ROOTED - Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Jeremiah 39:1, 5-7

1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah
king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his
army came against Jerusalem and besieged it.

5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah
in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up
to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of
Hamath; and he passed sentence on him. 6 The
king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his
eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7 He
put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon.

Reflection: A Dumb King, Zedekiah

Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro

Zedekiah
calls for a meeting with Jeremiah. They both have something to lose from a
meeting. Zedekiah knows that his advisors hate Jeremiah and does not want his
advisors to know he is asking for wisdom from him. So, Zedekiah sneaks Jeremiah
in a side entrance. For his part, Jeremiah does not trust Zedekiah and fears
that Zedekiah will take his life if he does not answer what Zedekiah wants to
hear. Therefore, Zedekiah swears not to kill Jeremiah, but insists that he must
be truthful with his answers. Essentially, he says, “listen… tell it to me
straight: are your prophecies true? Are we going to be overtaken by our
enemies?”

So,
Jeremiah answers truthfully: “Jerusalem will be captured. Period! If you,
Zedekiah, surrender now, you will be spared.” In 38:20 Jeremiah pleads with
Zedekiah, “Please obey the Lord in what I am saying to you, that it may go well
with you and you may live!” Zedekiah then released Jeremiah, and the reader is
left with a sense of hope that Zedekiah will listen to and will obey the
compassionate words of the prophet. Sadly, the king was unconvinced and did not
listen to Jeremiah. We read in chapter 39 that the king’s sons are killed in front
of him, and that Jerusalem is burned by the Babylonians. Furthermore,
Zedekiah’s eyes are gouged out, and he is dragged to prison. From all accounts,
Zedekiah would spend his latter years in prison only to die in captivity. Why,
Zedekiah, did you not simply listen to the prophet of God?

Prayer

Heavenly
Father, may we have the wisdom to hear your voice and instruction from the
mouths of those who speak the Word of the Lord to us.