Conspiracies and Cohorts

 Jeremiah 40:1-16 

(2 Kin. 25:22–26)

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all who were carried away captive from Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.

2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him: "The LORD your God has pronounced this doom on this place. 3 Now the LORD has brought it, and has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the LORD, and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you. 4 And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See, all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there."

5 Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said, "Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go." So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go. 6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 And when all the captains of the armies who were in the fields, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, children, and the poorest of the land who had not been carried away captive to Babylon, 8 then they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. 9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath before them and their men, saying, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, I will indeed dwell at Mizpah and serve the Chaldeans who come to us. But you, gather wine and summer fruit and oil, put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken." 11 Likewise, when all the Jews who were in Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, 12 then all the Jews returned out of all places where they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruit in abundance.

13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, 14 and said to him, "Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to murder you?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, "Let me go, please, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he murder you, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?"

16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, "You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning Ishmael."

Jeremiah was set free by the king’s man in charge, Nebuzaradan, and dwelt safely and freely under Gedaliah the governor who was left in charge of the remnant of God’s people in the promised land of Judah around Jerusalem.  He had rightly prophesied about the defeat of his people for their sin by Babylon and was thanked for encouraging the people to submit to their rule.  Even the pagan captain of the guard saw that it was the sin and disobedience of God’s people which had led to their defeat and resulting captivity.  He knew and ack that it was the LORD who caused this according to his word and plan as the wages of their sin and refusal to trust and obey Him.  But Jeremiah was given the grace of freedom from bondage and freedom to go wherever he pleased without any limitations or boundaries from God’s grace through the hands of their conquerors.  Then the remnant of scattered people came to Gedaliah who was appointed by Babylon as governor as their fear subsided and the remaining poor in the land felt confident to submit to their new situation.  The Jews gathered food and wine in abundance as it is written, yet there were still some who began conspiracies to overthrow the government put over them by God.  Those cohorts of the governor refused to believe that this dissent and insurrection was brewing, however.  This is an example for us today who would overthrow a God-given government and kick against the goads of God’s sovereign plan for ultimate deliverance and freedom under His rule in eternity.  If we fight who He puts over us now, what will we do then? May we truly remember how Lucifer had rebelled and learn from Judah’s example here as well.  God puts rulers over us according to his word and will for the long game of a predetermined outcome and we are not to fight against Him in this by our insurrection as if we can make our version of government apart from His will and plan.