Jeremiah & Gedaliah

December 5, 2020 in Today's Devotion by TGV

Bible Study Guide/ Jeremiah 40, (24-BSG-40Y)/ A Night Though corresponding with the today’s Bible Reading Plan/ Theme: A Lesson from Jeremiah & Gedaliah/ Hymn: Quench not the spirit, turn not away [Author: Mary E. Servoss]


 

Key Text: Jeremiah 40:4, 14 (NKJV) — 4 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.” 14 and said to him, “Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to murder you?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

REFLECTION: “Jeremiah was given his freedom after the Babylonians captured Jerusalem (Jer. 39:11–14), but somehow he got mixed in with the captives who were being readied at Ramah for their long march to Babylon. He was released and given the choice of going to Babylon and being cared for by the king or remaining in the land to care for the people. Being a man with a shepherd’s heart, Jeremiah chose to dwell among the people (Jer. 40:14; 40:5–6). The Babylonian captain of the guard preached a sermon that sounded a great deal like what Jeremiah had been saying for forty years! It must have been embarrassing for the Jews to hear a pagan Babylonian tell them they were sinners, but he was right in what he said. As God’s people, we have to bow in shame when the world publicly announces the sins of the saints (Gen. 12:10–20; 20:1ff; 2 Sam. 12:14).” [Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Decisive, “Be” Commentary Series, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 154].

DEVOTIONAL IMPLICATION: Where is Jesus in this chapter? How can I apply it to my life? God is love and part of His love for me is that He has given me a free will! In this chapter, Jeremiah is given a choice (see Jer. 40:4-6). Likewise, I have been given a choice. Those who chose rebellion were also given a choice, but they ended up in chains. In yesterday’s lesson, we saw the fate of Zedekiah, the wicked king and his princes.

Secondly, should we be naive? Or should we should test (prove) all things before acting on them? Gedaliah foolishly ignored the warning about his assassination: Ishmael, another soldier, was planning to kill him. He made a disastrous decision because he refused to believe, and process this good/ useful information (see Jer. 40:13-16, 41:1-3). Gedaliah was caught up in political intrigue and allowed his trusting and naive spirit to place him in harm’s way. Lesson: We all must know that even in the midst of God’s providential care, dangers are lurking and wisdom must be exercised to navigate one’s course.

Maybe the message of Apostle Paul in  1 Thessalonians 5 can sum up what I wanted us to get to in this chapter: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18–22, NKJV)


 

Have A Good Night: “The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15, NKJV)

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