From Splendor to Shadow

The Babylonians Respect Jeremiah

Of Jeremiah it is recorded: “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him ... and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.” Jeremiah 39:11, 12. SS 240.3

Released from prison by the Babylonian officers, the prophet chose to cast his lot with the feeble remnant left by the Chaldeans to be “vinedressers and husbandmen.” Jeremiah 52:16. Over these the Babylonians set Gedaliah as governor. Only a few months passed before the governor was treacherously slain. The people, after passing through many trials, were persuaded to take refuge in Egypt. Against this move, Jeremiah lifted his voice in protest: “Go not into Egypt,” he pleaded. But the inspired counsel was not heeded, and “all the remnant of Judah” took flight into Egypt. “They obeyed not the voice of the Lord.” Jeremiah 43:2, 5, 7. SS 240.4

The sorrow of the prophet over the utter perversity of those who should have been the light of the world and over the fate of Zion and the people carried captive to Babylon is revealed in the lamentations he has left on record as a memorial of the folly of turning from the counsels of Jehovah to human wisdom. Amid the ruin, Jeremiah could still declare, “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.” His constant prayer was, “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord!” Lamentations 3:22, 40. SS 241.1

But now Zion was utterly destroyed; the people of God were in captivity. Overwhelmed with grief, the prophet exclaimed: SS 241.2

How lonely sits the city
that was full of people!
How like a widow has she become,
she that was great among the nations!
She that was a princess among the cities
has become a vassal.

She weeps bitterly in the night,
tears on her cheeks;
among all her lovers
she has none to comfort her;
all her friends have dealt treacherously with her,
they have become her enemies.

Judah ... finds no resting place; ...
All her gates are desolate,
her priests groan;
her maidens have been dragged away,
and she herself suffers bitterly.
Her foes have become the head,
her enemies prosper.

How the Lord in His anger has set the daughter
of Zion under a cloud!
He has cast down from heaven to earth
the splendor of Israel;
He has not remembered His footstool
in the day of His anger.

He has bent His bow like an enemy,
with His right hand set like a foe;
and He has slain all the pride of our eyes
in the tent of the daughter of Zion;
He has poured out His fury like fire.

Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; ...
Our fathers sinned, and are no more;
and we bear their iniquities.
Slaves rule over us;
there is none to deliver us from their hand.

Restore us to Thyself, O Lord, that we may be
restored!
Renew our days as of old!
Lamentations 1:1-5; 2:1, 4;
5:1-8, 21, RSV