Study of Jeremiah Chapter 52

Study of Jeremiah
Chapter 52

(Jer 52:1) Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

(Jer 52:2) And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

When we later in this chapter of the awful fate of Zedekiah, we see here that he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Later when Jeremiah warned him of the coming judgment of God, Zedekiah preferred to believe the false prophets and the prophets who prophesied lies. Even when the Babylon armies were coming, Jeremiah told him how to escape and that is by remaining in the land and not fleeing to Egypt. At no time did Zedekiah listen to Jeremiah and he lived to see his sons slain before his eyes and then his eyes put out. What a horrible fate. Yet God allowed his life to be spared.

(Jer 52:3) For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

(Jer 52:4) And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

(Jer 52:5) So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

(Jer 52:6) And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

(Jer 52:7) Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.

(Jer 52:8) But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.

(Jer 52:9) Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.

(Jer 52:10) And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.

(Jer 52:11) Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

(Jer 52:12) Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem,

(Jer 52:13) And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:

(Jer 52:14) And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about.

(Jer 52:15) Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.

(Jer 52:16) But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.

God remembered the poor and left himself a remnant to remain in the land of Jerusalem.

(Jer 52:17) Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.

The temple was the place of worship. To break the spirit of the captives, it was broken up and the treasures were stolen from the house of worship. Had Judah been worshipping God in truth, this would never have been allowed to happen. God would have protected His sanctuary. Unfortunately, the sanctuary of the Lord became only an outward form of worship. The hearts of the people had long since stopped serving God.

(Jer 52:18) The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.

(Jer 52:19) And the basons, and the firepans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups; that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, took the captain of the guard away.

(Jer 52:20) The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brasen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the LORD: the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

(Jer 52:21) And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow.

(Jer 52:22) And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all of brass. The second pillar also and the pomegranates were like unto these.

(Jer 52:23) And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates upon the network were an hundred round about.

(Jer 52:24) And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

(Jer 52:25) He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven men of them that were near the king's person, which were found in the city; and the principal scribe of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the midst of the city.

(Jer 52:26) So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.

(Jer 52:27) And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death in Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own land.

(Jer 52:28) This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty:

(Jer 52:29) In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty and two persons:

(Jer 52:30) In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons: all the persons were four thousand and six hundred.

(Jer 52:31) And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,

Jehoiachin was the king of Judah before Zedekiah and was placed in prison by Nebuchadnezzar. For some reason King Nebuchadnezzar's son had compassion on Jehoiachin and brought him out of prison.

(Jer 52:32) And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,

(Jer 52:33) And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life.

(Jer 52:34) And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

I'm assuming from this that God saw Jehoiachin's suffering in prison and caused the heart of the king to have mercy on him. Perhaps Jehoiachin repented and sought God in prison. This would be my guess.

The word repentance, turns many off for some reason. The old flesh just hates to admit wrongdoing and repent. Yet, repentance is the very thing that opens the door to the mercy of God. Repent means to change one's mind or to turn around and be different. It includes being sorry for sin but mostly it means to turn from sin and turn instead to God.

The little act has so much power and opens the door to everlasting life. It opens the way for peace and favor with God. The very thing the flesh resists is the thing that changes our lives. Repent and believe the gospel is what brings in eternal life and makes us a new creature in Christ Jesus. It is like life from the dead.

As we see what befell the Jewish nation throughout the Old Testament, it is heart breaking. We know from reading scripture both in the Old Testament and in the New that God has not given up on the Jewish people.

Sometimes we wonder why but still God has a plan for Israel.

It hurts me to see a few Jewish people in the United States, fighting against Christianity and symbols that represent them. A branch of them have spurred on the ACLU to remove crosses from city seals and such things because they are offended by public displays of Christianity. Yet in Los Angeles, they want the cross removed but allow the lady which is a goddess to remain. In other words they don't object to a false religion being represented but only something that represents Christianity.

Christianity in the United States is not a threat to the Jews. On the contrary, it was true and I emphasize true here, Christians that would risk their lives to hide Jews during the Holocaust. There are those that hate all Jews but true Christians know better and they do not. Yet the Jewish people acting in this manner just may spur anti-Semitic feelings as people see their religion being attacked and removed from the public while other religions are allowed to remain.

Christians are not the ones that are dangerous. May I remind them that there is a religion that denies their right to even exist and that is not Christianity. Why do they only attack the cross and Christianity? Help me to understand. Your only hurting yourselves here. Your going to stir up anti-Semitic feelings by these actions.

I don't want to see this happen. Most Christians realize the Jesus Christ was a Jew and God chose the Jews to bring salvation to the whole world. However, there are always those in any religion who act in anger and not love. It is these that I fear may be stirred up against the Jewish people for the actions of a few involved with the ACLU. That cross on the some of the nation's city seals is not hurting anyone. It is their heritage. Christians helped start this country and even though there are many who want to re-write history books to deny that fact, it can't be denied. We were here at the beginning and it is part of the heritage of the United States. NO other religion or group of people have the right to take it away from us. You are threatening our freedom of religion by these actions.

