Between a Rock and Hard Place

Here is the scene. Zedekiah, king of of Judah, was in a difficult spot. On the one side he has the Chaldeans waiting to attack, and on the other side he has the Babylonians. One way or the other he knows that he is in BIG trouble. He doesn't know what to do. One of the reasons for his is that he "nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD that he spoke through Jeremiah the prophet". They didn't listen to God, they just did their own thing. And now they are in a spot of confusion.

BUT THEN!!!! what they think is rescue arrives. The army from Egypt shows up. HA! Rescue they think.

They don't like what God has to say about that through Jeremiah

"'Behold, Pharaoh's army that came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land. 8And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire. 9Thus says the LORD, Do not deceive yourselves, saying, "The Chaldeans will surely go away from us," for they will not go away. 10For even if you should defeat the whole army of Chaldeans who are fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men, every man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.'"

Jeremiah ends up getting arrested by an overzealous sentry who is afraid that Jeremiah is deserting to the Chaldeans. This despite the fact that Jeremiah denied the charge. He was brought to the house of Jonathan which had been turned into a prison.

16When Jeremiah had come to the dungeon cells and remained there many days, 17King Zedekiah sent for him and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house and said, "Is there any word from the LORD?" Jeremiah said, "There is." Then he said, "You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon."

I wonder why the king questioned him in secret. He does that throughout this passage. Jeremiah tells him the truth despite his imprisonment, and then asks not to go to the prison house. He ends up being keep in the court of guards where he is fed.

While there Jeremiah continues preaching his message

2"Thus says the LORD: He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize of war, and live. 3Thus says the LORD: This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and be taken."

Not the most uplifting message and makes some people made. My guess is the desertion from the city continued to grow. Jeremiah ended up in a cistern (a well - this one without water). He would have died there except for Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch who intervened on his behalf.

Once again Jeremiah is secretly questioned by King Zedekiah and responds

"Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If you will surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. 18But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand."

ah... now I think we find out why the King questioned Jeremiah secretly for "King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest I be handed over to them and they deal cruelly with me." Jeremiah reassures him this will not happen "Obey now the voice of the LORD in what I say to you, and it shall be well with you, and your life shall be spared."

Do you see it? Do you see what obedience to God gets you? It can take you from a worse situation into one that is somewhat better. It might not make everything "okay" but it can and does make things better. Zedekiah would not lose his life as long as he obeyed the Lord God. Life would still not be great (he would be a captive)....but at least he would still have it.

Obedience to God is always the best thing to do.