Big Idea

Being a messenger of truth in a dark place can be challenging, but it is worth it.

This month's memory verse

Lamentations 3:21-23

21  But this I call to mind,
    and therefore I have hope:

22  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23  they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
 

Monday, Aug 11 Mon
Aug 11
Jeremiah 39:1-4, Jeremiah 40:1-6
 Tuesday, Aug 12 Tue
Aug 12
Jeremiah 44:1-18, 23
 Wednesday, Aug 13 Wed
Aug 13
Jeremiah 50:1-20
 Thursday, Aug 14 Thu
Aug 14
Jeremiah 52:1-3, 12-19, 31-34
 Friday, Aug 15 Fri
Aug 15
Lamentations 1:1-10, Lamentations 2:1-8, 17
 Saturday, Aug 16 Sat
Aug 16
Lamentations 3:13-27, Lamentations 5:1,19-22

Despite the fall of the city, God provides for Jeremiah!

Key Verse | Jeremiah 40:4

But I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don’t want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you—go wherever you like.

Jeremiah 39:1-4

Jeremiah 39

The Fall of Jerusalem

1In January* of the ninth year of King Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar* of Babylon came with his entire army to besiege Jerusalem. 2Two and a half years later, on July 18* in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, a section of the city wall was broken down. 3All the officers of the Babylonian army came in and sat in triumph at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, and Nebo-sarsekim,* a chief officer, and Nergal-sharezer, the king’s adviser, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon.

4When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the soldiers saw that the Babylonians had broken into the city, they fled. They waited for nightfall and then slipped through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden and headed toward the Jordan Valley.*

Footnotes

39:1a Hebrew In the tenth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. A number of events in Jeremiah can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Babylonian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This event occurred on January 15, 588 b.c.; see 52:4a and the note there.
39:1b Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, a variant spelling of Nebuchadnezzar; also in 39:5, 11.
39:2 Hebrew On the ninth day of the fourth month. This day was July 18, 586 b.c.; also see note on 39:1a.
39:3 Or Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsekim.
39:4 Hebrew the Arabah.

Jeremiah 40:1-6

Jeremiah 40

1The Lord gave a message to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the other captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being sent to exile in Babylon.

2The captain of the guard called for Jeremiah and said, “The Lord your God has brought this disaster on this land, 3just as he said he would. For these people have sinned against the Lord and disobeyed him. That is why it happened. 4But I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don’t want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you—go wherever you like. 5If you decide to stay, then return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. He has been appointed governor of Judah by the king of Babylon. Stay there with the people he rules. But it’s up to you; go wherever you like.”

Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, gave Jeremiah some food and money and let him go. 6So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land.

Footnotes

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