The Last Moves of the King

Slide 2: Living In Hope The Last Moves Of The King Jeremiah 37-38 (page 799)

Slide 3: 1. Zedekiah – The Fickle King “A weak vacillating person, Zedekiah was appoint to rule, we suspect, because the Babylonians knew that he had no will of his own and would submit to what was commanded. What they failed to anticipate was that he would do what he was told by anyone who was in the room with him.”

Slide 4: 1. Zedekiah – The Fickle King Conflicting advice for King Zedekiah • his counsellors – rebel against Babylon • Jeremiah – submit to Babylon

Slide 5: 1. Zedekiah – The Fickle King Zedekiah’s contrasting attitude to Jeremiah • asking for his prayers (37:3-10) “Please pray to the Lord our God for us.” (verse 3) • allowing his ill-treatment (37:11-16) • seeking his help (verses 16-17) “Is there any word from the Lord?” (verse 17) • improving his conditions (37:18-21)

Slide 6: 1. Zedekiah – The Fickle King Zedekiah’s contrasting attitude to Jeremiah • asking for his prayers (37:3-10) • allowing his ill-treatment (37:11-16) • seeking his help (verses 16-17) • improving his conditions (37:18-21) • abdicating his responsibility (38:1-6) “He is in your hands,” King Zedekiah answered, “The king can do nothing to oppose you” • ordering his rescue (verses 10-13)

Slide 7: 1. Zedekiah – The Fickle King Zedekiah’s contrasting attitude to Jeremiah • asking for his prayers (37:3-10) • allowing his ill-treatment (37:11-16) • seeking his help (verses 16-17) • improving his conditions (37:18-21) • abdicating his responsibility (38:1-6) • ordering his rescue (verses 10-13) • asking his counsel (38:14-26)

Slide 8: 1. Zedekiah – The Fickle King Zedekiah’s contrasting attitude to Jeremiah “This is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down; you and your family will live.” (38:17)

Slide 9: 1. Zedekiah – The Fickle King The big problem “Neither he nor his attendants not the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet” (37:2) • a failure to listen to God’s word • a failure to surrender to God’s will

Slide 10: 1. Zedekiah – The Fickle King The parable of the two builders (Matthew 7:24-27) • the wise builder “…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” • the foolish builder “…everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”

Slide 11: 2. Ebed-melech – The Fearless Servant The man God used (38:7-13) • “a servant of the king” • “an official in the royal palace” • “a Cushite” An act of faith • confronting the king in public • informing the king of Jeremiah’s situation

Slide 12: 2. Ebed-melech – The Fearless Servant “This single, brave man forced Zedekiah’s hand. The king had washed his hands of the whole affair but Ebed-Melech put it right back in his hands. When he exposed Cisterngate on the floor of the Senate, Zedekiah could no longer plead innocence.”

Slide 13: 2. Ebed-melech – The Fearless Servant A successful outcome • permission given • rescue effected “Because Ebed-Melech was God’s man, he was willing to take a stand for God’s prophet. He could see that Jeremiah was as good as dead. But he valued the life of the God’s prophet as much as he prized the truth of God’s Word. Even when the whole world seemed arrayed against him, he had the courage to do what was right.”

Slide 14: 2. Ebed-melech – The Fearless Servant The salvation of Ebed-Melech “I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life because you trust in me,” declares the Lord (39:18)

Slide 15: 3. Jeremiah – The Faithful Prophet Fulfilling his destiny “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Slide 16: 3. Jeremiah – The Faithful Prophet Jeremiah’s consistency • proclaiming the Lord’s unpopular word • despite the personal cost

Slide 17: 3. Jeremiah – The Faithful Prophet Jeremiah’s humanity • his fear of dying “But now my lord, the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I shall die there.” (Jeremiah 37:20) • his fear of the king “If I give you an answer, will you not kill me?” (38:15)

Slide 18: 3. Jeremiah – The Faithful Prophet “Jeremiah’s fear is a reminder of his humanity. He was a hero of the faith, not a superhero. Like any other believer, Jeremiah had times of doubt, fear, weakness, and even sin.” (Philip Ryken)

Slide 19: Conclusion

Slide 20: Conclusion Final role-reversal • the prophet – out of the mud “…they pulled him up with the ropes, and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard… until the day Jerusalem was captured.” (38:13, 39:28) • the king – into the mud “Your feet are sunk into the mud; your friends have deserted you.” (38:22)

Slide 21: Conclusion God’s future kingdom “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

Slide 22: Conclusion [verse of the year card]