Jeremiah 42:1

 Jeremiah 42:1 says, Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,  Verse two adds, And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)  The ones who called themselves the remnant of the few of Judah came to Jeremiah asking that he beseech God for them.  Jeremiah had survived Ishmael's attack, and even though the people had ignored Jeremiah before when he prophesied for God, they now wanted him to pray for them. God had protected Jeremiah, just as He will those who are faithful to Him today.   Verse three continues, That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.  They referred to God as Jeremiah's God, and asked that Jeremiah determine what God would have them do.  These were people who referred to themselves as the remnant of Judah, but they did not call God their God.  If we are a follower of Christ, we are a part of the family of God and have direct access to Him.  If we are His in name only then we need someone else to pray for us that we might know the will of God, which begins by accepting Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior and Lord.   Verse four declares, Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.  Jeremiah said he would grant their request, and that he would tell them what God said, no matter what that was.  This is all we can ever do as well. Verse five states, Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.  The people asked that they would call on the LORD God of Jeremiah to be a witness that they would do whatever Jeremiah said his God told them to do.  They still were not calling God their God.  Verse six adds, Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.  Then, they said that they would obey the voice of the LORD their God, whether what He said was good or bad.  They now called God their God, as Jeremiah had referred to Him in granting their request.  If we expect God to answer our pratyers, we must sincerely acknowledge Him as our God.  Verse seven says, And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.  God did not immediately answer Jeremiah's prayer, just as He may not immediately answer ours.  Verse eight adds, Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,  Jeremiah called all the people together, from the greatest to the least.  God's word applies to all people, no matter their status in this world.  Verse nine continues, And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;  Jeremiah said that he would give them God's answer.  Verse ten states, If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.  Jeremiah told them that God said that if they stayed in the land that He would once again bless them because they would be obedient to Him.  This was the positive part of God's message, just as the gospel is the positive part of God's word today.  Verse eleven adds, Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. God told them to not fear the king of Babylon, because God would deliver them from him.  If we are Christians, we do not need to fear anyone in the world today, no matterhow power they may be.  Verse twelve continues, And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.  Once again, God said that if they obeyed Him, He would bless them.  If we want God's blessings, we must obey Him.