Friday, July 09 2010
Jeremiah 41
Verse of the Week: V4 “And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,”
1. The Evil Prince Committed Murder (V1-6)
V1 “Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.”
Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, instigated Ishmael, the seed royal or one of the princes of Judah, to kill Gedaliah, his own governor of Judah. It was a tragic end to the life of Gedaliah as he did not take heed to the warning given by his fellow leader, Johanan, that Baalis had send Ishmael to kill him.
Jeremiah 40:14 “And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.”
2. The Evil Prince Committed Mass Murder (V7-10)
V7 “And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him."
One sin leads to another sin. After the murder of Gedaliah, Ishmael thought that no one knew it, and he also started to kill the men from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, who were coming to Judah to offer their sacrifices and to worship in the house of the Lord, as well as to meet Gedaliah whom they thought was still alive.
3. Your Evil Will Find You Out (V11-18)
V11-12 “But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.”
Ishmael thought that no man knew it, but the Almighty and all knowing God knew it. God sent Johanan, to fight with Ishmael, and stop him from further evil and wickedness.
Numbers 32:23 “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
Prayer of the Week
Dearest God, please help me to do right even when no one is around.
