The People Left in Judah

GOLDEN TEXT: “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou host vowed.” —Ecclesiastes 5:4

JEREMIAH 42:1,5-7,10,19; 43:2,4,7; 44:15-18,23

THE kingdom of Judah had fallen! The royal family and practically all the inhabitants of the land had been taken to Babylon as captives. But a few had been left in the land “to be vinedressers and husbandmen.” (II Kings 25:12) Nebuchadnezzar appointed one named Gedaliah to be a sort of prince, or ruler, over this small remnant of the “poor” who were allowed to remain in Palestine, among whom was Jeremiah the prophet. When news of this was scattered abroad, Jews who previously fled into various surrounding countries returned.

During the siege of Jerusalem, one named Ishmael escaped and fled across the Jordan, where he found refuge at the court of Baalis, king of the Ammonites. After the besieging army had left the land, Ishmael determined that he would slay Gedaliah, and take over his position of ruler over the remnant of Jews left in the land. He succeeded in his plot to murder Gedaliah and his associates.

Johanan, a captain of one of the remnants of Judah’s army which escaped when Jerusalem fell, pursued Ishmael after he had killed Gedaliah, and rescued the captives he was taking with him, Ishmael himself escaping and finding refuge again with the Ammonites. It is this Johanan who acted as chief spokesman for the Israelites remaining in the land, in their effort to learn from the Prophet Jeremiah what the Lord’s will was concerning them.

Naturally, under the circumstances, they feared the reaction of Nebuchadnezzar when he learned that the prince he had appointed over them had been murdered. To them it now seemed that the safest course to pursue was to migrate into Egypt, where they supposed they would find sanctuary, and perhaps even a measure of prosperity. So they asked Jeremiah to consult Israel’s God as to what to do, promising that they would obey whatever the Lord’s will was for them, whether good or evil.—Jer. 42:1-6

The reply that Jeremiah received from the Lord was that they were to remain in Palestine, and that he would bless them there. “Be not afraid of the king of Babylon,” was the Lord’s reassuring message to them, “for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.”—ch. 42:10,11

Jeremiah delivered this message to the remnant of Judah, emphasizing that they should not go into Egypt. (vs. 19) But when the people heard it, instead of accepting it as the will of the Lord as they told the prophet they would do, they accused him of speaking falsely to them, saying, “The Lord our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there.”—ch. 43:2

So these remnants of Judah went down into Egypt, taking Jeremiah with them. Then the Lord commissioned Jeremiah to prophesy against them and to warn them of his judgments which would surely be visited upon them in Egypt. Upon delivering this message, the people brazenly responded, “As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.”—ch. 44:16,17

Here is a clear case of serving the gods whom they believed could and would do the most for them, irrespective of the right or wrong involved. Even so, how short were their memories. They had witnessed the judgment of Jehovah come upon the nation, and had seen how completely the “queen of heaven” had failed to save them.

Just as Jeremiah prophesied, calamity did come upon them. Their peace and safety in Egypt was short-lived. The Egyptian government was overthrown, even as the kingdom of Judah was; and the remnant of Judah who, against the will of the Lord, had fled for safety, all lost their lives.

In harmony with the principle set forth in our Golden Text, this small company of Israelites made their sin worse by having promised faithfully in advance that they would obey the Lord, regardless of what the cost might be. Vows made to the Lord should be considered solemn and binding.

In a sense, the Jews were justified in expecting the Lord to bless them along material lines, for this was his covenant with them. Spiritual Israelites of this age have entered into a covenant with the Lord which calls for the sacrifice of earthly advantage and comforts; and they look to him in turn for spiritual blessings of peace, comfort, and joy.

QUESTIONS

Relate the circumstances leading up to the events which form the basis for today’s lesson.

What prompted the remnant of Jews in Palestine to ask Jeremiah what the Lord’s will might be for them—whether or not they should flee to Egypt? What answer did the Lord give Jeremiah for them?

Explain the manner in which the conduct of this remnant was contrary to the principle set forth in our Golden Text.

Should spiritual Israelites of this age look to the Lord for earthly blessings?

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