David Bahn – Reflections

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Today’s readings: Jeremiah 37-39, Psalm 69.

Jeremiah 39:11-19

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying, ¹² “Take him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you.” ¹³ So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon ¹⁴ sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he lived among the people.

¹⁵ The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: ¹⁶ “Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. ¹⁷ But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. ¹⁸ For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the LORD.’”

I’ve read books in which people are taken into protective custody—sometimes almost against their will. They know the danger is real, but they don’t want to leave behind the life they’ve known or become the witness that makes such protection necessary. Seldom, however, do we see protective custody unfold quite as it does for Jeremiah.

This is one of the great ironies of his life. After decades of being mocked, imprisoned, beaten, and even thrown into a cistern because he faithfully proclaimed that Babylon was God’s instrument of judgment, Jeremiah found himself protected by the very king he had said would conquer Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar ordered that Jeremiah be treated well and given whatever he needed (Jeremiah 39:11–12). The prophet whom Judah’s leaders had condemned as a traitor was honored by the pagan king.

To many in Judah, it must have looked as though Jeremiah had been working for Babylon all along. But that illusion quickly disappeared. When given the opportunity to live comfortably in Babylon, Jeremiah chose instead to remain with the poor remnant in Judah, continuing to minister to the very people who had rejected him. His loyalty had never been to Babylon. It had always been to the LORD and to God’s people.

Luther often spoke of the “masks of God”—the surprising people and circumstances through which God accomplishes his purposes. Nebuchadnezzar became one of those masks. So, in a different way, did Jeremiah’s suffering. God used both to preserve his prophet and to vindicate his Word. Faithfulness is not always rewarded immediately. Often it is costly. But in the Lord’s time, the truth is revealed and his servants are vindicated.

This is made so very clear in the last part of chapter 39. The LORD has a word and declares it clearly and unflinchingly. His way and will will prevail. He even promises Ebed-melech, “I will save you.”

This promise and Jeremiah’s story ultimately points us to an even greater salvation by means of someone far greater than Nebuchadnezzar. Jesus also appeared to have been defeated. He was rejected by his own people, condemned, crucified, and laid in a tomb. Yet what looked like the triumph of evil became God’s greatest victory. On the third day the Father vindicated the faithful Son by raising him from the dead.

The same Lord who sustained Jeremiah and vindicated his Son has not changed. There will be seasons when faithfulness is costly, when obedience is misunderstood, or when suffering seems to have the final word. It does not. God is still at work, often in ways we cannot yet see. His truth will be vindicated. His promises will be fulfilled. And those who entrust themselves to him will never be put to shame.

Follow the Word is a daily Bible reading and devotional ministry of St. John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas.