Context No. 2698 of 4322 · Jeremiah

Jeremiah 37:6-10: in context

6Then the LORD’s word came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 7“The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘You shall tell the king of Judah, who sent you to me to inquire of me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help you, will return to Egypt into their own land. 8The Chaldeans will come again, and fight against this city. They will take it and burn it with fire.”’ 9“The LORD says, ‘Don’t deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely depart from us;” for they will not depart. 10For though you had struck the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and only wounded men remained among them, they would each rise up in his tent and burn this city with fire.’”

Jerusalem is under Babylonian siege, and for a moment the pressure lifts: Pharaoh's army marches out of Egypt, and the Chaldeans pull back to meet it. King Zedekiah sends to Jeremiah, hoping the prophet will bless the reprieve as rescue.

God's word through Jeremiah is blunt and unwelcome. Egypt will turn around and go home. The Chaldeans will come back, take the city, and burn it. Do not deceive yourselves that they have gone for good. He drives it home with a stark image: even if you struck down the whole Babylonian army and only wounded men were left in their tents, they would still rise up and burn this city. Jeremiah will not trade in the comforting lie the king wants. The brief relief was not a change in God's word, only a pause.

Do I seize on a passing reprieve as proof that God has softened his word to me, when what he asks is to face the truth?

Sources

Jeremiah 6:14: "They have healed the hurt of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace."
Jeremiah 17:5: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD."
Isaiah 31:1: "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses... but they don't look to the Holy One of Israel."