Jeremiah 39-43, Ecclesiastes 12, John 5:1-15, 1 Peter 1:17-25  

Jeremiah 39-43:  

How difficult it must have been to see all your prophecies come true and in such a sad way. Because Zedekiah did not listen to Jeremiah, but attempted to hold out in a siege against Babylon, Jerusalem was taken, his children were killed, he was blinded (39:1-10). Tragedy upon tragedy.

Jeremiah is protected by God’s sovereign hand, and he remains in Judah (39:11-14, 40:1-6). But the remnant of God’s people, instead of obeying the command to settle down, mind their own business, and God would protect them, they soon start squabbling. There is murder and civil war.

Jeremiah (chapter 42) warns them against going down to Egypt to protect themselves. But they ignore his warning and go anyway, even taking Jeremiah with them (chapter 43), and again Jeremiah prophesies calamity (43:13). How apparently so easy, and yet in practice so difficult: obey the voice of God! “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Christian, take heed—that is, listen and obey. Listen to the Bible. Trust God. Obey what God says. Do not be wise in your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6).

It would have seemed wise, prudent even, to go down to Egypt for protection. And yet time and time again, they were warned not to do so—but instead to rely upon God for rescue. What clear instruction in the Bible has been impressed upon you that you are ignoring, violating, treating as unworthy of God and something he could not possibly have said?

Take heed. Listen and obey. Trust and obey. The Word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword and is to be heeded (Hebrews 4:12).