Jeremiah 40

“Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands” (v4). Jeremiah suffered terribly as a prophet, yet he was still alive when the Babylonians invaded. Insults, threats, and imprisonments hadn’t been able to silence him, since he was proclaiming the Lord’s truth. During the conquest, the Babylonian captain personally released Jeremiah (who had been chained with other Judean captives) and let him choose whether to stay in Judah or go to Babylon.

“The Lord has brought it about” (v3). Jeremiah could have sought safety by proclaiming loyalty to the king or to the Babylonians, but he was God’s man and protected his integrity. God’s voice is our ultimate authority, and His presence is our only refuge.