Jeremiah 38 “Crisis and Leadership”

Jeremiah 38 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:                                                             

• Hillsong – I Surrender
• Holy Spirit – Francesca Battistelli
• Cody Carnes – Christ Be Magnified

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Gizmo’s Daily Bible Byte – 253 – Philippians 2:3 – Put Others First – Lesson for Kids
• Super Strong God (Worship Series) – Hillsong Kids – Song for Kids
• No Matter What I’m Facing | Roar VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Jesus, you’re all I need – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Jeremiah, who was confined in the courtyard of the royal guard, prophesied that the Babylonian army besieging Jerusalem would eventually capture the city and that everyone except those who surrendered would be killed. Hearing this prophecy, the royal officials went to the king and petitioned for Jeremiah’s execution, as the residents of Jerusalem grew anxious upon hearing such words (vv. 1–4). The king, whose rule was unstable, handed Jeremiah over to the officials, and they threw him into a muddy cistern (vv. 5–6).

Ebed-Melek, an Ethiopian eunuch who served King Zedekiah, heard about this and reported it to the king, advising that Jeremiah must not be left there to die (vv. 7–9). The king secretly ordered Ebed-Melek to rescue Jeremiah. Ebed-Melek took some of the royal guards with him and pulled Jeremiah out of the cistern. Because of this, Jeremiah narrowly escaped death and remained in the courtyard of the guard until Jerusalem was captured (vv. 10–13).

Sometime later, King Zedekiah secretly summoned Jeremiah, avoiding the eyes of the people. The king asked if there was any further word from God. Jeremiah replied that if he spoke honestly, the king would kill him (vv. 14–15). After Zedekiah promised that he would not kill him (v. 16), Jeremiah delivered God’s message: that God had determined to destroy Jerusalem, and that the only way to survive was to surrender (vv. 17–18). When King Zedekiah expressed fear about surrendering to Babylon, Jeremiah replied that there was no other way to live (vv. 19–23).

King Zedekiah strictly commanded Jeremiah not to tell anyone what had been said, because the officials might try to kill him if they heard. The king instructed Jeremiah that if the officials questioned him about what he had discussed with the king, he should cover it with a different explanation (vv. 24–26). Jeremiah did as King Zedekiah instructed, saying nothing about the prophecy to the officials, and he remained confined in the courtyard of the guard until Jerusalem fell (vv. 27–28).

Meditation:

There is a saying: “Crisis makes a leader.” It refers to situations where a leader’s hidden potential emerges during a crisis and saves the community from danger. On the other hand, there are those whose incompetence is exposed in a crisis and who lead the community toward destruction. Zedekiah was such a person. Even though he knew a national disaster was approaching, he ignored it—either for his own personal safety or out of fear of resistance from the officials. That is why he kept summoning Jeremiah, asking whether there was any other word from God. The question, “Is there any other word?” essentially meant, “Didn’t God say anything about saving Jerusalem?” He did not have the strength to fight the Babylonian army, and he feared that if he surrendered, he might be hated or even killed by the people—so he kept looking for a lucky break.

At that time, the best choice he could have made as a leader was to surrender to Babylon so that at least some people could survive. Fighting to the death would have been the worst option, leading everyone to perish. If he truly cared about the well-being of the people, he should have surrendered—even if it meant he might be torn apart by the people afterward. Sadly, Zedekiah valued his own safety above all else. At the worst possible moment, the people of Judah had the worst possible leader.

We remember Moses, who, when the Israelites had sinned greatly and stood under God’s judgment, climbed Mount Sinai and pleaded for God to forgive them—even saying that if God would not forgive them, He should remove Moses’ own name from His book (Exodus 32:32). Whether in a family, a church, a company, or a nation, to live as a leader of a community is to give oneself for the people within that community. A leader must think of the people they serve before thinking of themselves.

Sadly, in today’s leaders, we see far too often the same image as Zedekiah—using the power given to them only for their own security. This is the misfortune of powerless ordinary citizens living today.

Prayer:

Lord, give the leaders of our communities the wisdom to understand why they have been placed in their positions. In moments of crisis, give them the resolve to choose not their own gain but the well-being of their community. And if any measure of authority has been entrusted to us, help us think and choose not for ourselves but for the sake of those who have been placed under our care. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: True leadership is choosing what is best for others—even when it is hard or costly for you.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • Who do you think is a good leader? (Parents, teachers, pastors, coaches—why?)
  • Have you ever helped someone even when it was hard or scary? What happened?
  • If God asked you to choose kindness over what you want, what would that look like at school or at home?
    
• Youth:
  • What makes leadership hard in real-life situations—school, team, or family?
  • Compare Zedekiah and Moses. What motivated each of them? Which one do you tend to be more like?
  • Where is God calling you to “lead” right now?