Jeremiah 38:28, commentary and pictures

The verse belongs to the account of events in Zedekiah's reign, within the portion of Jeremiah from chapter 20 onward that is not in chronological order. In chronological order chapter 38 comes after chapters 37, 32, and 33 and before the events recorded in chapter 39. It is part of the story of Jeremiah's experiences in Judah amid false prophets, utter repudiation of the law of God and the principles of righteousness, and persecutions of the prophet himself. That history was left to show the awful enormity of sin and its sure consequences.

The chapter of which the verse is part shows rejection of the word and message of the Lord in reproof, counsel, and warning. The imprisonment it describes was a punishment like Micaiah's, for faithfully declaring God's message rather than pleasing a wicked king. It shows that Jeremiah remained confined in the court of the prison until Jerusalem was captured and was there when the city fell.

Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison under Zedekiah's keeping after the king promised not to deliver him again into the hands of his enemies but to follow the light God would give. While held there he gave Zedekiah God's last offer that going forth to the king of Babylon's princes would let his soul live and keep the city from being burned with fire, while refusal would give the city to the Chaldeans to burn it and leave the king without escape. Zedekiah consulted Jeremiah in secret but, through fear of the people and false hopes, with secret unbelief beneath professed faith in the prophet, chose not to obey the Lord's counsel to yield. His warning and counsel therefore did not prevent the disaster, and his refusal left the city to destruction and Jeremiah in custody until Jerusalem was taken. The verse guides conduct in the last days toward the humble instrument through whom God has spoken and toward the Testimonies sent to leading men and people.