Jeremiah 38:23-28: a reflection

23They will bring out all your wives and your children to the Chaldeans. You won’t escape out of their hand, but will be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon. You will cause this city to be burned with fire.’” 24Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Let no man know of these words, and you won’t die. 25But if the princes hear that I have talked with you, and they come to you, and tell you, ‘Declare to us now what you have said to the king; don’t hide it from us, and we will not put you to death; also tell us what the king said to you;’ 26then you shall tell them, ‘I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there.’” 27Then all the princes came to Jeremiah, and asked him; and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they stopped speaking with him, for the matter was not perceived. 28So Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken.

King Zedekiah secretly consults Jeremiah, and hears again the hard word that surrender to Babylon is the way of life. But Zedekiah is terrified of the officials, of what they will think and do; and so he swears Jeremiah to secrecy and does nothing. He knows the truth, has heard God's word from the prophet's mouth; but his fear of the people around him keeps him from acting on it. He is a man who hears the truth but is too afraid of others to obey it.

Notice Zedekiah's paralysis: he knows what God's word is, but is too afraid of what others will think to act on it. His secret consultations show he takes Jeremiah's word seriously; but his fear of the officials, of their opinion and their power, keeps him from obeying. He is trapped by the fear of people, unable to do what he knows to be right because he cares more about others' reactions than about obeying God. His fear of people overrode his knowledge of the truth.

That paralysis is a danger we can share: knowing what is right, even hearing God's word clearly, but being too afraid of what others will think to act on it. The fear of people, of their opinion, their reaction, their disapproval, can keep us from doing what we know God calls us to do. Zedekiah heard the truth, but the fear of people held him back. Do not let the fear of others' opinions keep you from obeying what you know to be right. When you know God's will, do not be paralyzed, as Zedekiah was, by fear of what people will think; the fear of people is a snare that keeps us from obeying God. Ask God to free you from that fear, so that you obey him rather than being ruled by the fear of others' reactions, as Zedekiah was ruled, to his own ruin.

Lord, King Zedekiah secretly consulted Jeremiah and heard your word clearly, but was too afraid of the officials, of their opinion and power, to act on it; he knew the truth but was paralyzed by the fear of people. Show me that danger, which I can share: knowing what is right, even hearing your word clearly, but being too afraid of what others will think to act on it. The fear of people, of their opinion, their reaction, their disapproval, can keep me from doing what I know you call me to do. Zedekiah heard the truth, but the fear of people held him back. Keep me from letting the fear of others' opinions keep me from obeying what I know to be right. When I know your will, keep me from being paralyzed, as Zedekiah was, by fear of what people will think; the fear of people is a snare that keeps me from obeying you. Free me from that fear, Lord, so that I obey you rather than being ruled by the fear of others' reactions, as Zedekiah was ruled, to his own ruin. Deliver me from the fear of people, and help me obey you.