Articles
Jeremiah’s YET problem – Jer. 37
Jeremiah’s YET problem – Jer. 37
As we come to the latter part of the book of Jeremiah, we see the kingdom of Judah in serious trouble. Babylon is coming. Such was not an accident, but the very purpose of God. God has called them and sent them and He did this because of the unfaithfulness of the nation! Thus we begin chapter 37: “1 Now Zedekiah the son of Josiah whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made king in the land of Judah, reigned as king in place of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim. 2 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord which He spoke through Jeremiah the prophet” (Jer. 37:1-2).
They are without excuse in this! God had sent prophet after prophet to warn them and turn them away from their ungodliness. They have proven themselves to be worse in their attitude towards God than Assyria! Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. Judah closed their ears and continued in their rebellion.
Notice however, the very next verse begins ‘YET’! “Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please pray to the Lord our God on our behalf." (Jer 37:3)
Why pray if you have no intention of obeying the LORD? I don’t know, but I know that these were not the first nor the last peoples to do so! Generation after generation have done the same thing. At times, WE have done the same thing!
What was God’s response?
Jer. 7:16 "As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you.
Jer. 11:14 "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.
Jer. 14:11 So the Lord said to me, "Do not pray for the welfare of this people.
Thus the proverb: “He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination” (Prov. 28:9).
Prayer is not a substitute for obedience and faithfulness. We can not walk in our own ways, refusing to listen to God, and then have our prayers heard and answered. On the other hand, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). What manner of life are you living?
Hugh DeLong
