Good day People of God in Christ Jesus. You are all welcome to another new day. Glory to God for the gift of life.
In our today’s episode 530 of studying and understanding the Bible, we shall be examining Jeremiah Chapter 40 titled:
Jeremiah Set Free From Chains By Nebuchadnezzar, Here Is How
Remember from our previous chapters how Jeremiah’s own people set him up and put him in jail for doing God’s work and speaking against lies from false prophets. The cabal colluded with the king and Jeremiah was imprisoned.
Thereafter, when Nebuchadnezzar was about to take down Jerusalem, he instructed the commanding officer of his army called Nebuzaradan to look for Prophet Jeremiah, rescue him and take good care of him. You will see this in chapter 39:12-13
So, the Babylonian forces captured Judah, broke down their walls and destroyed the temple as already prophesied because of their sins and refusal to repent. Zedekiah’s family and his officials were all killed in the war while trying to escape and Zedekiah’s eyes were plugged out. You will see all these in Chapter 39:4-10.
Now in Chapter 40, it happened that Jerusalem is down already and many captives have been taken in chains to where we can call a concentration camp somewhere in Rama, a few miles north of Jerusalem and Jeremiah happened to be among these people. They were ready to be transported to Babylon.
To obey the instructions of his master, Nebuzaradan (the commanding officer of Babylonian Army)quickly rushed down to Rama to look for Jeremiah and found him among the captives.
He quickly set him free from his chains and took him aside for a little chat.
In verse 2, he informed him that they were aware that God had already warned the people through his messages about the need for them to repent and serve God but they refused and kept on sinning and that’s why that calamity befell them.
You can imagine those who didn’t not even know God understood the danger of rebellion against God.
Long story short, Nebuzaradan took off the chains and set him free.
Now, here is the most juicy part of the story: Prophet Jeremiah was given options to choose from either to follow them to Babylon and he promised to take good care of him there or he can choose to remain and live in any part of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah was transfixed for some moment, not knowing what to reply him. Apparently, Nebuzaradan understood he was finding hard to make up his mind trying to weigh his options.
In order to save time and also because Nebuzaradan observed Jeremiah would likely prefer to stay, he decided to hand him over to the new governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar over Judah. His name was Gedaliah.
So, that’s how Jeremiah ended up staying with Gedaliah, the new Governor and before Nebuzaradan left, he gave Jeremiah a lot of gifts and foods.
After the Babylonians had left, other Jews in hiding started to come out and reunite and the new Governor promised them safety and proper but they must not revolt or do anything bad.
Lessons to learn:
As a man of God or a worker reading this message, probably you have been serving God in some capacities and all you get in return is persecution and hard times, I want to encourage you not to give up. Be courageous and steadfast in serving the Lord and preaching nothing but the truth and God knows how to coordinate people and circumstances in your favour. It’s happening soon. Please, cheer up.
Again, I want to reiterate that there is nothing you do that’s a waste. Rewards are coming.
Let me close with a statement made by the writer of Hebrews 6:10
That God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let us pray:
- The Bible says if Son sets you free, you are indeed free. I declare you free from worries, anxieties, heaviness of mind, free from lack, free from fear and free from whatever that is not giving glory to God in your life, in Jesus name.
- The Lord God will connect you with people in power and authority that will open unique doors of opportunities for you to the point that you will have various options to choose from, in Jesus name.
- Is there anyone reading this message going through difficult times? I declare the Lord God will wipe away your tears, put joyful smiles on your face and put a new song in your mouth to sing, in Jesus name.
- What the devil has counted as trap that you cannot escape from will turn out to be a means by which you will be promoted, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Job Chapters 4, 5 & 6 with Psalm 119:161-176
I call you blessed now and always.
Wednesday September 9, 2020 (DDMI)
