There are a couple of examples in this section of Jeremiah that encourage us to by faith instead of fear. Unfortunately, they aren’t positive examples.
Zedekiah’s Fear
Zedekiah was so afraid he couldn’t make up his mind. In previous chapters, we’re told he welcomed the Babylonians, but then he rebelled against them. He let the slaves go free, then put them back in chains. He put Jeremiah in the dungeon, then he let him go free.
Zedekiah was indecisive, and fear will do that to us. In verse 14, Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him secretly in the temple in order to hear God’s word to him, which is ironic since previously, he refused to listen to God.
So Jeremiah told him pretty much the same thing he had before:
Jeremiah 38:17–18 (CSB)
“This is what the Lord, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned, and you and your household will survive. But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans. They will burn it, and you yourself will not escape from them.’ ”
God was very patient with Zedekiah as he is with all of us. God wants Americans to come to repentance and Russians and Ukrainians. He’s not delaying, he’s being patient giving us a chance to surrender to him.
Unfortunately, Zedekiah was more afraid of the Babylonians and his own people than he was of God.
Jeremiah 38:19 CSB
But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am worried about the Judeans who have defected to the Chaldeans. They may hand me over to the Judeans to abuse me.”
It’s as if Zedekiah was saying, “I hear what you’re saying, Jeremiah, but I just can’t do it because I’m afraid.”
Now, fear of and by itself isn’t a sin. There are lots of things that we should be afraid of depending upon the circumstances. But fear becomes sin when it leads us away from faith.
God’s people are often initially afraid, but then they take their fears to God and live by faith. For example, David was often afraid, but then he would put his trust in God. Psalm 56:3–4 David says, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
So don’t feel too bad if you’re afraid. Everyone has fears. The Christians in Ukraine are afraid they’ll be overrun by the Russians, but as far as I can tell, they’re casting their fears on the Lord and living by faith. 78% of adults in Ukraine identify as orthodox Christians, and when given a chance to flee the country, many are choosing to stay with words like this: “We have decided to stay, both as a family and as a church. When this is over, the citizens of Kyiv will remember how Christians have responded in their time of need.”
It’s been said that bravery is not the absence of fear; it’s about having the courage to be vulnerable—to press on in spite of fear. Are the Ukrainians afraid? Of course, they are. But for many, their faith in God keeps them pressing on.
Maybe you’re afraid. Maybe you’re afraid of what others will think. Maybe you’re afraid of what might happen if you tell someone about that secret sin. Maybe you’re afraid of losing your reputation, your job, or your country. Be like David and the Ukrainians. Face the truth, be brave, and obey God, no matter what the consequences.
Jeremiah’s Fear
Now, usually, throughout the book of Jeremiah, a contrast is made between one who is faithful with one who is not. But in this section, both of the examples are negative.
Zedekiah was more afraid of what people thought of him than he was about doing what was right, and it seems so was Jeremiah. When Zedekiah talked with Jeremiah, he didn’t want anyone to know, so he told Jeremiah to spin the facts if he was questioned.
Jeremiah 38:24–25 CSB
Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Don’t let anyone know about this conversation or you will die. The officials may hear that I have spoken with you and come and demand of you…If they do, tell them, ‘I was bringing before the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’ ”
And Jeremiah went along with it.
Jeremiah 38:27 (CSB)
All the officials did come to Jeremiah, and they questioned him. He reported the exact words to them the king had commanded.
In other words, Jeremiah didn’t live by faith in this instance; he lied because he was afraid for his life. We might excuse him for just being obedient to the king, but that’s really no excuse since Jeremiah surely knew he was supposed to obey God rather than men.
In the past, Jeremiah had been faithful in preaching God’s word and had suffered a lot as a result, but he wasn’t perfect. Living by faith instead of by fear isn’t easy, and it seems like Jeremiah’s fears sometimes got the better of him.
What’s the lesson for us? Be humble because past performance is no guarantee of present success. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.” So we must try to be patient with ourselves and with others.
Sometimes we like to think in terms of “us” versus “them,” but there is really only “us” because everyone needs the Lord. Zedekiah and Jeremiah both needed the same thing. They needed God’s mercy and a Savior from sin.
Jesus Christ is the only man never to commit a single sin. He never gave in to his fears, and he always lived by faith. Even as he was being led to his own crucifixion, he kept trusting in his father in heaven so he could be Jeremiah’s Savior and the Savior of all who trust in him.
So trust in Christ. That’s what Christians in Ukraine are doing, and it’s what we must do too.