Read Jeremiah 13:15-27
While it is good to respect our country and our church, our loyalties always carry a hidden danger: arrogance. When is pride harmful? When it causes us to 1) look down on others; 2) be selfish with our resources; 3) force our solutions on others’ problems; 4) think God is blessing us because of our own merits; 5) be content with our plans rather than seeking God’s plans.
The king at this time was Jehoiachin, and the queen mother was Nehushta. The king’s father, Jehoiakim, had surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar but later rebelled. During Jehoiachin’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar’s armies besieged Jerusalem, and both Jehoiachin and Nehushta surrendered. Jehoiachin was sent to Babylon and imprisoned (2 Kings 24). Jeremiah’s prophecy came true.
The Negev region is the dry wasteland stretching south from Beersheba. The towns in this area would be closed to any refugees fleeing the invading army.
Not even the threat of captivity would move the people to repent. The people had become so accustomed to doing evil that they lost their ability to change. God never rejects those who sincerely turn to Him. God was warning them to repent before it became impossible to change. We must never put off until tomorrow those changes God wants us to make. Our attitudes and patterns for living can become so set that we will lose all desire to change and will no longer fear the consequences.