Jeremiah

Jeremiah 37: God’s word stands when people refuse

Begin in prayer

Before we read about a king who would not listen, and a word from the LORD that always comes true, let us come before the LORD in prayer. Ask Him to open our ears, to be with our family as we read, and to show us Jesus, the Word who came to save sinners.

For Yahweh is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalms 100:5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Your word stands forever, even when people refuse to listen, and help us to trust You. Show us Jesus, the Word who came to save sinners, and help us to turn from our sin and trust Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Zedekiah reigns as king of Judah, but he and his people refuse to listen to the LORD’s words through Jeremiah (verses 1 and 2). The king sends Jehucal and the priest Zephaniah to ask Jeremiah to pray to the LORD for Judah (verse 3). When Pharaoh’s army comes from Egypt to help, the Chaldean army leaves Jerusalem for a time (verses 5 and 11). The LORD tells Jeremiah that Pharaoh’s army will go home, and that the Chaldeans will return and burn this city (verses 7 to 10). When Jeremiah leaves for Benjamin, a captain at the gate accuses him of going over to the Chaldeans (verses 12 and 13). The princes beat Jeremiah and shut him in a prison made from the house of Jonathan the scribe (verses 14 to 16). In secret, the king asks Jeremiah whether there is any word from the LORD, and Jeremiah says there is (verse 17).

As you read Jeremiah 37, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD’s word always comes true, even when people refuse to listen to it.

King Zedekiah ruled Judah from Jerusalem, but he and his servants would not listen to the LORD’s words through Jeremiah (verses 1 and 2). The Chaldeans were the army of Babylon, and they were besieging Jerusalem when Pharaoh’s army came from Egypt (verse 5). The Egyptian army gave Jerusalem only a short break, because the LORD said the Chaldeans would return (verses 7 to 10). The LORD warned them not to deceive themselves with the hope that the Chaldeans would leave for good (verse 9). A captain falsely accused Jeremiah of going over to the Chaldeans, and the princes beat him and locked him up (verses 13 to 15). In secret, the king asked whether there was any word from the LORD, and Jeremiah gave him a hard answer (verse 17). Judah’s refusal did not change the LORD’s word, and no prison or king could stop it from coming true. Jesus is the Word of God who came to save sinners. The cross could not stop Him, and God raised Him on the third day.

How does Jeremiah 37 show us that the LORD’s word always comes true, even when people refuse to listen to it?

The LORD’s word comes true even when kings refuse it.

Zedekiah and his servants would not listen, yet the LORD’s word did not change because of their refusal (verses 1 and 2). The LORD says the Chaldeans will burn the city, and God never speaks falsely (verses 8 and 10). So turn from your sin and trust Jesus, the Word who came to save sinners.

Kings and princes cannot silence God’s word.

The princes beat Jeremiah and shut him in a prison, but they could not silence the LORD’s word (verses 15 and 16). Men rejected Jesus too, yet God raised Him from the dead, and no power could hold Him. Every listener should turn from sin and trust the risen Christ.

Pharaoh’s army could not save what the LORD said would fall.

Judah hoped Pharaoh’s army would save them, but the LORD said it would go back to Egypt (verse 7). The Chaldeans would return and burn the city (verse 8). Only the LORD’s word could be trusted, and Jesus is the Word of God who came to save sinners.

Memorize

But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, listened to Yahweh’s words, which he spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 37:2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, have I turned from my sin and trusted Jesus, the Word who saves?

King Zedekiah asked for a word from the LORD, but he and his people would not listen to it (verses 2 and 17). Their refusal did not make God’s word untrue. The word would come true, and Judah would face what the LORD had said.

God’s greatest word came into our world as a man. Jesus is the Word of God who came to save sinners. His own leaders rejected Him, and He was put to death on a cross. But God raised Him from the dead on the third day, and He bore the punishment our sin deserved. No one can add to what He has done for sinners.

So come to Jesus, and do not refuse His word as Judah did. Turn from your sin, and trust Him, because the Word of the LORD stands forever. Every sinner who comes to Him will be received and forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD’s word always comes true, even when people refuse to listen. Parents, you may want to explain that King Zedekiah asked for God’s word in secret but would not listen to it. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that His word always comes true, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For Yahweh’s word is right. All his work is done in faithfulness.

Psalms 33:4

Lord, thank You that Your word always comes true, even when people refuse to listen. Forgive us for the times we turn away from what You have said. Thank You for Jesus, the Word who came to save sinners and who rose from the dead. Help us to turn from sin, trust Him, and listen to You this week. Amen.