Verses 11-15- To get his share of the territory and go to his home town of Anathoth he tried to go through the ‘Benjamin Gate’ (the northern gate of Jerusalem) he was accused of trying to surrender to the Babylonians and the gatekeepers arrested him and took him and imprisoned him in the secretary’s house. He probably received this misunderstanding because he proclaimed to people to surrender to the Babylonians (36:30, 31). Christians can face mistreatment and hardship because of the word.
Verses 16, 17- The imprisoned Jeremiah was bold and brave but the king who put him there was anxious and nervous. He trusted the prophet but was afraid of the officials (8:5), so Zedekiah secretly called Jeremiah and hoped that he would give him words of hope. Although Jeremiah’s body was restrained, his words of truth did not change. Repent if there was a time you turned a blind eye to the truth to escape a troubling time.
Verse 17- Zedekiah knew that Jeremiah had the truth of God. If you are not ready to obey the words of God, it is not important to show interest in it.
Verses 18-21- Jeremiah expressed his feelings to the weak king and on one hand expressed his hardship and fear of dying and asked him to save him from dying unjustly. Zedekiah knew there was no sin against him, however he did not release him but moved him to the courtyard of the guard and had bread brought to him daily. Are you living a fair life so that you can assert your honor before God?
Even in times of trouble, may I live a life that does not compromise the word of truth.