Remember the Old Testament teaches that you reap what you sow. If you attack Christians, you will be attacked by those far worse than any Christian you ever encountered. Don't do this evil thing and fight against God.

Why are you offended at Jesus Christ anyway? What did He ever do to you? Here is one who offers eternal life to those who believe. What is the harm in that? If you believe you get eternal life and if you don't believe, you die in sin. If you are right and the Christians are wrong, no harm done. Let the Christian people alone. If you are wrong and they are right, you are in big trouble. Why ask for trouble by attacking Christian people. They will not sit still for this. You will only stir them up and make them reassess what they believe in.

Haven't you learned yet from history? Every time you reject God and refuse His prophets, you get in trouble.

Every time someone tries to convert a Jew to Christ, you may feel threatened but listen. What kind of people would we be if we knew all about God and His gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ and we kept it to ourselves? You want us to keep silent but if we did, what would that make us? In our minds we would be allowing people to die in sin and go to a burning hell without any way out.

Don't you see that if we keep quiet, souls will be lost without God. We can't keep quiet.

Every Christian who hates a Jew will keep silent and that Jew will be lost. Every Christian who tells a Jew about Jesus Christ is showing love to that Jewish person. If we tell someone that Jesus dies for their sins and that faith in Him would bring them eternal life, that is a message of love, not hate. Hate would be to keep silent like you want us to do and let you die in your sins and go to hell. Is that what you really want out of Christians? You are asking us to hate you by your actions of trying to remove Christian symbols from city seals. You are trying to silence us and if we keep silent than that is a sign of that we would be unconcerned about the salvation of your soul.

I'm writing these articles because I want to see people saved and inherit eternal life. I truly believe that the only way of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. If I let someone intimidate me into keeping silent, then I would not truly love my fellow man. As long as I believe that Jesus is the only way to be saved, I would be committing sin to keep quiet about it. Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the gospel. A true Christian cannot help but obey that commandment. Yet we are accused of hate and bigotry because we warn of sin and try to get people saved. We try to get people to accept eternal life and we are accused of hate. Hate would be to keep silent and believe what we believe and not care about anyone else. It seems as if that is what the world wants.

The spirit that spurred Jeremiah is in many today that warn against sin. Please don't be as those that ignored him and suffered the loss of their homeland and some where killed. The judgment didn't come from the preacher, Jeremiah. The judgment came from almighty God. Don't let that happen again. If you can't accept Jesus Christ because your afraid it might not be true then just seek God and ask Him to show you. Ask Him to reveal to the truth. Just ask Him point blank if Jesus is the Messiah or not. He will answer if you truly mean that prayer. However, if you pray and have no intention of believing it, you probably will not get an answer. God knows whether you are sincere or not.

Remember also that those who called themselves Christians in the past that persecuted Jewish people, were not Christians in truth just as Jewish people who persecute Christians are not really true Jews. A true Jew will believe the word of God. Read your own bible and you will find Jesus Christ. You don't even have to pick up the New Testament. Just read Isaiah and the writings of Moses. You will find out who the Messiah is. Read Isaiah 53. It describes Jesus there. There is no other explanation.

My writing today is mostly for the Jews who are fighting against things they do not understand. Your making a big fuss out of the wrong things while the real enemy is entering the back door and you are missing it. Your afraid of the wrong group of people here. I don't address this to all Jews because I've met many who are not like those who are trying to remove our crosses and bibles from county seals. Some are good friends to Christian people. Its acts like those working with the ACLU that is going to break that friendship if they don't stop this nonsense. People are going to stand up for what they believe if they have any faith at all. Why are you afraid of a little cross? You are offended at the wrong things. Don't you realize that if Satan can use you to get rid of the Christian message, he will use someone else to get rid of the Jews as well. Yes Satan hates all true Christians but he also hates Jews and if you get rid of our witness, he will be after you next. The ACLU don't just hate Jesus Christ, they hate God.

Look at the people they defend. They defend everything that is evil even those that want to molest children. Yet, something good like the 10 commandments or Jesus Christ, they holler and rant like a chicken and claim their rights are being violated. What about children's rights to live, play and learn without adults using and abusing them because that is the sexual orientation and they, "can't help it." The ACLU defends child pornography and many such evil things going on in the United States.

I believe the ACLU uses Jews to attack Christians but one day that same organization will use its power to attack Jews also. They are haters of God and anything to do with God and are deceiving people into thinking that they care about liberty. Don't believe it. They want the liberty to sin. Period. God, Jesus Christ and the bible says, Sin is wrong. That is why they hate the bible because it tells of their works which is evil.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

This is why the ACLU attacks all who represent God. They hate the light and desire to walk in darkness.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The message is the same today, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. When you come to Jesus and really believe on Him you will repent of sin because the two do not mix. Jesus came to save from sin and when you accept Jesus you are saved from sin.

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