The testimony against the final king Zedekiah, his servants and the people of the land, is that they would not listen to God’s word given through Jeremiah (v1-2). Here we see there are great consequences if we do not obey the Word of the Lord.

Zedekiah, while he will not obey what Jeremiah has shared from the Lord, still wants Jeremiah to pray for him to know God’s blessing (v3). so often people likewise don’t want Jesus to be their king, but they want Him to be their Saviour who blesses them. This just doesn’t work.

The Babylonians who were laying siege to Jerusalem withdrew because the army of Pharaoh of Egypt had advanced (v5). Jeremiah though is told to tell Zedekiah that the Babylonians will be back and Jerusalem will definitely be destroyed (v6-10). At this time Jeremiah is seized, beaten and imprisoned (v15-16). The king calls for Jeremiah and asks if he has a message from the Lord (v17). Jeremiah faithfully tells how the king will be handed into the Babylonians hands and he speaks for his own sake not to be returned to where he was (v18-20). Jeremiah was allowed instead in the court of the guard where he was fed while food lasted (v21).

Jeremiah’s faithfulness to the Lord and His word no matter what the consequences, should be a great encouragement and challenge to us. Will you be faithful in sharing God’s word even when it is unpopular today?