Heed Wise Counsel!

Jeremiah 40

Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, May 8.

With the deportation under way, a remnant was left behind with Gedaliah as the appointed governor of Judah. Jeremiah found favor with the Babylonian leadership because of his faithfulness as a prophet and was given the choice to come with them to be cared for favorably in exile or to remain in Mizpah as a member of the Jewish remnant. Unfortunately, Jeremiah’s decision to remain did not thwart the rebellious plot to kill the Babylonian’s appointed governor. While there is no record of the prophet’s intervention, Jeremiah 40:13-16 records the governor’s refusal to heed a warning from his top advisors:

Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know! Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the remnant of Judah would perish?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.”

(Spoiler alert: Ishmael murders Gedaliah in the next chapter.) I have two questions about this historical narrative: Where was Jeremiah’s prophetic counsel? Why wouldn’t the newly appointed governor of Judah trust the counsel of his closest advisors? He thought he already knew, so he wasn’t listening to the kingly wisdom of Proverbs 15:22, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”

Seize the moment and heed wisdom, especially when it is given by a trustworthy source. Don’t let your presuppositions prevent you from heeding wise counsel.

God bless you!

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