Jeremiah 39:11-18

TRUST in God to do what you cannot! 

Blessed are those who in faith BELIEVE.

Gods’ agape LOVE will follow you all the days of your life.

For I will surely deliver you…because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.’ ”

Jeremiah 39:11-18

11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, 12 “Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers; 14 then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people. 15 Meanwhile the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 “Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you. 17 But I will deliver you in that day,” says the Lord, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.’ ”

Jerusalem falls to Babylon, and Zedekiah is taken captive.

Gedaliah’s name means “Yahweh is great.” His introduction with a double patronym (listing the names of both his father and grandfather)  clarifies his association with the prominent family of royal scribes descended from Shaphan. Several members of this family are depicted as offering support for Jeremiah. After the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of most of the population to Babylon, Gedaliah was appointed governor over the remaining population of poor farmers. He resided at Mizpah (modern Tell en-Nasbeh), about eight miles north of Jerusalem. Some of the remaining Jewish soldiers who had escaped capture supported him. He assured them that Judah was now a Babylonian province, and they were free to return to a safe and peaceful agricultural lifestyle if they accepted Babylonian rule. His governorship ended when he was assassinated by Ishmael son of Nethaniah. Jeremiah is taken to Egypt with the group that flees after this assassination because they fear Babylonian reprisals for the death of the governor. Faithlife Study Bible

Nebuchadnezzar had given special instructions to Nebuzaradan regarding the treatment of Jeremiah. The positive teaching of the prophet regarding the king of Babylon had come to his attention in some way, perhaps through deserters or spies. During the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah was released from the court of the prison and brought to Mizpah to be under charge of Gedaliah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had appointed governor over the peasant population of Judah and Benjamin. 

Ebed-Melech, who had carefully rescued Jeremiah from the muddy cistern in the prison court, was promised safety and deliverance by the Lord because of his assistance to Jeremiah and because he had put his trust in God. The NKJ Study Bible

Here is a message to assure Ebed-melech of a recompence for his great kindness to Jeremiah. Because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. God recompenses men’s services according to their principles. Those who trust God in the way of duty, as this good man did, will find that their hope shall not fail in times of the greatest danger. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Jeremiah 38:2 “Thus says the LORD: ‘He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.