Justin Houtz

Jeremiah 37-39; Psalm 79; 2 John

DateVersionReading Plan
August 25, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

Jeremiah 37-39

Observation & Interpretation

Jeremiah 37

  • Zedekiah, son of Josiah, reigned instead of Coniah, son of Jehoiakim (Jer. 37:1)
  • The LORD through Jeremiah told the king of Judah that the Chaldeans would come back, fight against the city and burn it (Jer. 37:6-10)
  • Jeremiah went to the land of Benjamin to receive his portion, but Irijah thought he was deserting, so he beat and imprisoned Jeremiah (Jer. 37:11-15)
  • Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard and was given bread daily (Jer. 37:21)

Jeremiah 38

  • Jeremiah prophesied that those who stay in the city would die by the sword but he who goes out to the Chaldeans would have his life as a prize for war. In response, King Zedekiah cast Jeremiah into the cistern of Malchiah (Jer. 38:1-6)
  • Ebed-melech rescued Jeremiah from the cistern and he remained in the court of the guard (Jer. 38:7-13)
  • Jeremiah prophesies to King Zedekiah that he would live if he surrenders to the officials and king of Babylon. However, if he did not surrender, he would not escape from the hand of the Babylonians
  • King Zedekiah told Jeremiah that he would live if he did not to tell anyone of what he said to the king

Jeremiah 39

  • In the ninth year of the tenth month of King Zedekiah, the Chaldeans overtook Jerusalem. All the people were taken into exile. King Zedekiah’s sons were killed before his eyes, Zedekiah’s eyes were taken out and his house was burned. Everyone else was taken into exile (Jer. 39:1-10)
  • The king of Babylon ordered that Jeremiah was to be looked after and done not harm (Jer. 39:11-12)
  • Jeremiah was taken home to live among the people (Jer. 39:14)
  • Jeremiah prophesied while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying that the words of the LORD would be accomplished and that He would save them because they had put their trust in Him

Application

Jeremiah was faithful in prophesying the LORD’s words as they were given to him, but endured much opposition and mistreatment as a result. It should be for God’s people a reminder that our lives in Christ will be at enmity with the world. James speaks that whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4). What hardship awaits those whose allegiance is with the kingdom of God. May we not then be surprised when there is loss of worldly comfort, relationships or possessions as we pursue our Lord in righteousness, knowing that He is worthy of such sacrifice and steadfast in our resolve to keep our eyes fixed on the heavenly glories that await.

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