Refusing Truth
Jeremiah 38:14 – 20
The Characters of our text:
Zedekiah – King of Judah
Jeremiah – Prophet in Judah
Nebuchadrezzar – King of Babylon
1. Zedekiah Calls For The Council Of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 38:14
Some people get mad when they hear the truth!
Jeremiah 38:15
2. Jeremiah Tells Zedekiah to Give Up And Surrender To
The Babylonians.
3. Zedekiah Refused The Truth.
Jeremiah 38:19
4. Many Today Are Just Like Zedekiah!
All God asked Zedekiah AND US to do is to
“Give Up And Be Saved”
Refusing Truth
Jeremiah 38:14-20 (NKJV)
14 Then Zedekiah the king sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance of the house of the Lord. And the king said to Jeremiah, "I will ask you something. Hide nothing from me."
15 Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you advice, you will not listen to me."
16 So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying, "As the Lord lives, who made our very souls, I will not put you to death, nor will I give you into the hand of these men who seek your life."
17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'If you surely surrender to the king of Babylon's princes, then your soul shall live; this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live.
18 But if you do not surrender to the king of Babylon's princes, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans; they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.' "
19 And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, "I am afraid of the Jews who have defected to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they abuse me."
20 But Jeremiah said, "They shall not deliver you. Please, obey the voice of the Lord which I speak to you. So it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live.
Introduction:
- The real “Truth” here is the “Word of God.”
- Most really know “Truth” they just reject it.
- Our text demonstrates the rejection and disobedience of “Truth.”
The Characters of our text:
Zedekiah – King of Judah
Jeremiah – Prophet in Judah
Nebuchadrezzar – King of Babylon
1. Zedekiah Calls For The Council Of Jeremiah.
A. Jeremiah was in prison
1) Put in Prison for telling the true prophecy concerning Jerusalem
2) He had been put into a miry dungeon.
3) He had been taken from the dungeon and now served
in theprison court after one of the eunuchs
(E’ – bed – me’ – lech) of the king’s house had
pleaded for him to be released.
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B. Zedekiah wanted to know the truth!
Jeremiah 38:14 “…hide nothing from me.”
1) People want to hear the truth.
2) They don’t want you to mislead them
C. Would Zedekiah get mad and kill or punish Jeremiah for telling the
truth?
Some people get mad when they hear the truth!
D. Jeremiah was not only worried about Zedekiah’s reaction to
the truth – but what would he do about it?
1) It’s one thing to hear the truth and another to do
somethingabout it!
Jeremiah 38:15 Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.”
2. Jeremiah Tells Zedekiah to Give Up And Surrender
To The Babylonians.
A. Jerusalem had been surrounded for two years by the Babylonians.
B. Jeremiah told Zedekiah to give up and he and the city of
Jerusalem would be saved!
3. Zedekiah Refused The Truth.
A. He was afraid of mockery:
Jeremiah 38:19 And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.
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B. All Jeremiah asked Zedekiah to do was “Give Up And Be Saved!”
C. Zedekiah thought time would make a difference..
1) Two years had passed
2) A new King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar)
D. Zedekiah tried to run away…
1) Caught and brought to Nebuchadnezzar
2) Son slew as he watched
3) His eyes put out
4) Jerusalem is destroyed as Jeremiah prophesied..
4. Many Today Are Just Like Zedekiah!
A. They want to hear the truth
B. Thank God for the truth and a church that teaches truth!
C. Some get upset when they hear the truth
D. Many do just like Zedekiah:
1) They listen
2) They know what to do
3) They reject the truth
4) They will be defeated in shame!
So many today are just like King Zedekiah. They let pride prohibit them from giving up so they can live!
All God asked Zedekiah AND US to do is to Give Up And Be Saved”
[SONG - “Give Up And Let Jesus Take Over”