King Zedekiah about halfway
trusted
the prophecies of God.
There were several encounters recorded in Jeremiah. He finally approached Jeremiah privately in Jeremiah 38 while Jerusalem was under siege from the Babylonians. He wanted to hear what he had to say. Jeremiah told him what God said would happen.
“Then
said Jeremiah to Zedekiah, Thus says Yahweh, the God of hosts, the
God of Israel: If you will go forth to the king of Babylon’s
princes, then your soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned
with fire; and you shall live, and your house..”
Jer 38:17
He was willing to think it might be right, but still had reservations about counsel of the Lord, and expressed these reservations.
“… I
am afraid of the Jews who are fallen away to the Chaldeans, lest they
deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.”
Jer 38:19
Jeremiah assured him these fears were without foundation.
“ … They
shall not deliver you. Obey, I beg you, the voice of Yahweh,
in that which I speak to you: so it shall be well with you, and
your soul shall live.”
Jer 38:20
Then Jeremiah told him, again accurately, what would happen if he did not do what God told, Jer 38:23. King Zedekiah was not all powerful, but he did have important decisions to make. But he was not fully persuaded. So the terrible alternative came upon him.
“They
killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of
Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.”
2Kgs
25:7.
So the last sight Zedekiah saw was his sons being slaughtered before his eyes. And he went to Babylon as a blind man.
This is not to say that we do not have great potential.
Ah! Human potential. But the greatest of this is in the Lord. As Jesus said,
“5
I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I
in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can
do nothing. 6 If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out
as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into
the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my
words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will
be done for you.”
Jn 15:5-7 WEB
We should trust His advice, His foresight
even if we think it violates what we are “sure” is “right” or “safe.”
“5
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
And
don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways
acknowledge him,
And he will direct your paths.
7
Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Fear Yahweh, and
depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your body,
And
nourishment to your bones.”
Prov 3:5-8 WEB
“One
who trusts in himself is a fool;
But one who walks in wisdom, he
is kept safe. ”
Prov 28:26 WEB
Scriptures
are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of
the original ASV American Standard Version 1901