ZedekiahA King Fit for the People

From the Prophet Jeremiah

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Vision of two baskets of figs Jer. 24 • Letter to the captives Jer. 29• Sign of the yokes Jer. 27– Sent yokes to kings of surrounding nations– Message to Zedekiah– Message to the priests of Judah

• Hananiah confronted Jeremiah Jer. 28• Jeremiah’s prophecy to Babylon Jer.

51:59-64

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon & Nebuchadnezzar responded 2 Kings 24:20-25:11

• Zedekiah hopes for a miracle Jer. 21– No divine reprieve for Jerusalem– Any defense of the city would be useless

Vss. 4-5– Only hope is to surrender Vs. 9

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon & Nebuchadnezzar responded 2 Kings 24:20-25:11

• Zedekiah hopes for a miracle Jer. 21• God sent Jeremiah to Zedekiah with a

warning Jer. 34:1-7– There would be no escape– Zedekiah to have a face-to-face with

Nebuchadnezzar– Zedekiah would not die in battle

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon & Nebuchadnezzar responded 2 Kings 24:20-25:11

• Zedekiah hopes for a miracle Jer. 21• God sent Jeremiah to Zedekiah with a

warning Jer. 34:1-7• Zedekiah freed Hebrew slaves, then

reneged Jer. 34:8-22– Jeremiah rebuked the people– God proclaimed “liberty” for them to be

punished– Nebuchadnezzar would be returning soon

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to pray for Judah Jer. 37:1-10– Jeremiah had been forbidden to do so Jer.

7:16– Zedekiah hears a message of doom

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to pray for Judah Jer. 37:1-10

• Jeremiah imprisoned for attempting to defect Jer. 37:11-15– While in prison, Jeremiah bought some land

Jer. 32:1-15– The remnant would return Jer. 32:15, 36-44

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to pray for Judah Jer. 37:1-10

• Jeremiah imprisoned for attempting to defect Jer. 37:11-15

• Zedekiah arranged a secret meeting with Jeremiah Jer. 37:16-21

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Jeremiah’s enemies tried to silence him for good Jer. 38:1-13– Preaching same message to the people– Accused him of treason & sought his

execution– Put Jeremiah in a cistern & left him to die– Saved by Ebed-Melech

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Jeremiah’s enemies tried to silence him for good Jer. 38:1-13

• Zedekiah arranged another secret meeting Jer. 38:14-28– “Just give me the truth”– “Surrender”– Zedekiah was afraid of Jews who had

defected– Jeremiah told the king to obey God– Zedekiah would be to blame Vs. 23

Zedekiah & Jeremiah

• Jeremiah’s enemies tried to silence him for good Jer. 38:1-13

• Zedekiah arranged another secret meeting Jer. 38:14-28

• Fall of Jerusalem Jer. 39, 52– Zedekiah tried to escape– Captured before reaching the Jordan River

Jer. 39:5– Zedekiah has face-to-face with

Nebuchadnezzar

Lessons From Zedekiah

• Trusted the wrong people– False prophets who told him what he wanted

to hear Jer. 27:14-15; 37:19– Men who were more concerned about

themselves Jer. 38:4– Those God specifically forbade Jer. 37:5-10

Lessons From Zedekiah

• Trusted the wrong people

• Feared the wrong things– Losing his position• Should have followed God & served the

people Jer. 21:11-12• Paul’s attitude 1 Cor. 3:5-9; 2 Cor. 12:15

– People as fickle as himself– Unfounded fears of his imagination

Jer. 34:4; 38:19-20

Lessons From Zedekiah

• Trusted the wrong people

• Feared the wrong things

• Too concerned about his wants

• Failed to execute justice Jer. 32:1-5; 38:1-6– Rejecting God’s counsel assured failure– God has put us in position to serve

Lessons From Zedekiah

• Gave people no reason to trust him

• Inspired no loyalty– Only looked out for himself– Inspire loyalty by demonstrating love

• Wielded no real power Jer. 38:5