzar had given orders not to harm Jeremiah and to do for him whatever he asked. So, Jeremiah was released from the courtyard and remained with his people in Israel.

Two things stand out in the middle of the chaos. In verse 10, we see the commander of the imperial guard giving the poor people the vineyards and fields. I understand what is happening, but what an impressive transfer of property. These were once the poorest people on the streets of Jerusalem, overlooked and ignored. Then, in a matter of days, they owned all the fields and vineyards. Another remarkable instance of God’s hand at work happens in verses 16-18. As Jeremiah is leaving, the Lord tells him to inform Ebed-Melech, the Cushite, that he will be saved. Verses 17-18 read: “But I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Ebed-Melech was the king’s servant who informed the king that Jeremiah had been thrown into a cistern to die and led the group that rescued him.

I know life can be crazy and downright nasty. We don’t have foreign armies laying siege to our cities nowadays or face being carried off to another country, praise the Lord, but that does not mean we don’t feel the pain and suffering this world dishes out every single day. We must remember that Israel had it coming. They had been warned many times over hundreds of years, and it was time to wipe the hard drive clean of sin and corruption for the Israelites.

Today, we have the Holy Spirit given to us through Jesus’ blood on the cross. We no longer have to worry about paying the price for sin because Jesus bore that cost on the cross. However, we do step into sin from time to time, and it never smells good. The Lord has not forgotten you. You have not been cast out into the desert of life with God holding up His hand, saying, “Talk to the hand.” No, He sent His Son so that we could be with Him in heaven forever.

In the middle of the largest mess on the planet, Jesus is still King, and the righteous are still surrounded by favor (Psalm 5:12). When we read about the fall of Israel, we may think God turned His back on them, but that could not be further from the truth. Jesus was still born 588 years later, and He still died on that cross. That is a fact. So, if you are in the middle of one of those colossal messes that life dishes out, remember Ebed-Melech and how the Lord saved him because he trusted in Him. Remember the poorest people of Jerusalem inheriting all of the fields and vineyards in one day. He will never leave you, and He is always working.

One more thing. The captivity in Babylon brought about such great stories as the book of Esther, the prophet Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, along with so much more. In Psalms, it says that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, and we are His children. He’s got you. Put your trust in the Lord.

Prayer: Father, I pray that we seek Your hand at work even in the middle of large messes. I pray that our hearts do not grow hard, but rather that You fill us with the joy of the Lord, knowing that You hold our future. In Jesus’ name, amen.