Read Jeremiah 27:1-22
God punished the people of Judah in an unusual way, by appointing a foreign ruler to be His servan. Nebuchadnezzar was not appointed to proclaim God’s message, but to fulfill God’s promise of judgment on sin. Because God is in control of all events, He uses whomever He wants. God may use unlikely people or circumstances to correct you. Be ready to accept God’s guidance, even if it comes from unexpected resources.
This prophecy took place in 593 B.C., and Nebuchadnezzar had already invaded Judah once and had taken many captives. Jeremiah wore a yoke as a symbol of bondage. This was an object lesson, telling the people they must put themselves under Babylon’s yoke or be destroyed.
Zedekiah was in a tough spot. Jeremiah called on him to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar at the time many of the other leaders wanted him to form an alliance and fight. It would be disgraceful for a king to surrender, and he would look like a coward. This was a great opportunity for the false prophets, who kept saying that the Babylonians would not defeat the great city of Jerusalem and that God would never allow the magnificent, holy Temple to be destroyed.
When Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah, first in 605 B.C. and then in 597 B.C., he took away many important people living in Jerusalem: including Daniel and Ezekiel. Although these men were captives, they had a profound impact on the exiles and leaders in Babylon. Jeremiah predicted that more people, and even the precious objects in the Temple, would be taken. This happened in 586 B.C. during Babylon’s third and last invasion.