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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 433

"Take him and look after him"

Text: Jeremiah 39:12

NOT FORGOTTEN BY THE LORD

Jeremiah was languishing in prison when Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians. But he was not forgotten by God at all.

“Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah
to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,
‘Take him and look after him, and do him no harm;
but do to him just as he says to you.’
So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris,
Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers;
then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison,
and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,
that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.”
Jeremiah 39:11-14

1. “Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah
to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying”

a) Nebuchadnezzar was the one who ordered the execution of the princes.

b) He was also the one who gave special orders to Nebuzaradan concerning Jeremiah.

2. “Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you”

a) No one was to harm Jeremiah.

b) He was to be taken care of especially.

c) Nebuzaradan must attend to all that Jeremiah may request of him!

d) This was a far cry from the way he was treated by Zedekiah and his princes.

3. “So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris,
Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers”

a) Nebuzaradan was the captain of the guard.

b) He had authority from Nebuchadnezzar himself.

c) He gathered a group of high ranking officials (chief officers)
to perform a special task.

4. “Then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed
him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home.
So he dwelt among the people”

a) These chief officers sent an official to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison.

b) Jeremiah was then committed to the care of Gedaliah the son of Ahikam,
the son of Shaphan.

c) They were instructed to look after Jeremiah.

d) The prophet Jeremiah:

i) He was spared from further ignominy.

ii) He was specially honoured by king Nebuchadnezzar.

iii) He lived freely among those who survived the war.