Jer 38:1-6 | KingComments | STEP | Jeremiah, who is now an old man, is imprisoned, but he continues to preach the word of the LORD ( ). Among those who hear it and are displeased by it is Pashhur, whom we may have met before ( ). Jeremiah’s message is unchanged and reads unabridged that those who remain in the city will die, and those who surrender will live ( ). He presents the way of death and of life. For the city will be taken by the king of Babylon ( ). This word does not please these officials ( ). The words spoken by Jeremiah have a very demotivating effect on the soldiers, they think. It is clear, they argue, that Jeremiah’s sermons seek not welfare, but calamity for the people. They present themselves as the true patriots, while portraying Jeremiah as someone who is in league with the enemy. This is how it has often been reasoned about men who have brought God’s Word when that Word did not please the hearers. How little can worldly Christians understand that true love for God’s people leads to the people being told their sin and shown its dangers. These four accusers also understand nothing of the prophet’s deep sorrow and soul struggle for their sake. Jeremiah is like Paul, who also becomes less loved by the Corinthians the more he loves them ( ). It is one of the hardest trials for a servant of the Lord when evil is spoken of the good he does. His deep affection is mistaken for evil because he cannot let the people continue to sleep in their sins and therefore raises his warning voice. Yet this is the part of many faithful, God-fearing believers and above all of our Lord Himself. The world speaks well of the false prophet, but the Lord says: “Woe [to you] when all men speak well of you” ).

‏ Jeremiah 38:1-6

Jeremiah Accused

Jeremiah, who is now an old man, is imprisoned, but he continues to preach the word of the LORD (Jer 38:1). Among those who hear it and are displeased by it is Pashhur, whom we may have met before (Jer 20:1-6 ; Jer 21:1). Jeremiah’s message is unchanged and reads unabridged that those who remain in the city will die, and those who surrender will live (Jer 38:2). He presents the way of death and of life. For the city will be taken by the king of Babylon (Jer 38:3).

This word does not please these officials (Jer 38:4). The words spoken by Jeremiah have a very demotivating effect on the soldiers, they think. It is clear, they argue, that Jeremiah’s sermons seek not welfare, but calamity for the people. They present themselves as the true patriots, while portraying Jeremiah as someone who is in league with the enemy. This is how it has often been reasoned about men who have brought God’s Word when that Word did not please the hearers.

How little can worldly Christians understand that true love for God’s people leads to the people being told their sin and shown its dangers. These four accusers also understand nothing of the prophet’s deep sorrow and soul struggle for their sake. Jeremiah is like Paul, who also becomes less loved by the Corinthians the more he loves them (2Cor 12:15).

It is one of the hardest trials for a servant of the Lord when evil is spoken of the good he does. His deep affection is mistaken for evil because he cannot let the people continue to sleep in their sins and therefore raises his warning voice. Yet this is the part of many faithful, God-fearing believers and above all of our Lord Himself. The world speaks well of the false prophet, but the Lord says: “Woe [to you] when all men speak well of you” Lk 6:26).

Jeremiah in the Cistern

Zedekiah, as always a weakling, surrenders Jeremiah into the hands of these people, without any offence having been committed by him (Jer 38:5). Zedekiah innocently delivers him into the hands of murderers. He acknowledges to them that he, the king, is in their power. He is a powerless straw man. It does not make him any less guilty, any more than it does later Pilate, who also concedes because he is in the power of the people.

The murderers are also torturers. They throw Jeremiah into the cistern, but do so in such a way that he will die a slow death (Jer 38:6). In utter and almost palpable darkness, Jeremiah slowly sinks into the mud. He will have kept dead still so as not to speed up the process of sinking. This must have been an enormous psychological torture for him. No matter how slow it is, he knows that death is approaching. Death will come more quickly if he does not remain standing and be overcome by fatigue and sleep.

Jeremiah is again a picture of the true Servant of the LORD, the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus preached the Word and was therefore hated. He was thrown by His people “in deep mire” without “foothold” (Psa 69:2a). By God He is “brought … up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay” (Psa 40:1b-2).