Ob and In:
Overview: Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD his GOd v.12
Details:
1. He refused the message of God through Jeremiah v.12
2. v.13 (EBC)At the instigation of Hophra, a new Pharaoh (589–570 B.C.) of the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty in Egypt (cf. Jer 37:5; Ezek 17:15), “he rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name.”
3. v.13 He was stubborn (BDB=make hard, stiff...[e.g.] stiffen their neck) and obstinate, (BDB=harden, make obstinate) and refused to return (NET-Heb “and he stiffened his neck and strengthened his heart from returning.”) to the LORD God of Israel
Development: All the people under Zedekiah followed his example v.14-16
Details:
1. All the leaders and the people became more unfaithful and committed the sins practiced by the nations v.14. They defiled the temple v.14.
2. They ignored the warning from God's messengers v.15-16. v .16a But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his warnings, and ridiculed his prophets
(NET) All three verbal forms (“mocked,” “despised,” and “ridiculed”) are active participles in the Hebrew text, indicating continual or repeated action. They made a habit of rejecting God’s prophetic messengers.
Summary and reflection: (1) Why did the king, the leaders, and the people refused to return to God and continued to sin? They despised the LORD and his messengers. Who did they look up to or ally with? The Egyptian army, the seemingly promising to overrule Babylon. They followed the sinful practice of the nations even to the point to worship them in the LORD's temple. Those were the one they looked up to. How about me? Do I rely on the world and things that promised by it? Does the world occupy a corner of my heart? Do I admire them? (2) The king did not humble before Jeremiah. He was stubborn and stiff. The people followed his example. What can I do if I am the prophet or messengers? Am I like the king and the people who followed him? Is my heart soft to be changed by God? Do I become stubborn because I followed a bad example?
What God has done:
1. He saw the evil of Zedekiah v.12
2. He sent the spokesman to the king v.12.
3. Try to lead the king back, but he refused (implied by v.13)
4. (BKC) Yet the LORD in His mercy (pity) continued to send warnings through the prophets (His messengers) but the people despised the word of the Lord and mocked His prophets. Thus there was no remedy. v.15-16
Reflection: God was active in our lives even with the worse kings in history. We cannot blame God when we face judgment v.16. He did not do it once, but again and again until a point that there was no more. Thank God that He is a loving and forgiving God, but there is a limit. This is a warning to myself.
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