Scripture: Jeremiah 37:1-21 (NKJV)
1 Now King Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of
Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
2 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land gave heed to the
words of the LORD which He spoke by the prophet Jeremiah. 3 And Zedekiah the
king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the
priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray now to the LORD our God for us.”
4 Now Jeremiah was coming and going among the people, for they had not yet put
him in prison.
5 Then Pharaoh’s army came up from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were
besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they departed from Jerusalem. 6 Then
the word of the LORD came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 7 “Thus says the
LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Thus you shall say to the king of Judah, who sent you
to Me to inquire of Me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army which has come up to help you
will return to Egypt, to their own land. 8 And the Chaldeans shall come back
and fight against this city, and take it and burn it with fire.”‘ 9 Thus says
the LORD: ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely depart
from us,” for they will not depart. 10 For though you had defeated the whole
army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained only wounded
men among them, they would rise up, every man in his tent, and burn the city
with fire.’”
11 And it happened, when the army of the Chaldeans left the siege of Jerusalem
for fear of Pharaoh’s army, 12 that Jeremiah went out of Jerusalem to go into
the land of Benjamin to claim his property there among the people. 13 And when
he was in the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard was there whose name was
Irijah the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he seized Jeremiah the
prophet, saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!” 14 Then Jeremiah said,
“False! I am not defecting to the Chaldeans.” But he did not listen to him. So
Irijah seized Jeremiah and brought him to the princes. 15 Therefore the princes
were angry with Jeremiah, and they struck him and put him in prison in the
house of Jonathan the scribe. For they had made that the prison.
16 When Jeremiah entered the dungeon and the cells, and Jeremiah had remained
there many days, 17 then Zedekiah the king sent and took him out. The king
asked him secretly in his house, and said, “Is there any word from the LORD?”
And Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the
hand of the king of Babylon!” 18 Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “What
offense have I committed against you, against your servants, or against this
people, that you have put me in prison? 19 Where now are your prophets who
prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you or
against this land’? 20 Therefore please hear now, O my lord the king. Please,
let my petition be accepted before you, and do not make me return to the house
of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.”
21 Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah to the
court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread from
the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah
remained in the court of the prison.
Devotion
O Lord, our God, the unbelieving world does not give heed to Your words, which
You speak to the world through the inspired writings of Your prophets and
apostles. We pray to You on behalf of those who do not pray to You, that You
would give to them their daily bread, even as You give us ours, that the needs
of the body for life in this world would be met for all people. Provide for
each one his food and drink, clothing and shoes, house and home, and all like
things, that all might live in security and at peace. We pray especially for
that security and peace for our Christian brethren who, like Your servant
Jeremiah, are accused of wrongdoing while heeding Your righteous Word. Preserve
Your servants from all injustice and deliver them from all who persecute them.
Through such times of tribulation and trial, keep them all steadfast in the
faith that fears, loves, and trusts in You above all things.
We also pray to You on behalf of our enemies and adversaries, that You would
show Your mercy upon them, even as You are merciful towards us, for the sake of
the world’s Savior, Your Son, Christ Jesus. Through the preaching of Your Word
by faithful servants like Jeremiah and the working of Your Holy Spirit through
the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, deliver those in peril of eternal captivity into
Your everlasting Kingdom of love. Let the ongoing proclamation of Your Word
cause hearts to be ever turned toward You in repentance of all sin and in faith
in Your gracious forgiveness. Sustain Your people with the Bread and Wine that
Your Son feeds to His disciples, His true flesh and blood, that provides the
faithful with forgiveness, life, and salvation. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
we pray. Amen.
The Lutheran Herald is a publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of
North America. These daily devotions are authored by the bishop, pastors, and
deacons of the diocese. Daily posts are provided by The Reverend Jeffrey A.
Ahonen.
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