12. And when he was come to the gate of Benjamin, the captain of the gate, who I was there in his turn, was one named Jerias, the son of Selemias, the son of Hananias: and he took hold of Jeremias the prophet, saying: Thou art fleeing to the Chaldeans.
Jeremiah 37 narrates the story of how King Zedekiah sent two men to consult the prophet Jeremiah about the possibility of the nation being released from the Babylonian yoke. However, when Jeremiah told them the truth, that they should surrender to the king of Babylon, they were arrested and Jeremiah was thrown into a well. Below are five verses related to the topics covered in Jeremiah 37.
2 Kings 25:4: "Then the city was invaded, and all the men of war fled the way through the door between the two walls near the king's garden, although the Babylonians were surrounding the city. They went towards the Arabic." This verse portrays the fall of Jerusalem in the hands of the Babylonians and how people tried to escape the city. This relates to Jeremiah 37, since the people and the king of Judah were waiting for liberation, but in the end the city was conquered by the Babylonians.
Psalm 146:3-4: "Do not trust princes, in mere mortals, unable to save. When their spirit departs, they return to dust; on that same day their plans are over." This psalm emphasizes that we should not trust human leaders, for they are unable to save us. This relates to Jeremiah 37, since King Zedekiah was looking for a human solution for the release of the nation, but Jeremiah told him that he should surrender to the king of Babylon.
Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways are my ways," says the Lord. "Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my ways are also higher than their ways and my thoughts higher than their thoughts." This verse emphasizes that God has plans and thoughts that are different from ours, and that these plans are bigger and better than ours. This relates to Jeremiah 37, since the people and the king of Judah were trusting in their own wisdom and strength to break free from the Babylonian yoke rather than trusting God and following the guidance of Jeremiah.
Proverbs 21:30: "There is no wisdom, no discernment, no plan that may oppose the Lord." This verse emphasizes that nothing can oppose God and that he has control of all things. This relates to Jeremiah 37, since the people and the king of Judah were fighting Babylonian rule, but God had allowed it to happen as a judgment because of his disobedience.
2 Chronicles 36:15-16: "The Lord, the God of his ancestors, spoke to them repeatedly through his messengers, because he had compassion for his people and their dwelling. But they mocked the messengers of God, they despised their own Words and mocked from their prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, and there was no more remedy. " This verse emphasizes the importance of listening to God's voice and obeying his messengers to prevent divine wrath. This relates to Jeremiah 37, since the people and the king of Judah were not listening to the words of Jeremiah, who was the messenger of God to them at that time, and this resulted in their capture and the fall of Jerusalem.
“Esforce-se, mesmo se for um pouco, mas sempre…” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
