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Daily Devotions

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 
Day 
Day 436

"Because you people have sinned against the LORD"

Text: Jeremiah 40:3

A FURTHER WORD FROM NEBUZARADAN

It was truly ironic that a Babylonian could show a deeper understanding of God and His word, in comparison to king Zedekiah and the majority of people who lived in Jerusalem!

“Now the LORD has brought it, and has done just as He said.
Because you people have sinned against the LORD,
and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you.
And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand.
If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you.
But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here.
See, all the land is before you;
wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there.”
Jeremiah 40:3-4

1. “Now the LORD has brought it, and has done just as He said. Because you people have
sinned against the LORD, and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you”

a) Nebuzaradan spoke about the LORD.

i) God had warned the king and the people of Judah through His prophets.

ii) His word was not known only to Judah and Jerusalem.

iii) Even foreign nations had heard about God’s pronouncement of judgment
against the nation of Judah.

iv) The destruction of the nation was simply God’s word being fulfilled!

b) The people of Judah:

i) They had sinned against the LORD.

ii) They had not obeyed His voice.

iii) Thus, Judah and Jerusalem were destroyed.

iv) This was obvious to Nebuzaradan.

2. “And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand.
If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you.
But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See,
all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there”

a) Jeremiah was given freedom from the chains he had on.

b) Nebuzaradan’s invitation to Jeremiah.

i) Jeremiah could come and stay in Babylon.

ii) The captain of the guard would look after the prophet.

c) But if Jeremiah felt otherwise:

i) He could plan to stay in Judah.

ii) The whole land lay before the prophet.

iii) Wherever Jeremiah may choose to live in Judah,
it would be entirely up to him.

iv) This was a tremendous privilege that was extended
to Jeremiah the prophet.

v) This was his reward and blessing for being so faithful as a prophet of God.