Bible Study Guide/ Jeremiah 21, (24-BSG-21J)/ Questions And Answers.

[1] Identify the delegation sent by king Zedekiah to Jeremiah (1). Pashhur son of Malkijah; and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah.

King Zedekiah sent these two men to Jeremiah with a request. “Pashhur, one of the king’s officials, later petitioned the king to execute Jeremiah for treason (cf. 38:1–4). Zephaniah succeeded Jehoiada (29:25–26) as a priest second in rank to the high priest, Seraiah (52:24). So Zephaniah was the second highest religious leader in Judah. Later, after the fall of Jerusalem (52:24–27), Zephaniah was executed by Nebuchadnezzar.” [Charles H. Dyer, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, 1985, 1, 1155].

[2] What was Zedekiah’s message to Jeremiah? (2) “Inquire, I pray you, of the Lord for us, for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to all His wonderful works, forcing him to withdraw from us.” (Jeremiah 21:2, AMP)

[3] What was God’s pronouncement to King Zedekiah? (4-7). Instead of helping, God was going to use Babylon as His agent of justice and judgment.

• God would make the king’s weapons useless, (4a).
• God would allow the enemy to enter the city, (4b).
• God would raise His hand and arm in anger, fury, and wrath, (5).
• Many of the Judeans and their livestock would die due to a terrible pestilence, (6).
• Many would die in battle and others from famine: due to the Babylonian siege, (7a).
• Many of the survivors would be executed as criminals by the sword, (7b).
• Few would be spared, shown mercy, or compassion, (7c)

NOTE:

• “The Lord rebuffs Zedekiah’s appeal because Zedekiah rebelled against the Lord as well as Babylon (2 Kgs 24:19). As a result, the Lord will not fight for Zedekiah; he will fight against him (v. 5), assuring his defeat (v. 7).” [NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible/ Jer. 21:4-7].
• “Jeremiah informs the king’s representatives that their efforts are in vain. God will not turn aside the punishment of His people. The Babylonians will come closer and closer, advancing irresistibly, until finally they come “into the midst of this city.…. Many times in their history Israel had faced superior armies with confidence, trusting that the Lord was with them. But now the “God of Israel” (v. 4) declares that He is on the side of the invading Chaldeans. Israel’s cause is hopeless.” (SDA BC 4:433).

[5] It appears that God had turned His back on His people. Why would God fight against his own people? (5) Because of Rebellion.

“There are several reasons: (1) His people had repeatedly sinned, breaking the covenant promises they had made. (2) They had continually rejected God’s call through the prophets to repent. (3) They now faced certain judgment. God sometimes uses sinful people or nations as his instruments of judgment. See the article Does God use evil to do good? (Hab. 1:6).” [NIV Quest Study Bible/ Jer. 21:5].

[6] What was the LORD’s pronouncement to the people of Judah? (8-10) Twofold—

First, He gave them a choice: The way of life or the way of death — “Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.” (Jeremiah 21:8, NKJV)

• Note that, If they remained in the city, they would die; If they left the city and surrendered, they would escape death and live (see Jer. 39:9; 52:15)
• Compare: Deuteronomy 11:26–28 (NKJV) — 26 “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.”

Secondly, He was determined to bring disaster upon Jerusalem: To execute judgment due to their wickedness — “For I have set My face against this city for adversity and not for good,” says the Lord. “It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.” ’” (Jeremiah 21:10, NKJV)

[7] What was Jeremiah’s exhortation to the king and his family? — to the royal house of Judah, and to the succession of kings? (11-12). The king must execute justice, that is, he must rescue the victim from the criminal. The reason: God’s wrath demands justice and judgment

• NOTE: God would defend the victim; God’s wrath would burn like an unquenchable fire against a king’s evil.

[8] What was God’s pronouncement to the citizens of Jerusalem? (13-14). They were doomed because of their self-reliance, self-sufficiency. Because they did not trust God; Because of their sins. Therefore, they would be consumed by God’s fire of judgment (Jer. 21:14).

THE END.