The Strand Study Bible

JEREMIAH 33:17

JEREMIAH 34:5

1201

and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: 6 for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them. P Jeremiah 34 The promise of Judah/Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon (Fulfilled - II Ki 25 - 586 BC) (Note - This portion of Jeremiah’s prophecy took place in the 10th year of King Zedekiah’s reign) Date Written - 587 BC/AM 3413 1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD , 7 when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, 2 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Be- hold, 8 I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire: P The promise of King Zedekiah’s captivity (Fulfilled - II Ki 25:4-7 - 586 BC) 3 And thou shalt not escape out of his hand, 9 but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon. P 4 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, 9 Thou shalt not die by the sword: P

1. Fulfilled - Rev 20:4,6 (Christ’s Kingdom) 2. II Sam 7:14 & Heb 1:5 3. Fulfilled - Lk 2:7,11 (Christ’s First Coming) (See - Gen 15:5 & II Sam 7:12) 4. that is, “the heathen nations” 5. that is, Judah and Israel” 6. Fulfilled - Rev 20:4 (Israel’s

17 For thus saith the LORD; 1 David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; P 18 1 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually. P God pledges His omnipotence for the fulfillment of His promises (again) 19 And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, 20 Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; 21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a 2 SON to 1 reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. P 22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the 3 SEED of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me. P God pledges His omnipotence for the fulfillment of His promises (yet again) 23 Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 Considerest thounotwhat 4 this people have spoken, saying, The 5 two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast themoff? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them. 25 Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; 26 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob,

Restoration) 7. II Ki 25:1-2 8. Fulfilled - II Ki 25 (Fall of Judah) 9. Fulfilled - II Ki 25:4-7 (Zedekiah’s Captivity)

5 9 But thou shalt die in peace: and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former 33:20 God pledges His omnipotence (vs 20) for the fulfillment of His promises (vs 21) for a second time. He states: “ If ye can alter my omnipotence, then you can alter my promises (vs 21). However, my omnipotence cannot be altered (vs 22).” 33:25 God pledges His omnipotence (vs 25) for the fulfillment of His promises (vs 26) for a third time. He states: “ If my omnipotence can be altered (vs 25), then so can my promises (vs 26). However, since my omnipotence cannot be altered neither can my promises be altered ( for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them ).” 34:5 Though a weak and vacillating ruler, Zedekiah did attempt to free the Hebrew slaves (vs 8-10) that were kept over the legal seven-year limit (Lev 25:10,39-46). Because of this one act of humility, Zedekiah (like Ahab of old – I Ki 21: 28- 29 – point #9) got the attention of God and was granted “more life” in order to make things right ( But thou shalt die in peace ). A little humility on our part is all it takes to gain the much-needed attention of Almighty God, as nobody wants us to finish well more than God does (Ezk 3:16-21). And while there are consequences for our actions (Zedekiah would be blinded and sent into captivity – II Ki 25:7), the wonderful thing with God is that your past doesn’t have to equal your future (Judges 16:21-30/Heb 11:32 and Lk 23:42-43). NOTE – There are interesting similarities between King Zedekiah and Samson: 1. They were both Jews 2. They were both leaders (Judges 13:1-5 & 15:20 and II Ki 24:17-18) 3. They both had an understanding of the Word of God (Judges 13:5 and Deut 17:14-20) 4. They both knowingly sinned (Judges 16:16-20 and II Ki 24:18-20) 5. They were both blinded due to their sin (Judges 16:21 and II Ki 25:5-7) 6. They were both given a second chance (more life) to make things right (Judges 16:22-30 and Jere 34:1-5) 7. They both finished their race, according to Hebrews 11:33-34, for good and for God