Betrayal and Murder, Captivity and Redemption

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jeremiah 41:1-18.

The murder of Gedaliah crushes the short-lived peace for the remnant of Judah in the Promised Land. Ishamel proves himself to be brutal and bloodthirsty as he kills the governor while eating with him and then slaughtering religious pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem. Johanan’s forces are able to rescue the captives of Ishmael and push him into retreat. Under Johanan’s leadership, this now-smaller remnant considers fleeing to Egypt for safety. The brutality of this chapter provides a lens through which we can see the sinful human condition, so that we might repent of our own sin. The Biblical themes of betrayal, captivity, ransom, and redemption found in this chapter all shed light on the ultimate way that God works for the good of sinners through the Savior, Jesus Christ.

“A Time to Destroy and a Time to Build” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Jeremiah. The prophet calls the people of Judah and Jerusalem to repent of their faithless idolatry and warns them of the destruction that is coming in the Babylonian exile. Yet Jeremiah does not leave us without hope in the midst of such dark days. Jeremiah and all who believe the Word of God he preached survive because of hope that is found in the righteous Branch from the line of David, Jesus Christ.