The following commentary covers Chapters 37 and 38.
Zedekiah's
weakness: God's perfect ways in sparing the righteous
Chapter 37 gives us
Zedekiah in the same state of disobedience. A show of
religion is kept up, and, having a moment of respite
which excites some hope, the king seeks an answer from
the Lord by His prophet. But the favourable
circumstances, through which it might appear that the
wicked may escape from judgment, do not alter the
certainty of the word. Jeremiah sought to avail himself
of the opportunity to avoid the judgment which was coming
upon the rebellious city; but this only serves to
manifest the hatred of the heart to God's testimony; and
the princes of the people—accusing Jeremiah of
favouring the enemy, because he proclaimed the judgment
that should fall on the people by their means—put
him in prison. Zedekiah manifests some conscience by
releasing him. In general there is more conscience in
Zedekiah personally than in some others of the last kings
of Judah (see v. 21, and chaps. 21; 38: 10, 14, 16). On
this account, perhaps, were those few words of favour and
mercy addressed to him in chapter 34: 5. But he was too
weak to allow his conscience to lead him in the path of
obedience (compare chap. 38: 2-12). This last chapter
gives us the history of his weakness. Nevertheless in the
midst of all this scene of misery and iniquity we find
some rare examples of righteous men; and, however
terrible His judgment may be, God remembers them; for His
judgment is terrible because He is righteous.
Ebed-melech, who delivered Jeremiah, is spared. Baruch
also preserves his life; and even Zedekiah, as we have
seen, is comforted by some words of encouragement,
although he must undergo the consequences of his faults.
The ways of God are always perfect, and if His judgments
are like an overwhelming torrent as to man, still
everything, even to the smallest detail, is directed by
His hand; and the righteous are spared. The prison even
becomes a place of safety for Jeremiah, and Jehovah
deigns not only to spare Ebed-melech, but to send him a
direct testimony of His favour by the mouth of Jeremiah,
that he may understand the goodness of God in whom he had
trusted.
Jeremiah 38 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Zedekiah's weakness: God's perfect ways in sparing the righteous
Chapter 37 gives us Zedekiah in the same state of disobedience. A show of religion is kept up, and, having a moment of respite which excites some hope, the king seeks an answer from the Lord by His prophet. But the favourable circumstances, through which it might appear that the wicked may escape from judgment, do not alter the certainty of the word. Jeremiah sought to avail himself of the opportunity to avoid the judgment which was coming upon the rebellious city; but this only serves to manifest the hatred of the heart to God's testimony; and the princes of the people—accusing Jeremiah of favouring the enemy, because he proclaimed the judgment that should fall on the people by their means—put him in prison. Zedekiah manifests some conscience by releasing him. In general there is more conscience in Zedekiah personally than in some others of the last kings of Judah (see v. 21, and chaps. 21; 38: 10, 14, 16). On this account, perhaps, were those few words of favour and mercy addressed to him in chapter 34: 5. But he was too weak to allow his conscience to lead him in the path of obedience (compare chap. 38: 2-12). This last chapter gives us the history of his weakness. Nevertheless in the midst of all this scene of misery and iniquity we find some rare examples of righteous men; and, however terrible His judgment may be, God remembers them; for His judgment is terrible because He is righteous. Ebed-melech, who delivered Jeremiah, is spared. Baruch also preserves his life; and even Zedekiah, as we have seen, is comforted by some words of encouragement, although he must undergo the consequences of his faults. The ways of God are always perfect, and if His judgments are like an overwhelming torrent as to man, still everything, even to the smallest detail, is directed by His hand; and the righteous are spared. The prison even becomes a place of safety for Jeremiah, and Jehovah deigns not only to spare Ebed-melech, but to send him a direct testimony of His favour by the mouth of Jeremiah, that he may understand the goodness of God in whom he had trusted.