Jeremiah 38: Sunk in the Mud
WHAT A HARD time it has been for Jeremiah! God warned him it would be difficult. Certainly it was, more than he ever imagined. In this passage we see Jeremiah thrown in the mud of a deep well and left for dead. Although he gets out of the well, he is not released from confinement and is imprisoned in Jerusalem until the very end. However, Jeremiah's ministry of faithfulness to God and God's people helped prepare the way for you and me. We can know God in ways that are deeper, richer and more powerful because Jeremiah had the courage to be faithful and the wisdom to record his words.
Warming Up to God
What sort of spiritual legacy would you like to leave for your friends and family?
Read Jeremiah 38. »
Discovering the Word
- As Judah was besieged by Babylon, what were Jeremiah's enemies concerned about?
- If you were in leadership and heard Jeremiah's message, what would have to happen before you would be willing to surrender to your enemies?
- Jeremiah ends up in the well, sunk down deep into the mud. How had God prepared Jeremiah for just such a situation?
- How did Jeremiah get out of the well (vv. 7-13)?
- Zedekiah the king calls Jeremiah to ask for his advice (vv. 14-23). What personal and political reasons does Jeremiah give for Zedekiah to surrender?
- How would you evaluate the success of Jeremiah's ministry?
Applying the Word
- In what ways can Christians end up in wells today?
- How can God help you to persevere even when you are stuck in the mud?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to mold you into his servant, someone who will leave a legacy of faith behind.
For Further Study
Jeremiah & Lamentations by R. K. Harrison