Through the Bible: Jeremiahनमूना

Set Free to Do Whatever You Please?

When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord you God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the Lord has brought it about; He has done just as He said He would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey Him. But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.

Jeremiah 40:2-4 (ESV)

When Nebuzaradan, the commander of the imperial guard found Jeremiah in chains among the captives taken from Jerusalem, he released him. Even Nebuzaradan, a pagan, knew that Judah had fallen due to the Israelites’ disobedience to God. They regarded Jeremiah as pro-Babylonian and never saw Jeremiah as a political threat. In Jeremiah 29: 4 – 8, Jeremiah was advising the Israelites to build houses, settle down, have children and seek peace and prosperity of the city. 

Was Jeremiah pro-Babylonian? Not at all. Jeremiah was not on Babylon’s side; he sought no rewards or favor from the Babylonians. Jeremiah was on God’s side. He was living by the truth and obeying God no matter what the consequences were. He did not compromise in order to receive benefits and be set free. 

Let’s learn from the prophet Jeremiah. As Christians we do not have any political agenda: our objective is spiritual and concerns the spreading of the Gospel message. 

Prayer

Our Heavenly Father, today I choose to put You first. I acknowledge that without You, I can do nothing. I invite You to have Your way in my life as I seek You first in all that I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.