In these studies in the second half of the book of Jeremiah,  we will see God’s word coming through Jeremiah and being rejected again and again. We will see the difficulties of Jeremiah but also the way he is saved through it all. Jeremiah is God’s reporter on the spot, in the midst of one of the most tumultuous periods in Israel’s history.

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

Jeremiah Freed

Jer 40:1-6

1 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon. ² When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. ³ And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. ⁴ But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.” ⁵ However, before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.”

Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go. ⁶ So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.

A. Find Out

1. Who was Nebuzaradan? v.1
2. Where had he found Jeremiah? v.1
3. To whom does he attribute what is happening? v.2,3
4. What two options did he give Jeremiah?  v.4
5. What suggestion did he then make? v.5
6. How did he sent Jeremiah off? v.5c

B. Think:

1. How might this be called a “cliff-hanger rescue”?
2. How did this commander show he really had Jeremiah’s best interests at heart?
3. What does this passage tell us about all that the Lord has been saying for many years?

C. Comment:

In the last chapter we saw Jeremiah being rescued out of the courtyard of the guard. This chapter details it a bit more. Obviously the Babylonians had been rounding up everybody, putting them in chains ready to be transported back to Babylon.  Jeremiah is in the midst of his people and is in a similar state, about to be deported, when the commander comes with his king’s message of freedom for Jeremiah.

Jeremiah is given a complete passport to freedom.  He can go to Babylon, stay in the land, or go where he will!  But then it is as if the commander thinks twice about it and realises that Jeremiah might be better off if he remains in his own land. He suggests this and provides all that Jeremiah needs to go.

What is remarkable is that the Babylonians appear just as aware of what God had been saying about Israel as the Israelites themselves. All the world will hear about the sin of Israel and the judgement of God upon them. God had said previously through His prophets that Israel was to be a light to the nations, and this includes the way they are dealt with by the Lord!

D. Application:

1. Are we aware that the Lord seems often to turn up at the last minute?
2. Declare your trust in Him today.