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<p>Here is, 1. Jeremiah’s preaching slighted, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.37.1,Jer.37.2" href="/passage/?search=Jer.37.1,Jer.37.2"><span class="bibleref" title="Jer.37.1">Jer. 37:1</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Jer.37.2">2</span></a>. Zedekiah succeeded Coniah, or Jeconiah, and, though he saw in his predecessor the fatal consequences of contemning the word of God, yet he did not take warning, nor give any more regard to it than others had done before him. <i>Neither he, nor his</i> courtiers, <i>nor the people of the land, hearkened unto the words of the Lord</i>, though they already began to be fulfilled. Note, Those have hearts wretchedly hard indeed that see God’s judgments on others, and feel them on themselves, and yet will not be humbled and brought to heed what he says. These had proof sufficient that it was the Lord who spoke by Jeremiah the prophet, and yet they would not hearken to him. 2. Jeremiah’s prayers desired. Zedekiah sent messengers to him, saying, <i>Pray now unto the Lord our God for us</i>. He did so before (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.21.1,Jer.21.2" href="/passage/?search=Jer.21.1,Jer.21.2"><span class="bibleref" title="Jer.21.1">Jer. 21:1</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Jer.21.2">2</span></a>), and one of the messengers, Zephaniah, is the same there and here. Zedekiah is to be commended for his, and it shows that he had some good in him, some sense of his need of God’s favour and of his own unworthiness to ask it for himself, and some value for good people and good ministers, who had an interest in Heaven. Note, When we are in distress we ought to desire the prayers of our ministers and Christian friends, for thereby we put an honour upon prayer, and an esteem upon our brethren. Kings themselves should look upon their praying people as the strength of the nation, <a class="bibleref" title="Zech.12.5,Zech.12.10" href="/passage/?search=Zech.12.5,Zech.12.10"><span class="bibleref" title="Zech.12.5">Zech. 12:5</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Zech.12.10">10</span></a>. And yet this does but help to condemn Zedekiah out of his own mouth. If indeed he looked upon Jeremiah as a prophet, whose prayers might avail much both for him and his people, why did he not then believe him, and <i>hearken to the words of the Lord</i> which he spoke by him? He desired his good prayers, but would not take his good counsel, nor be ruled by him, though he spoke in God’s name, and it appears by this that Zedekiah knew he did. Note, It is common for those to desire to be prayed for who will not be advised; but herein they put a cheat upon themselves, for how can we expect that God should hear others speaking to him for us if we will not hear them speaking to us from him and for him? Many who despise prayer when they are in prosperity will be glad of it when they are in adversity. Now <i>give us of your oil</i>. When Zedekiah sent to the prophet to pray for him, he had better have sent for the prophet to pray with him; but he thought that below him: and how can those expect the comforts of religion who will not stoop to the services of it? 3. Jerusalem flattered by the retreat of the Chaldean army from it. Jeremiah was now at liberty (<a class="bibleref" title="Jer.37.4" href="/passage/?search=Jer.37.4">Jer. 37:4</a>); he <i>went in and out among the people</i>, might freely speak to them and be spoken to by them. Jerusalem also, for the present, was at liberty, <a class="bibleref" title="Jer.37.5" href="/passage/?search=Jer.37.5">Jer. 37:5</a> Zedekiah, though a tributary to the king of Babylon, had entered into a private league with Pharaoh king of Egypt (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.17.15" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.17.15">Ezek. 17:15</a>), pursuant to which, when the king of Babylon came to chastise him for his treachery, the king of Egypt, though he came no more in person after that great defeat which Nebuchadnezzar gave him in the reign of Jehoiakim (<a class="bibleref" title="2Kgs.24.7" href="/passage/?search=2Kgs.24.7">2 Kgs. 24:7</a>), yet sent some forces to relieve Jerusale
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