“King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of the temple of the Lord. The king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me.” Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me.” Then King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As the Lord lives, who made our souls, I will not put you to death or deliver you into the hand of these men who seek your life.””
(Jeremiah 38:14–16, ESV)
I had a young man whom I counseled in the ministry. He apparently respected my position and authority. I would meet with him once a week and give him advice regarding his ministry. However, it seemed as if he would never implement the things I shared with him. Coming right out of seminary, I guess he felt that he already knew everything and was ready to change the world.
Now he definitely showed me respect and listened to what I said. However, listening and respect do not equate with responding to what one might say. This is not an isolated issue. It is sort of like the add I saw in a paper one time that went like this, “Encyclopedia Britannica set for sale. My teenagers already know everything.
In Jeremiah’s day, King Zedekiah did the same thing to the demise of the nation. Prior to this passage, Zedekiah had been thrown into a cistern by those who did not want to hear his words from the Lord. He was doomed to die there except that a Ebed-melech the Ethiopian rescued him. Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and asked to hear what the Lord had spoken to Jeremiah.
The message that Jeremiah gave to the king was that submission to the Lord’s word which included surrender to Babylon was the only way to spare the destruction to come. Yet we know that Zedekiah, a weak leader, did not heed the words of the prophet, which led to the destruction of the city, death of multitudes, and deportation of a remnant to Babylon. While the king respected Jeremiah, he did not hearken to his words.
Unfortunately, this same thing happens all the time today. How many sermons are preached to congregations today, only to have people summarily write off the clear instruction of the Lord. This is rebellion, not against the pastor, but against the Lord and His word. How many people read the Bible and decide that certain portions of its moral precepts are not applicable for them today. How many people look for counsel, but do not follow the sound biblical counsel they receive.
Sadly, as was the case in Jeremiah’s day, there are multitudes of preachers and counselors who will tickle the itching ear, who will tell people what they want to hear rather than the truth.
The result or all this, that is showing respect and listening without obedience is one’s own peril. As the peril of Babylon came upon Judah and Jerusalem because the nation would not heed Jeremiah’s word, people today will reap what they sow. The Scripture is clear.
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7–8, ESV)
Renewing the Heart 