After two years of siege, the Babylonians broke through the wall of Jerusalem, destroyed the city and carried the people off into exile. It was the fulfillment of God's word of judgment against his people who had been faithless to him. However, some of the poor were allowed to stay and even received vineyards and fields to live on (10).

Instead of surrendering as Jeremiah had counseled, King Zedekiah tried to flee with his soldiers at night and was captured. His sons were killed and he was blinded (4-7).

In the midst of this devastation, God protected Jeremiah; he was released from the courtyard of the guard and allowed to go back to his own people, by the words of King Nebuchadnezzar himself (11-14). God surely achieved this through the influence of his servants in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, including Daniel. God's mercy also reached out specifically to another individual: Ebed-Melek the Cushite, who had spoken up for Jeremiah while he was in the cistern (15-18). God knows how to individually protect those who trust him.


Application: Father, thank you for the mercy that you provide even in the midst of judgment. Thank you that I can trust you completely in every situation.
One Word: The Lord saves those who trust him