What is the meaning of Jeremiah 38:14? Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet • This is not Zedekiah’s first summons. Earlier, when the Babylonian siege tightened, “King Zedekiah secretly sent for him and asked, ‘Is there a word from the LORD?’” (Jeremiah 37:17). • The king’s repeated resort to Jeremiah reveals: – A conscience pricked by prior warnings (Jeremiah 21:1-2). – An awareness that no other counsel could equal God’s. – His failure to silence the prophet, even after allowing his officials to cast Jeremiah into the cistern (Jeremiah 38:6). • God’s servant remains available—even to an unstable monarch—showing the Lord’s patient desire that leaders hear truth (2 Peter 3:9; compare Acts 24:25 where Felix repeatedly calls for Paul). and received him at the third entrance to the house of the LORD • The location hints at secrecy. Like Nicodemus visiting Jesus by night (John 3:2), Zedekiah wants privacy, not public accountability. • Fear of princes drove him here; these officials had already persecuted Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:4-5). • Ironically, the king hides while searching for light. Proverbs 29:25 warns, “The fear of man brings a snare.” When God’s voice is sought behind closed doors, courage to act on it must follow (James 1:22-24). • The temple setting underscores that genuine guidance comes in God’s presence. Yet the king’s reverence is superficial; he honors the place but hesitates to honor the word (Jeremiah 7:4). “I am going to ask you something,” said the king to Jeremiah • Zedekiah acknowledges Jeremiah’s unique access to God, much like Pharaoh turned to Joseph for interpretation (Genesis 41:15-16). • His phrasing is urgent—there is no time for diplomacy. The Babylonian armies are at the gate (Jeremiah 39:1). • Still, desire for information is not submission. Contrast Josiah, who tore his robes upon hearing the book of the Law (2 Kings 22:11-13). Zedekiah wants insight without surrender. • True seeking involves: – A humble heart (Psalm 25:9). – A resolved will to obey whatever God reveals (John 7:17). “Do not hide anything from me.” • The plea reflects anxiety that Jeremiah might soften or withhold words of judgment. Earlier the prophet had warned, “If you surrender…your life will be spared” (Jeremiah 38:17). • Jeremiah’s integrity is already proven: he declared the whole message despite beatings and imprisonment (Jeremiah 20:2; 26:14-15). Like Paul, he did not shrink from proclaiming “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). • Zedekiah’s request affirms a foundational principle—God’s word must be delivered in full. Isaiah 30:10 shows what happens when people demand pleasant messages; disaster follows. • For believers today: – Receive the entire Scripture, not selective portions (2 Timothy 3:16-17). – Encourage teachers who speak plainly, even when truth is uncomfortable (Galatians 4:16). summary Jeremiah 38:14 captures a king in crisis and a prophet unwavering. Zedekiah privately seeks the man he once allowed to be persecuted, proving he knows where truth resides yet fears public allegiance to it. The clandestine temple meeting exposes the snare of people-pleasing leadership. His urgent request that nothing be hidden acknowledges Jeremiah’s credibility while revealing his own wavering heart. The verse therefore calls readers to value God’s unvarnished word, to seek it openly, and—unlike Zedekiah—to obey it courageously when it comes. |
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