King Zedekiah wants Jeremiah to talk to God for him. The king is hoping for a good response from God. He wants God to perform a miracle in his favor. He brings up God’s record, saying that maybe God will do one of His wonderful deeds and send away the enemy army.

The king knows the stories, the history of Israel, the stories of how God turned away and defeated armies by His own hand. He wants that God. Now he wants that God. He’s not been turning to God; he’s not been honoring God, but now he wants the God that saves.

God does send troubles to His people in order for them to cry out and return to Him, but Zedekiah wasn’t repenting and crying out to God. He didn’t humble himself and present himself before God. He just wants from God without any cost to himself. That’s not how this works.

Jesus gave up His life for us. We give up our life for Him. We don’t get to just use God for our own purposes. He gets to use us for His purposes.

King Hezekiah will get the God that defeats armies, but God promises to fight against King Zedekiah. People will die of famine, pestilence, or the sword.

Is God still good? When He fights His own people, is He good?

God’s heart is our salvation. He does all He can, but He doesn’t force anyone into it. We have to choose for ourselves. God helps us out in so many ways. Even with this rebellious people who have rejected their Lord, God doesn’t just wipe them out in His furious wrath. He offers them a choice. When God offers us a choice, it can mean life or death. Pay attention. The choice is God’s will, His good, not your will and what you deem is your good.

God is good and is for your good. Surrender to His plans, even if it means surrendering to an enemy for awhile (think persecution, trials, etc.)