Jeremiah 39:11-18--The LORD Delivers Jeremiah

Jeremiah 39:11-18
English Standard Version

The LORD Delivers Jeremiah
11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying, 12 “Take him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon 14 sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he lived among the people.

15 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: 16 “Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the LORD.’”

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The LORD used Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and Nebuzaradan,, the captain of the guard,  to spare the life of Jeremiah and to make sure he was well looked after.  They were to let Jeremiah tell them what was to happen to him and they were to listen to him.  You may notice a lot of the Babylonian names look and sound familiar, because they were named after their gods.  There are several chief officers in charge of the army here and Jeremiah was put directly in the care of these chief officers.  Normally such a person of high rank would not be the one to deal with captives and prisoners, but Jeremiah has could the attention of the captain of the guard (the commander of the Babylonian army right below the king).  The text does not explain why.  Did this man fear the LORD?  Did the LORD speak to him to give him instructions?  Did he hear Jeremiah or hear of him?  Did he hear the letters that Jeremiah had sent to Babylon?  We don't really know.

Remember the Ethiopian man that made sure Jeremiah got out of the cistern when there was no bread left in the city and made sure he was returned to the court of the guard?  The LORD tells Jeremiah to deliver a special message to him.  Everything that the LORD said about the destruction of the city would come true, but this man would be a witness to all of it, and his life would be saved because of what he had done for the LORD's prophet.  The LORD promises that this man alone would not die and not be taken captive from among the king's men.  The LORD would save him because he had put his trust in the LORd and those who trust in the LORD will be saved should not be afraid, and not be put to shame.