Jeremiah 37 and 38
One day Jeremiah started from Jerusalem to go to his country not far away. At that time there was a new king over the people who did not care truly for God’s words, but he let Jeremiah talk to the people.
When Jeremiah reached the gate of the city, the guard would not let him go on; he said that Jeremiah was going to give aid to the Chaldeans, who were enemies, the soldiers of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah told the guard he was not going to help the enemy, but the guard did not believe him, and took him to the city rulers, who put him in prison.
After many days the king wanted to ask Jeremiah a question, so he sent for him and talked with him; then Jeremiah begged not to be sent back where he had been or he would die. He seems to have been kept in an inner prison with little food. So the king said he should be kept in the outer prison, and ordered food sent him as long as there was food. to send. At that time the army of Babylon were again trying to capture Jerusalem, and food could not be brought in.
Jeremiah had told the people that the Lord said it would be best for them not to fight longer, or the enemy would burn the city. But the men did not believe the words of God, and were so angry with Jeremiah that they wanted the king to have him put to death.
The king would not do that, but he said they could treat, Jeremiah as they wished. So they put a rope around him and let him into a dungeon, or deep hole, of the prison; the bottom was thick, soft mud in which his feet sunk, and he could not get out, the men wanted him to suffer there from hunger and the dampness.
One man, a negro servant of the king, heard where Jeremiah had been put, and he bravely went to the king and asked to take Jeremiah out of the dungeon.
The king gave this man permission to do so, telling him to take then with him (that the men who were angry at Jere miah could not hinder him).
The servant seemed to know that Jeremiah was thin and weak, and that to draw him out by the ropes tied on him, would be painful, so he first got some old soft cloths and dropped those into the hole, telling Jeremiah to put them under his arms so the ropes would not hurt him. Then they drew him out of the dungeon and he was kept in the court, or outer part, of the prison, and after that, where he was not in such distress.
It was very sad that the men who were cruel to Jeremiah knew God’s words but would not obey Him.
What was to be given Jeremiah daily? (Jen 37:21).
ML 03/22/1942