July 13

Jeremiah 37
“Is there a word from the Lord?” What a question! It is a question that we all have! It is a kind of a haunting question. Why would Zedekiah ask such a thing secretly of Jeremiah? I think that deep down inside, Zedekiah knew that Jeremiah was right. Deep down inside he knew that Jeremiah spoke for the Lord. But his throne was more important than anything else. Hoping against hope, he hoped that the Lord would forgive him and permanently send Nebuchadnezzar away. His political supporters were such that if he surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, he would lose their support and his throne. If Nebuchadnezzar returned, they would be crushed. The only chance for him was some kind of miracle of God. He hoped God would change His mind.
It is the glory of God that His character never changes. The Lord gave Jeremiah the strength to speak the unpopular truth to Zedekiah, “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” Not only that but Jeremiah boldly pointed out Zedekiah’s own waffling spirit. And then he asked to not be sent back to the dungeon. How could Jeremiah be so strong? He knew the glory of the Lord. The glory of the Lord was more important than where Jeremiah lived. Jeremiah could have eased his own suffering by coming in line with the false prophets. But the Glory of the Lord was too important to him. Is the glory of the Lord more important than my own comfort? Hmmmm. . . Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john