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More Jeremiah commentaries
Jeremiah 24:1-10
Depending on The Power of God
Jeremiah 25:1-14
It is Important to Never Quit
Jeremiah 25:15-29
Nations Who Experience God’s Wrath Will Fall
Jeremiah 25:30-38
No Way to Escape God’s Judgment
Jeremiah 26:1-24
Jeremiah Was on Trial For His Life
Jeremiah 27:1-22
God is in Control
Jeremiah 28:1-17
Speak The Truth Even When it is Unpopular
Jeremiah 29:1-14
God Never Forgets His People
Jeremiah 29:15-32
It is Dangerous to Take Sides Against God’s Man
Jeremiah 30:1-11
God Will Restore His People
Jeremiah 30:12-24
Judgment Must Come Before Blessing Can Come
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God is in Control
Jeremiah 27:1–22
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
BF Skinner, world famous psychologist, proved through experiments that an animal rewarded for good behavior will learn more much more rapidly and retain what it learns longer than an animal punished for bad behavior. He later discovered it also worked with humans. The scripture … More
The events of chapter 27 took place early in the reign of Zedekiah (v. 1). Nebuchadnezzar had already invaded Judah once and had taken many captives. Jeremiah was commanded by God to wear a yoke, like those used to hitch a team of oxen together (v. 2), as a symbol of bondage as he brought his message of repentance or disaster. Jeremiah declared that the destruction of the Temple would be the price for national disobedience. God punished the people of Judah in an unusual way. He appointed a foreign ruler (Nebuchadnezzar) to be his servant. He was not appointed to proclaim God’s message but to fulfill God’s promise of judgment on sin (vv. 3-11). Because God is in control of everything he can use whatever or whoever he wants to accomplish His purpose. He may use the most unusual events or circumstances to control you.
With the fact of Nebuchadnezzar’s divine appointment clearly established Jeremiah warned the king not to rebel and if he did punishment was sure to come (v. 12). If Zedekiah would only submit to Babylon, Jerusalem could be spared. Zedekiah was in a tough spot as many of the other leaders wanted him to form an alliance and fight. Furthermore it would have been disgraceful for a king to surrender. Jeremiah’s message to Zedekiah was repeated to the priest and the people (vv. 13-15). Very expensive vessels from the temple had been carried off by Babylon during Nebuchadnezzar’s second invasion (vv. 16-22). The promise of their return by the false prophets encouraged the people to rebel against Babylon. However, Jeremiah predicts that the largest and heaviest vessels would be taken next. This prophesy was fulfilled (52:17).Application
The people in Jeremiah’s day needed a true friend who would bring God’s Word even when it was not popular. Someone who flatters me, by telling me lies is not a true friend. I want to be like Jeremiah and speak the Word of God, no matter how unpopular it may be.
Jeremiah 27:1-22 (English Standard Version)
In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD. Thus the LORD said to me: "Make yourself straps and yoke-bars, and put them on your neck. Send word to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the sons of Ammon, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon by the hand of the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. Give them this charge for their masters: 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: This is what you shall say to your masters: "It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him. All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave. "'"But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, declares the LORD, until I have consumed it by his hand. So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, 'You shall not serve the king of Babylon.' For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you, with the result that you will be removed far from your land, and I will drive you out, and you will perish. But any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land, to work it and dwell there, declares the LORD."'" To Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: "Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people and live. Why will you and your people die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, as the LORD has spoken concerning any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, 'You shall not serve the king of Babylon,' for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. I have not sent them, declares the LORD, but they are prophesying falsely in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you." Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who are prophesying to you, saying, 'Behold, the vessels of the LORD's house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon,' for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city become a desolation? If they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, then let them intercede with the LORD of hosts, that the vessels that are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon. For thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, the sea, the stands, and the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away, when he took into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem-- thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem: They shall be carried to Babylon and remain there until the day when I visit them, declares the LORD. Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place."
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