One Nation Under God

“The Word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all who were carried away captive from Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.” Jeremiah 40:1

In Jeremiah 39:11-12, the King of Babylon ordered the captain of his guard to look after Jeremiah and to see that no harm came to him. In Jeremiah 39:13, the captain that passed the king’s order to officials below him. In Jeremiah 39:14, those officials sent “someone” to take Jeremiah from prison to Babylon’s freshly appointed governor of Judea. Now, in Jeremiah 40:1, we learn that he did not immediately go from prison to the governor’s house. Due to an error on the side of Babylonian leadership, Jeremiah ended up walking in chains from Jerusalem to Ramah a distance of about five miles. Would earthly leaders always disappoint him?

“And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him: ‘The Lord your God has pronounced this doom on this place. Now the Lord has brought it and has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the Lord, and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you. And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See, all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there.” Jeremiah 40:2-4

The captain of the guard found Jeremiah among the captives in Ramah. Ramah was a temporary holding site for those about to be transferred to Babylon. The captain speaks of Jeremiah’s God condemning his city and his people due to their sin but offers to take care of him if he comes to Babylon. Would you go with him? He also allowed Jeremiah the option of staying behind. Jeremiah remained in the land and continued to prophesy to the people.

“Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said, ‘Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go.’ So, the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go. Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land.” Jeremiah 40:5-6

The King of Babylon had appointed Jeremiah’s cousin Gedaliah as governor of Judea. Gedaliah was the great grandson of Jeremiah’s Uncle Azariah. Azariah was Jeremiah’s father’s brother. Gedaliah lived in Mizpah. Jeremiah’s journey from Ramah to Mizpah was an additional 3 miles. Thankfully, Nebuzaradan sent Jeremiah on his way with rations and a gift. Both Ramah and Mizpah are significant places in Israel’s history because Samuel the prophet was born in Ramah and buried in Mizpah. Mizpah is where Samuel persuaded the Israelites to destroy their idols.

Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wills.” The Lord moved the heart of Babylon’s cruel King to save Jeremiah’s life, but “someone” in the chain of command chained Jeremiah. The Lord, however, being faithful to His prophet, revealed the misdeed to the Babylonians and moved them to liberate Jeremiah. They also blessed him with rations and a reward. Praise the Lord!

“And when all the captains of the armies who were in the fields, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, children, and the poorest of the land who had not been carried away captive to Babylon, then they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.” Jeremiah 40:7-8

Judah’s army captains and their men scattered to escape capture. Now, they rallied together in Mizpah with Governor Gedaliah and with the poor people under his care. What did they expect from the governor, perhaps to build a resistance government against Babylon? No, he urged them to serve the Babylonians as he was doing, and to settle down.

“And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath before them and their men, saying, ‘Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. As for me, I will indeed dwell at Mizpah and serve the Chaldeans who come to us. But you, gather wine and summer fruit and oil, put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.’” Jeremiah 40:9-10

Essentially, Gedaliah wanted the men of war to obey Isaiah 2:4 which says, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.” To sustain not kill people! He urged the men to, “Gather wine, summer fruit and oil.” “Dwell in your cities!”

“Likewise, when all the Jews who were in Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, then all the Jews returned out of all places where they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruit in abundance.” Jeremiah 40:11-12

Things were going well. People were coming to Gedaliah from all directions. The land was producing abundant grapes for food and for wine, as well as other summer fruits. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:8, “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

“Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and said to him, ‘Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to murder you?’ But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.” Jeremiah 40:13-14

But all was not well. Johanan and his companions warned Gedaliah that Ishmael was coming to kill him. Ishmael was descendant of David, a royal officer, according to Jeremiah 41:1. It is likely that he wanted to be the governor over the remnant of Judeans in the land but was rejected by the Babylonians to do so. Gedaliah rejected their report.

What was it with Judah’s leaders? They were incredibly unlikely to listen to wise counsel.

Proverbs 28:26 says, “He that trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walks wisely, he shall be delivered.” Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Governor Gedaliah should have regarded the army’s report.

“Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, ‘Let me go, please, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he murder you, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?’ But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, ‘You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning Ishmael.’” Jeremiah 40:15-16

Whether a king, a governor, an army captain or a parent with small children, we should be open-minded to good advice. Proverbs 13:10 says, “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” Governor Gedaliah advised the fighting men to settle down and enjoy the fruit of the land. The fighting men remained vigilant and advised him to allow them to protect him from harm. They both had good ideas but they needed to add prayer into the mix. They should have stopped and prayed together. God would have imparted to them the humility that was needed to do what was best for everyone involved.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul advised a church leader named Timothy to get his people to pray for kings and for all who are in authority. In John 17:20-21, Jesus prayed to the Father to make those who would believe in Him one people in God. Apart from Christ’s humility, we all tend to be proud and divided. Let us turn to Jesus Christ for help to be one humble people under God. A house divided will not stand.