Zedekiah Himself Is Also Warned Of The Necessity For Continued Submission To The King Of Babylon (Jeremiah 27:12-22).
Zedekiah is also warned by Jeremiah of the consequences of not continuing to submit to the King of Babylon. He was to ignore the promises of the prophets who promised a quick deliverance and return of the previously stolen Temple vessels, for they were untrue. In fact the truth was that disobedience to YHWH's warning would simply result in the remainder of the Temple furniture being transported to Babylon.
‘And I spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.”
Jeremiah tells how he had spoken to Zedekiah in accordance with the same words that he had sent to the nations. Following his own example they were to bring their necks under the yoke of the King of Babylon and serve his people. By that means they would be serving YHWH, and by that means they would survive.
“Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as YHWH has spoken concerning the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?”
But if they did not continue in submission, both the king and all his people would die, by sword, famine and pestilence, in accordance to the words sent to the nations. And that because their action would actually be rebellion against the will of YHWH. Was that really what they wanted to happen?
“And do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,' for they prophesy a lie to you.”
Thus they were not to listen to the words of the prophets who were so assiduously lying to them and declaring that they could safely ‘not serve the King of Babylon'. They were to recognise that their words were a lie.
“For I have not sent them, the word of YHWH, but they prophesy falsely in my name, that I may drive you out, and that you may perish, you, and the prophets who prophesy to you.”
For on the assured word of YHWH they could be certain that YHWH had not sent these prophets. Rather they were prophesying falsely in His Name. But it did have a purpose, and that was in order that He might drive them out in accordance with His purpose, so that both they and the prophets might perish. The lying prophets would thus in their own way be bringing about YHWH's will (compare 1 Kings 22:19-23). It is a reminder of YHWH's control over history both good and bad (compare the opening of the seven-sealed book in Revelation 6 which conveyed the same message). While the offer of repentance was always open it was quite clear that they had no intention of responding, and therefore their doom was sealed.
‘Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, “Thus says YHWH. Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, ‘Behold, the vessels of YHWH's house will now shortly be brought again from Babylon,' for they prophesy a lie to you.”
He also spoke to the priests and all the people who were there warning them not to listen to the prophecies of the prophets who promised that the vessels of YHWH's house, which had previously been taken away in the days of Jehoiakim/Jehoiachin, would shortly be returned from Babylon, for it was all a lie. (They would eventually be returned, but that was a long way ahead. It was not to happen within the near future). The promises being made by the false prophets clearly included a promise of the removal of the Babylonian yoke, which would be why the vessels were returned. It is noticeable that no one ventured to suggest who would be responsible for the return of the vessels.
“Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and live. Why should this city become a desolation?”
Jeremiah therefore tells them not to listen to the prophets, but to faithfully serve the King of Babylon, and thus be allowed to live. Why should they act foolishly by doing something which could only result in the desolation of their city?
“But if they are prophets, and if the word of YHWH is with them, let them now make intercession to YHWH of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of YHWH, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, do not go to Babylon.”
Rather, if the prophets were true prophets so that the word of YHWH was in them (the word which was spoken as in Jeremiah 27:21), let them make intercession that the vessels which still remained in the Temple and in the king's house, remain there and not be carried off to Babylon. This was a prayer that would be heard if they set aside any idea of rebellion. And it was the wise step to take.
“For thus says YHWH of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels which are left in this city, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem,”
For YHWH was not prophesying the return of vessels from Babylon. Rather He was prophesying concerning all that still remained in Judah, the ‘sea', the bases, and the residue of the sacred vessels which had not been taken when Jehoiachin and so many of the leading citizens, including its nobles throughout Judah had been taken away by Nebuchadnezzar.
“Yes, thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels which are left in the house of YHWH, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, they will be carried to Babylon, and there will they be, until the day that I visit them, the word of YHWH, then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.”
And the word of YHWH concerning all the vessels which still remained in the house of YHWH and in the king's palace, was that they also would be carried off to Babylon and would remain there until His allotted day of deliverance. And this was the guaranteed word of YHWH. It was only when that day of deliverance came that He would again bring all those vessels back up to Jerusalem, and restore them to their rightful place.