The king of Babylon, Nebuchadrezzar (also spelled Nebuchadnezzar in other texts) was making plans to attack Jerusalem. Since Babylon was the world’s superpower of the day, this was of great concern to the residents of Jerusalem. The king in Jerusalem at that time was Zedekiah. Zedekiah had been very disobedient to God. God sent the Babylonians to Jerusalem as punishment for his disobedience.
Zedekiah was very concerned about the intelligence reports that he had received. Babylon was indeed preparing a mass attack on his city. He did the wisest thing that he could do. He called Jeremiah and asked him to pray to God for the country. This was a very smart move! Most people would have called for the generals and colonels to ask them for a battle plan!
Unfortunately, Jeremiah had bad news for Zedekiah. God intended for the Babylonians to punish Jerusalem for its sins. The answer to Zedekiah’s prayer was to surrender to the Babylonians! Zedekiah had received the answer to his prayer, but it was not the answer he wanted! Since it was not the answer for which he was hoping, should he obey?
Instead of obeying the Lord (which he was not in the habit of doing), he allowed Jeremiah to be thrown into the dungeon by the rulers of the city. After Jeremiah had been in jail for a long while, Zedekiah called for him and asked him again, “Is there any word from the Lord?” Jeremiah said, “There is: for, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” Jeremiah told him the truth once again. Zedekiah treated Jeremiah a little better for a while, but later allowed the city rulers to put him in another dungeon where Jeremiah sank in the mire!
Jeremiah was about to die in this horrible place when one of Zedekiah’s eunuchs begged him to get Jeremiah out of there. Zedekiah, once again, removed Jeremiah from prison and asked him if there was word from God. Jeremiah told him once again that if he refused to surrender to the Babylonians that he would be punished, and the city would be burned!
Zedekiah did not obey. Nebuchadnezzar attacked the city, killed Zedekiah’s children before his eyes and then put out his eyes! Then the city was burned, just like God said it would be!
Do we only obey God when it suits us? Have you received the answer to your prayers but are unwilling to obey? Shouldn’t we obey God in all things?
