Jeremiah 21

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Jeremiah Chapter 21

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Jeremiah

Date Penned: (627-586 BC)

Overview: To Urge God's People to Turn from Sin to God (c 1-52)

Theme: God's Judgement on Judah (c 1-45)

Message: God Refuses the King's Request (v 1-14)

Jeremiah 21 Commentary

(21:1) Nebuchadrezzar - Jeremiah 21 through 28 are the prophet's messages concerning Nebuchadrezzar's attacks on Jerusalem between 588 and 586 BC (see also 2 Kings 25). King Zedekiah decided to rebel against Nebuchadrezzar (2 Kings 24:20), and the nobles advised allying with Egypt. Jeremiah pronounced judgment on the kings (Jeremiah 21:1-23:8) and false prophets (23:9=40) for leading the people astray.

(21:1-14) Prophecy Fulfilled - Jeremiah had foretold Jerusalem's destruction. The city's leaders had denied his word and mocked his pronouncements. In desperation, King Zedekiah turned to God for help, but without acknowledging God's warnings or admitting his sin. Too often we expect God to help us in our times of trouble even though we have ignored him in our times of prosperity. But God wants lasting relationships with us. Are you trying to build a lasting friendship with God, or are you merely using him occasionally to escape trouble? What would you think of your family or friends if they thought of you only as a temporary resource or last resort?

(21:1-2) Zedekiah - King Zedekiah was probably referring to God's deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, in the days of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36-37). But Zedekiah's hopes were dashed. He was Judah's last ruler during the time of the Exile in 586 BC.

(21:1-2) Pashur - Pashur came to the prophet for help. (This is not the same Pashur as the one in 20:1.) God still had work for Jeremiah to do. In living out our faith, we may find that rejection, disappointment, or hard work has brought us to the point of despondency. But we are still needed. God has important work for us to do as well. 21:13 Jerusalem was built on a plateau with deep valleys on three sides. Because of its strategic location and great defensive walls, the inhabitants thought they were safe.

Dave Burnette's Life Application

When we Fail

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Jeremiah with chapter 21. In our text today, we see judgment come upon Jerusalem because of her disobedience as a people, but even in judgment, God did not wipe out Jerusalem. Yes, they suffered greatly for their actions, but God was not done with Jerusalem. In making application, we see that when we fail and suffer rebuke and judgment by disobeying our Lord but God, we will suffer the consequences of our sin. Still, our loving Heavenly Father is not done with us yet. He has a plan and works for us to do. How about you? Do you understand God can use it even when you fail? Let us learn from our text today and the example of Jerusalem to see that even when we fail, our Heavenly Father never stops loving us and is willing to use us to do His work if we simply repent.

Jeremiah 21

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Jeremiah 21

¹The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,

²Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.

³Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:

⁴Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.

⁵And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.

⁶And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.

⁷And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

⁸And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

⁹He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

¹⁰For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.

¹¹And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

¹²O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

¹³Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?

¹⁴But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.

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