ead: Jeremiah 39:1-41:18; 2 Timothy 1:1-18; Psalm 90:1-91:16; Proverbs 26:1-2
The last two years of Zedekiah’s reign, Babylon besieged Jerusalem. The Babylonians finally made a breach in the wall and the officers of Babylon came into the city and stood in the middle gate of the city. Zedekiah and his men tried to make an escape but were captured in the plains of Jericho. Zedekiah met Nebuchadnezzar face to face just like Jeremiah had said would happen. Zedekiah was made to witness the killing of his sons, then they took out his eyes and took him to Babylon in chains. They burned Zedekiah’s house and tore down the wall. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people and took the rest to Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar had commanded Nebuzaradan to take care not to harm Jeremiah and let him choose whether to stay or go to Babylon. He was to put him under the care of Gedaliah who would be the governor of those left in Jerusalem. He even gave Jeremiah an allowance of food and a present. Then he let him go free. Jeremiah chose to stay with the remnant left in Israel.
Before this happened, Jeremiah had given Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian who had rescued him from the cistern word that he would not be harmed because of his faithfulness to the Lord.
The people who were nomads and had lived in the fields outside the city came to meet with Gedaliah who Nebuchadnezzar had set over the people to govern. One of the leaders was Ishmael. Gedaliah told them not to be afraid of serving the Chaldeans, they could enjoy the fruits of the land and live in peace.
One of the leaders of the people was Johanan. He warned Gedaliah that Ishmael was going to assassinate him. Gedaliah didn’t believe him but the next time Ishmael came to visit with him, his men killed Gedaliah and killed all the people who were there including the Chaldean soldiers.
The next day a group of 80 men came from Shechem, Shiloh an Samaria to bring offerings to the Lord at the temple. Ishmael met them and brought them into the city and killed all but 10 who bribed their way out of death. He threw the 70 bodies into a huge cistern and took all the people in Mizpah captive.
When Johanan who had warned Gedaliah found out what Ishmael had done, he came with his warriors to fight Ishmael. They met at Gibeon. The people who had been taken captive rejoiced to see Johanan arrive. He rescued the people and brought them to Geruth. His plan was to take them to Egypt because he was afraid of what Nebuchadnezzar would do when he found out they had killed his governor, Gedaliah.
In the second letter to Timothy, Paul proclaimed his love for Timothy. He reminisced about the faith of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. He was proud to see that Timothy kept their faith alive in him. He reminded Timothy that God had not given him a spirit of fear but of power, love and self-control.
Paul encouraged Timothy to stand strong in his faith and walk in the calling God had called him to. Paul commended Onesiphorus who was a great friend and served with Paul in Ephesus.
Lord, may it be said of us that we remained faithful when times were tough. We did not abandon the Lord who is always faithful to us. Thank you, Lord, for your steadfast love that never fails.
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