Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Jeremiah Chapter 39
Metaphysically Interpreting Jeremiah 39:1-10
39:1And it came to pass when Jerusalem was taken, (in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and besieged it; 39:2in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city,) 39:3that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon. 39:4And it came to pass that, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, through the gate betwixt the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah. 39:5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and he gave judgment upon him. 39:6Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. 39:7Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. 39:8And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem. 39:9Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the residue of the people that remained in the city, the deserters also that fell away to him, and the residue of the people that remained. 39:10But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, that had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
August 27, 1911: Jeremiah 39:1-10
Zedekiah means Jehovah is might. He is the king of the Jews, the ruling Ego of the spiritual consciousness. This lesson illustrates the result of self-sufficiency and obstinacy in one who has attained a degree of spiritual dominion, but is not obedient to the Spirit of Truth. “He stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel.”
The children of Israel represent one who has worshiped the true and only God and thereby established in consciousness a place of peace (Jerusalem), where he can undisturbed commune with the Spirit. But there is ever a tendency to formalism in religious worship, and Christians as well as pagans make graven images and fall down before them in adoration and supplication, forgetting that God is Spirit. The pomp and glory of religious worship in Christian churches was not instituted by Jesus Christ nor his disciples. History shows that the early Christians had few rites or ceremonies; these were incorporated from the pagans by crafty priests, who thought the end justified the means, and that by adopting the outer pageantry of semi-savagery they would add to the church. The end has been just what is depicted in this text: invasion from without, capture, death of spiritual life in nearly every related condition, and final removal from the inner peace (Jerusalem) to the outer confusion (Babylon).
True repentance should be cultivated by one who wants to make rapid spiritual progress. It is not the one who never sins that attains the kingdom first, but he who repents when he misses the mark. People who are such strict observers of the church laws that they never transgress will be beaten in the race for the kingdom by sinners and harlots, according to the teaching of Jesus. The repentant mind is always the receptive mind. God loves to forgive sinners, and there is more joy in heaven over the return of the one lost sheep than the ninety and nine that remained in the fold.
– UNITY magazine.
Metaphysically Interpreting Jeremiah 39:11-18
39:11Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, 39:12Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. 39:13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban, Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon; 39:14they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
39:15Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying, 39:16Go, and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished before thee in that day. 39:17But I will deliver thee in that day, saith Jehovah; and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. 39:18For I will surely save thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee; because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith Jehovah.
August 8, 1948: Jeremiah 39:15-18
Are threats an elective way to influence people to do right? At best threats effect unwilling obedience, co-operation under duress. They arouse distrust, dislike, antagonism, and other negative reactions.
How does the body respond to negative thoughts and influences? Through lowered vitality and various depressed states, which if prolonged may end in disease or death.
Does depression of spirit influence those around the person who gives way to it? Very quickly, sometimes even without words. Although words are the quickest and most potent conveyors of mental states, the expression of the face, the posture of the body, and the mental state itself often impart gloom and depression to others. Sometimes others learn our thoughts and feelings before we are fully aware of them ourselves.
What effectually proves the power of mind over matter? The sudden uplift that we experience upon hearing unexpected good news and the instantaneous vanishing of gloom that has been allowed to fill the mind are effectual proofs of the power of the mind over the body.
Do we have power to choose the conditions of the situations that confront us? No. These are determined by our past thoughts and reactions. However we have the power to choose the state of mind in which we meet any condition. By making a wise choice and keeping our thought positive and constructive we can not only heal and harmonize present conditions, but we can control future conditions.
Is it fair to leave the whole work of raising the body out of negative conditions to our natural life forces? No, we should reinforce our natural life forces with our conscious thoughts, maintaining a cheerful, confident frame of mind at all times and looking forward to victory through the Christ consciousness of love and good will.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-30-2014
