Do What I Say

O. T. #1804  "Do What I Say"

Oct. 20, 2020

Jeremiah 34

 

LET IT GLOW

 

How many times have we heard, "Do what I say, not what I do?" Perhaps we have even said it to our children. But is it the right for us to be? Aren't we supposed to be the good model for our children to follow so they do what is right and do what we say? There is one person which we can do what He says and did-Jesus.

Now we have the events which surround the fall of Jerusalem. Fast forward to the time of King Zedekiah, their last king, in Jerusalem. He can be labeled as a stubborn and rebellious leader. He clung to hope that they could somehow escape defeat by the Babylonians. Jeremiah continued to warn this king to stop resisting and accept God's discipline-go peaceably to Babylon. 

Judah had allied with Egypt in attempting to stop Babylon from conquering nations. The Lord sent His words to the king through the prophet. What was the message?

• Jerusalem would be burned down. (verse 2)
• Zedekiah would be taken to Babylon and speak face to face with Neb. (verse 3) We read that Zedekiah was blinded then in 52:11.
• Zedekiah would not die by the sword, but die peacefully and be honored as king of Judah. (verse 4-5) He died in prison in Babylon. Probably he grieved himself to death because his son died by the sword.
• However, Zedekiah was given a second chance (before judgment came) if he would obey God's command. Judah was to set free the Hebrew slaves. Jews were to be freed after serving 6 years. (Exodus 21:2) They had not been doing this.
• So the people and officials made a covenant with God in the Temple and freed their Jewish slaves. (verse 10)

LET IT GROW

 

When the siege temporarily stopped, the people returned to their sin and took back their slaves. (They tried to appease God without a change of heart.) They reneged on the covenant and profaned God's name. (verse 16)

What happened to them? Verse 17 tells us that God sent the sword, pestilence, and famine to remove them from the earth. (verse 17)

Since Judah did not fulfill their part of the covenant, they would pay for their unfaithfulness.

It is better that we not make a commitment or promise to God  than to do so and not keep it. (Numbers 30:2)

God is not mocked. For whatever a person he will also reap. (Galatians 3:6-10)

So we need to be careful what we say, folks. God takes seriously what we commit to Him.

 

LET IT GO

Thank You for being a promise keeper, Heavenly Father.

Help me do what I say I will do.