Jeremiah 40:1 says, The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon. Jeremiah had been led away in chains as had the rest of the people of Judah, but now he had been set free. God's word came to him again at this time. As followers of Christ, we were once bound by the chains of sin, but through faith in Jesus Christ we are set free and God's word should always guide us. Verse two states. And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. The captain of the guard of the Babylonian army recognized that God had sent Babylon to defeat Judah. The people of Judah would not acknowledge that God was going to bring their destruction as Jeremiah had warned, but this captain of the enemy army recognized that God was the One responsible. It is sad to think that the people of the world may recognize the work of God before those who are supposed to be His people do. Veree three adds, Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. The captain of the guard told the captives that it was because oof their sin that they were enslaved, and if we are enslaved to the world today, it is because of our sin. Matthew Henry says that the captain seemed to take pride in being a part of God's judgment. Verse four states, And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. The captain of the guard invited Jeremiah to come with him after he was freed, and said that he would keep an eye out for Jeremiah, but told him that the choice was his. When we are freed from the bandage of sin, it is our choice where we go, but it should always be under the leadership of God. We need to remember that although it was the captain of the guard speaking, that this passage begins by saying that the wordof the LORD came to Jeremiah. God can speak to us in various ways. Verse five adds, Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. The captain of the guard then told Jeremiah that he could go to Gedaliah, who was a Jew who had been made ruler over a certain area by the kingof Babylon according to Matthew Henry. Then he gave Jeremiah provisions for the journey. If we are going where God sends us, then He will always provide for our needs. Verse six declares, Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land. Jeremiah went to Gedaliah and dwelt among the people there. Though Jeremiah was still a captive in a foreign land, he was not enslaved in chains. Until God calls us home to glory, we will always be living in a foreign land, but as Christians we will never be under the bondage of sin.
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