Jeremiah 52 Commentary
There are striking similarities between Jeremiah 52 and second Kings 25 leading many to believe the two volumes were authored by the same person. That makes Jeremiah a continuation of the history of rebellion against God by Israel. It all comes to an end when the nation is scattered to Babylon.
Jeremiah presents a relentless stream of messages and pleas to the rebellious nation. His personal experiences and interactions with Israel’s leaders, both civic and religious, make the bulk of Jeremiah’s work.
But Israel is never one to heed; so scattering it is.
Long before the kingship was introduced in Israel, Moses, the Lawgiver, had predicted Israel’s exile on account of the rebellion. Chapter 52 is the fulfillment of the many prophecies against Judah, including the prophecies by the prophet Jeremiah. He lived to see it all happen right before his own eyes.
The prophet Jeremiah didn’t have many admirers. He was often detained, beaten, and scorned for his messages. He can easily pass the test for the most unsuccessful minister of the gospel. Yet and at the same time, Jeremiah is one of the select few people to live and see the fruit of his labor. He lived to see it all happen right before his own eyes.
Therefore, chapter 52 is the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s word to the nations – beginning with Israel. The rest should know their fate isn’t far. If they must know, whatever this man said, he wasn’t joking at all. The word of God has this thing about it – always proving doubters wrong.
The sad events of chapter 52 are a culmination of a long history of rebellion. But within these sad events is one little ray of light representing hope – nothing to write home about but everything to the New Testament reader. Jehoiachin is the Jeconiah of Matthew 1 verse 11. He carried within him the seed of the Messiah. See how the LORD protected Jehoiachin through deportation to Babylon. He would be protected and provided for by the hand of the LORD through Evil-merodach, probably Nebuchadnezzar’s direct successor.
The compassion of the LORD speaks last. The grand plan for the salvation of the nations is still in place. We have seen plenty of the ‘uprooting’. Jehoiachin represents the prospect of ‘planting’ – the good plans of the LORD, to prosper them, not to harm them; to give them hope and a future.
Jeremiah ends here.
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