The king of Judah didn’t follow God’s advice, did he? If he did, Jerusalem would look a lot different today based on God’s promise here. “If you obey me, there will always be a descendant of David sitting on the throne here in Jerusalem.” The “here in Jerusalem” is what sets this apart from God’s promise to King David all those years ago.
For 300+ years, the people believed the royal house of David was their “special protection.” In 2 Samuel 7:16, God promises David, “Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” Jesus sits on this throne now as the one who fulfills this promise. Remember the angel’s words to Mary about her son, Jesus, in Luke 2:31-33. “He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Jeremiah was charged with letting the people know this protection they had relied on was no longer available. For generations, the kings and the people had broken the covenant God established through David who passed it on to Solomon. Recall 1 Kings 2:3-4. God’s covenant had included protection because of his great love for his children, not because of who was king. There had been plenty of evil kings being born in the line of David. The people had missed the point.
The kings of Judah had relied on this false security for too long. These kings had abused their power and failed to worship the LORD alone and follow his laws. How could they expect divine blessing when they ignored the very requests God was making here.
Did you see anything “out of line” on the list of what God was asking of this king? No, there is nothing shocking here! “Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent!” A fair and just king would act in precisely this manner. A king who was actively in a relationship with God would have not needed such a reminder to act in ways that were pleasing to God.
Jerusalem will be reduced to rubble thanks to the unfaithfulness of the king of Judah. Do you believe that the story could have played out entirely differently had this king not been in the evil one’s fierce grip? Had this king listened to God’s message through Jeremiah and taken a bold stance to do the “right thing,” many lives would have been spared.
When we find ourselves caught in the consequences of sin, we want to blame anything but ourselves. It’s better to look within and see what we might change. Where are our weak spots?
Jeremiah’s prophecy of what outsiders would be told about why the great city of God was left in rubble is so insightful for us. “Because they violated their covenant with the Lord their God by worshiping other gods.” Do we ever violate our covenant with God by failing to trust in Jesus? Is that what happens when our sinful nature distances us from God?
Let’s pray … Lord, thank you that my life has not been reduced to rubble. I can sense your presence living inside me, guiding me to make good decisions. I want to do the right things, those things that will please you, God. Help me to focus on you, trusting in your promises. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
