1. Zedekiah A King Fit for the People
From the Prophet Jeremiah

2. Zedekiah & Jeremiah Vision of two baskets of figs Jer. 24
Letter to the captives Jer. 29
Sign of the yokes Jer. 27
Sent yokes to kings of surrounding nations
Message to Zedekiah
Message to the priests of Judah
Hananiah confronted Jeremiah Jer. 28
Jeremiah’s prophecy to Babylon Jer. 51:59-64

3. Zedekiah & Jeremiah
Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon & Nebuchadnezzar responded 2 Kings 24:20-25:11
Zedekiah hopes for a miracle Jer. 21
No divine reprieve for Jerusalem
Any defense of the city would be useless Vss. 4-5
Only hope is to surrender Vs. 9

4. Zedekiah & Jeremiah
Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon & Nebuchadnezzar responded 2 Kings 24:20-25:11
Zedekiah hopes for a miracle Jer. 21
God sent Jeremiah to Zedekiah with a warning Jer. 34:1-7
There would be no escape
Zedekiah to have a face-to-face with Nebuchadnezzar
Zedekiah would not die in battle

5. Zedekiah & Jeremiah
Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon & Nebuchadnezzar responded 2 Kings 24:20-25:11
Zedekiah hopes for a miracle Jer. 21
God sent Jeremiah to Zedekiah with a warning Jer. 34:1-7
Zedekiah freed Hebrew slaves, then reneged Jer. 34:8-22
Jeremiah rebuked the people
God proclaimed “liberty” for them to be punished
Nebuchadnezzar would be returning soon

6. Zedekiah & Jeremiah
Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to pray for Judah Jer. 37:1-10
Jeremiah had been forbidden to do so Jer. 7:16
Zedekiah hears a message of doom

7. Zedekiah & Jeremiah
Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to pray for Judah Jer. 37:1-10
Jeremiah imprisoned for attempting to defect Jer. 37:11-15
While in prison, Jeremiah bought some land Jer. 32:1-15
The remnant would return Jer. 32:15, 36-44

8. Zedekiah & Jeremiah
Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to pray for Judah Jer. 37:1-10
Jeremiah imprisoned for attempting to defect Jer. 37:11-15
Zedekiah arranged a secret meeting with Jeremiah Jer. 37:16-21

9. Zedekiah & Jeremiah
Jeremiah’s enemies tried to silence him for good Jer. 38:1-13
Preaching same message to the people
Accused him of treason & sought his execution
Put Jeremiah in a cistern & left him to die
Saved by Ebed-Melech

10. Zedekiah & Jeremiah
Jeremiah’s enemies tried to silence him for good Jer. 38:1-13
Zedekiah arranged another secret meeting Jer. 38:14-28
“Just give me the truth”
“Surrender”
Zedekiah was afraid of Jews who had defected
Jeremiah told the king to obey God
Zedekiah would be to blame Vs. 23

11. Zedekiah & Jeremiah
Jeremiah’s enemies tried to silence him for good Jer. 38:1-13
Zedekiah arranged another secret meeting Jer. 38:14-28
Fall of Jerusalem Jer. 39, 52
Zedekiah tried to escape
Captured before reaching the Jordan River Jer. 39:5
Zedekiah has face-to-face with Nebuchadnezzar

12. Lessons From Zedekiah Trusted the wrong people
False prophets who told him what he wanted to hear Jer. 27:14-15; 37:19
Men who were more concerned about themselves Jer. 38:4
Those God specifically forbade Jer. 37:5-10

13. Lessons From Zedekiah Trusted the wrong people Feared the wrong things
Losing his position
Should have followed God & served the people Jer. 21:11-12
Paul’s attitude 1 Cor. 3:5-9; 2 Cor. 12:15
People as fickle as himself
Unfounded fears of his imagination Jer. 34:4; 38:19-20

14. Lessons From Zedekiah Trusted the wrong people Feared the wrong things
Too concerned about his wants
Failed to execute justice Jer. 32:1-5; 38:1-6
Rejecting God’s counsel assured failure
God has put us in position to serve

15. Lessons From Zedekiah Gave people no reason to trust him
Inspired no loyalty
Only looked out for himself
Inspire loyalty by demonstrating love
Wielded no real power Jer. 38:5