I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Jeremiah 39-41.

    Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar just as Jeremiah had predicted. King Zedekiah, still afraid to follow the advice Jeremiah had given him, attempted to avoid the fate which Jeremiah had told him he would receive if he failed to do as Jeremiah recommended. Jeremiah had been imprisoned during the final days of the siege. Nebuchadnezzar gave orders for his release and offered for him to either stay in Judah or go to Babylon. Jeremiah chose to stay. He also sent word to the man, a court functionary, who had saved him from the cistern, that God would be with him and protect him from those he feared.

    Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as governor over Judah. It is worth noting that Gedaliah’s grandfather was the scribe given the task of taking the scroll of the law to King Josiah (the scroll was discovered during the Temple repairs which Josiah had ordered). In addition, Gedaliah’s father saved Jeremiah’s life at one point. Gedaliah was able to convince most of the leaders of guerrilla forces opposing the Babylonians to lay down arms. Unfortunately, Gedaliah was unwilling to listen to those who warned him against the one leader who was unwilling to accept the Babylonian conquest of Judah. Gedaliah was a good man who gave everyone the benefit of the doubt.

    I am unsure what message we should take from this passage. Certainly, we learn from King Zedekiah’s actions that we cannot avoid the consequences of failing to follow God’s instructions. However, I am unsure if the story of Gedaliah is there as simply a recounting of the events that led to what happened next, or as an object lesson on not relying on our judgment of other’s character against advice we have received.