How does Jeremiah 40:3 connect with God's promises in Deuteronomy 28? The Historical Moment in Jeremiah 40:3 “Now the LORD has brought it about; He has done just as He said. Because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey His voice, this thing has come upon you.” • Spoken by Nebuzaradan, the Babylonian captain, to Jeremiah after Jerusalem’s fall • Acknowledges that God’s word, announced through prophets and Torah, has unfolded exactly as written • Highlights sin and disobedience as the direct cause of national catastrophe Remembering the Covenant Warnings of Deuteronomy 28 Deuteronomy 28 sets out two clear paths: 1. Blessings for obedience (vv. 1-14) 2. Curses for disobedience (vv. 15-68) Key curse verses mirrored in Jeremiah’s day: • v. 25 — “ ‘The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies…’ ” • v. 36 — “ ‘The LORD will bring you and the king you appoint to a nation neither you nor your fathers have known…’ ” • vv. 49-52 — “ ‘A nation from afar… will besiege all your gates… until the high fortified walls you trust in come down…’ ” Direct Links Between Jeremiah 40:3 and Deuteronomy 28 • “He has done just as He said” ⇨ affirms the covenant is literal, not symbolic • “Because you sinned… did not obey His voice” ⇨ echoes Deuteronomy 28:15, the hinge verse introducing the curses • Babylon’s invasion and exile ⇨ fulfillment of Deuteronomy 28:36, 49-52 word-for-word • Complete city destruction ⇨ matches Deuteronomy 28:52, “ ‘They will besiege you… until your walls come crashing down.’ ” • Suffering, scarcity, and fear recorded in Lamentations ⇨ parallel Deuteronomy 28:53-57 Other Scriptures Reinforcing the Connection • Leviticus 26:14-39 echoes the same covenant pattern • 2 Kings 24-25 narrates the historical fall foretold in both Deuteronomy and Jeremiah • Daniel 9:11-14 acknowledges exile as the covenant curse come true Takeaways for Believers Today • God’s word is precise; centuries cannot dull its reliability • Blessings and judgments flow from the same covenant faithfulness • National and personal obedience still matters (John 14:15; James 1:22-25) • God’s judgments intend restoration, as seen in later promises of return (Jeremiah 29:10-14; Deuteronomy 30:1-6) Summing Up Jeremiah 40:3 is the historical “I told you so” moment that proves Deuteronomy 28’s warnings were literal prophecy. The fall of Jerusalem stands as a solemn reminder that God keeps every word—both blessing and curse—while simultaneously pointing ahead to the hope He offers when His people turn back to Him. |
    |