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More Jeremiah commentaries
Jeremiah 18:1-17
Like Clay in His Hand
Jeremiah 18:18-23
How to Respond to Criticism
Jeremiah 19:1-15
A Day of Judgment is Coming
Jeremiah 20:1-18
Jeremiah’s Message of Judgment
Jeremiah 21:1-14
God is Not Some Kind of Genie
Jeremiah 22:1-12
The Consequences of Worshiping Other Gods
Jeremiah 22:13-23
Reaching Out to Those in Need
Jeremiah 22:24-30
God is Sovereign
Jeremiah 23:1-8
Looking Forward to The Lord’s Return
Jeremiah 23:9-24
Being True to God’s Word
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God is Not Some Kind of Genie
Jeremiah 21:1–14
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
"A Morning Prayer for Help” - note that I said “morning"! “Dear God, so far today I’ve done alright, I haven’t gossiped, lost my temper, been nasty, selfish or over indulgent. But in a few minutes God, I’m going to get out of bed and from then on … More
Nebuchadnezzar sends up another army against Jerusalem and the city is under siege. Zedekiah, who is now King, sends a hasty word to Jeremiah the prophet, asking him to intercede with God on their behalf (vv. 1-2). It appears that he sees God as some kind of a genie, ready when you rub the lamp of prayer to appear and say, “Yes, master; what do you want me to do?” However, God is not like that. God is sovereign and He moves according to his own purposes, and he does not play games with us. Zedekiah found this out, for God sent an answer back that not only am I not going to help you; I’ll hinder you. I will cause the weapons with which you are fighting to be turned against you (vv. 3-7). There was a way the king could have found the mercy and grace of God. Had he knelt before God and confessed his evil deeds, and called upon God out of a heart of true repentance, God would have turned and met him. But God is not someone to whom we can call for help only out of a desire to escape the consequences of our folly, but with no real change of heart.
The people had two clear choices: the way of life and the way of death (vv. 8-10). The “way of death” was chosen by those who decided to remain in the city. They would die. The “way of life” was selected by those who deserted (surrendered) to the enemy besieging Jerusalem. This was the only hope for those still in the city because God had determined to let Jerusalem fall to Babylon. Jeremiah again singled out the royal house of Judah and focused on their sin (vv. 11-14). Evidently the king saw no need to obey God. Because of this proud self-reliance, coupled with sinful disobedience, God would punish the king and his people.Application
Many people who think that prayer is only for getting us out of trouble. They imagine that we can go on doing as we please, and ignoring all the efforts of God to correct us. Then, when we really get into trouble, all we have to do is pray, and everything will be all right. Lord help me to never treat you as some kind of Genie and expect you to come running to my rescue whether I obey you or not.
Jeremiah 21:1-14 (English Standard Version)
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying, "Inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all his wonderful deeds and will make him withdraw from us." Then Jeremiah said to them: "Thus you shall say to Zedekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city. I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath. And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great pestilence. Afterward, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people in this city who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their lives. He shall strike them down with the edge of the sword. He shall not pity them or spare them or have compassion.' "And to this people you shall say: 'Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war. For I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good, declares the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.' "And to the house of the king of Judah say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O house of David! Thus says the LORD: "'Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of your evil deeds.'" "Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, O rock of the plain, declares the LORD; you who say, 'Who shall come down against us, or who shall enter our habitations?' I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds, declares the LORD; I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is around her."
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