Read Jeremiah 37:1-21
King Jehoiakim died on the way to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36). His son Jehoiachin was appointed king but was taken captive to Babylon three months later. Nebuchadnezzar then appointed Zedekiah as his vassal in Judah.
King Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll (Day 57)
Read Jeremiah 36:21-32
Only three leaders protested this evil act of burning the scroll containing God’s Word. This shows how complacent and insensitive to God the people had become.
Baruch Reads the Lord’s Message (Day 56)
Read Jeremiah 36:1-20
This happened in the summer of 605 B.C., shortly after Nebuchadnezzar’s victory over the Egyptian army at Carchemish.
The Faithful Recabites (Day 55)
Read Jeremiah 35:1-19
The Recabites’ code of conduct resembled that of the Nazarites, who took a special vow of dedication to God (Numbers 6). For 200 years they had obeyed their ancestor’s vow to abstain from wine. While the rest of the nation was breaking its covenant with God, these people were steadfast in their commitment. God wanted the rest of His people to remain as committed to their covenant with Him as the Recabites were to their vow. God had Jeremiah tempt the Recabites with wine to demonstrate their commitment and dedication. God knew they wouldn’t break their vow.
A Warning for Zedekiah (Day 54)
Read Jeremiah 34:1-22
Babylon had laid siege to Jerusalem, and the city was about to fall. Zedekiah finally decided to listen to Jeremiah and try to appease God: so he freed the slaves. He thought he could win God’s favor with a kind act, but what he needed was a change of heart. The people had been disobeying God’s law from the beginning (Exodus 21; Leviticus 25; Deuteronomy 15). When the siege was temporarily lifted, the people became bold and returned to their sins.