Jeremiah 37:1-5
In times of danger people may seek God’s help while still refusing to submit to His word.
1 Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king, instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
2 But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, listened to Yahweh’s words, which he spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.
3 Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray now to Yahweh our God for us.”
4 Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people; for they had not put him into prison.
5 Pharaoh’s army had come out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they broke up from Jerusalem.
In times of danger people may seek God’s help while still refusing to submit to His word.
To introduce the reign of King Zedekiah during the Babylonian siege and to show the continued refusal of Judah’s leadership to obey the LORD despite seeking prophetic intercession.
Jeremiah 37 introduces the final narrative cycle surrounding the fall of Jerusalem. The chapter begins by summarizing Zedekiah’s reign and highlighting Judah’s persistent refusal to heed prophetic warnings despite the approaching Babylonian threat.
Zedekiah becomes king of Judah as Babylon’s vassal while Jeremiah continues to proclaim God’s warnings.
Zedekiah Seeks Prayer but Refuses the Word
Zedekiah wants Jeremiah's prayers and private counsel, but because he refuses the LORD's word, Babylon's temporary withdrawal cannot save Jerusalem from the judgment God has spoken.