西底家十一年、城被攻破的自省（耶39章）

猶大王西底家第九年十月、巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍來圍困耶路撒冷。西底家十一年四月初九日、城被攻破。（耶 39：1-2)

猶大王國，也是正統大衛王朝的最後一位國王西底家，在本章留下令人驚駭的歷史鑑戒，任憑敵人巴比倫大軍再次攻入。並在這最後一次敵人的圍攻中，神同在的國度猶大國，終結不滅的傳說，在此畫下了歷史的句點。西底家登基時年二十一歲，當王十一年。要說他是因為年輕不懂事才斷送江山嗎？並不是！神不是差派耶利米先知從早起來就一直在指導他怎麼做嗎？問題是，他不聽神的話，只聽人的話；他不怕神，卻害怕百姓；他不求神的幫助，反而專靠自己的聰明。

本章凸顯對神「聽從與不聽從」的截然不同結局：西底家與其他抗拒神命令的人，被殺、被擄、被凌虐；耶利米、以伯米勒、巴錄，甚至之前被擄的約雅斤，因完全聽從，都蒙神保護。

巴比倫王在利比拉、西底家眼前殺了他的眾子、又殺了猶大的一切貴冑．並且剜西底家的眼睛、用銅鍊鎖着他、要帶到巴比倫去。（耶 39：6-7）

巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒提到耶利米、囑咐護衛長尼布撒拉旦說：「你領他去、好好的看待他、切不可害他．他對你怎麼說、你就向他怎麼行。」（耶 39：11-12）

耶利米還囚在護衛兵院中的時候、耶和華的話臨到他說、你去告訴古實人以伯米勒說、萬軍之耶和華以色列的　神如此說：「我說降禍不降福的話必臨到這城、到那時必在你面前成就了。」耶和華說：「到那日我必拯救你．你必不至交在你所怕的人手中。」（耶 39：15-17）

你要這樣告訴他（巴錄），耶和華如此說：「我所建立的我必拆毀．我所栽植的我必拔出．在全地我都如此行。你為自己圖謀大事麼？不要圖謀！我必使災禍臨到凡有血氣的．但你無論往那裏去、我必使你以自己的命為掠物．這是耶和華說的。」（耶 45：4-5）

這都再次證明「聽命有福、違命受詛」這整本聖經不斷重複的應許與命令。

西底家受命成為神選民之君，所對比今日的身份，就是：「家長」，即家中信仰的帶領者；「傳道、長執、負責人」，即教會的牧者。身為不同層級的牧者，不用害怕自己年幼、能力不足，因為這不是神的家帶領的要素。神所要的，就只是「謹守遵行」祂命令，至於其他的世俗條件，都不是重點。教會帶領，若牧者不知依靠神、聽從神的命令，即使能力再強、資源在豐，都必衰微。

今天無論是家長、是教會牧者，甚至是台灣總會、聯總的牧者，有何帶領困難可言？依靠主，聽主話就是了。而且，最好要一早就讀聖經，接受主的命令，並一早就自我警醒。

我的王、我的神阿！求你垂聽我呼求的聲音．因為我向你祈禱。耶和華阿！早晨你必聽我的聲音．早晨我必向你陳明我的心意、並要儆醒。（詩 5：2-3)

By Isaiah Kao

Reflections on the Breach of Jerusalem in Zedekiah's Eleventh Year (Jeremiah 39)

August 5, 2026

"Now in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the city was breached." (Jeremiah 39:1–2, NASB 2020)

Zedekiah, the last king of the kingdom of Judah and the final king of the legal Davidic dynasty, left behind a shocking historical lesson in this chapter. He allowed the Babylonian army to invade once again, and during this final siege, the kingdom of Judah,the nation where God's presence had dwelt, came to its end. The seemingly unshakable kingdom passed into history.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years. Can we say that he lost the kingdom simply because he was young and inexperienced? Certainly not! Had God not sent the prophet Jeremiah, rising early again and again, to instruct him how he should act? The problem was that he would not listen to God's word but listened to the opinions of people instead. He did not fear God but feared the people. He did not seek God's help but relied on his own wisdom.

This chapter vividly contrasts the completely different outcomes of "obeying and disobeying" God. Zedekiah and those who resisted God's command were killed, taken into exile, or humiliated. In contrast, Jeremiah, Ebed-melech, Baruch, and even Jehoiachin, who had been taken into exile earlier, were all protected by God because they obeyed Him faithfully.

"Then the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes at Riblah; the king of Babylon also slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. He then blinded Zedekiah's eyes and bound him in bronze restraints to bring him to Babylon." (Jeremiah 39:6–7, NASB 2020)

"Now 

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, saying, 'Take him and look after him, and do not do anything harmful to him, but rather deal with him just as he tells you.'" (Jeremiah 39:11–12, NASB 2020)

"Now the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse, saying, 'Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Cushite, saying: "This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: 'Behold, I am about to bring My words on this city for disaster and not for prosperity; and they will take place before you on that day. But I will rescue you on that day,' declares the LORD, 'and you will not be handed over to the men whom you dread.'" (Jeremiah 39:15–17, NASB 2020)

"'This is what you shall say to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Behold, what I have built I am about to tear down, and what I have planted I am about to uproot, that is, the whole land. But are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh,' declares the LORD, 'but I will give your life to you as plunder wherever you may go.'" (Jeremiah 45:4–5, NASB 2020)

All these events once again proved "those who obey God are blessed,while those who disobey Him come under cursed"- the repeated promises and commands of the Bible.

Zedekiah was appointed to be the king of God's chosen people. His role corresponds today to that of "parents", who lead the spiritual life of their families, and to "preachers, ministers, and council members", who shepherd God's church. Whatever level of leadership we may have, we need not fear being young or lacking ability, for these are not the qualifications God values in those who lead His household. What God desires is simply that we carefully "observe and obey" His commands. All other worldly qualifications are secondary. If church leaders do not rely on God and obey His word, then no matter how capable they are or how abundant their resources may be, decline is inevitable.

Whether we are parents, church shepherds, or even leaders serving in the General Assembly or the International Assembly, what difficulty is too great for us to lead? Simply rely on the Lord and obey His word. Better still, begin in the early morning by reading the Bible, receiving the Lord's instruction, and examining ourselves with a watchful heart.

"Listen to the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray. In the morning, LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will present my prayer to You and be on the watch." (Psalm 5:2–3, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao