Contemplative Bible Reading

Jeremiah 40:2-3 (New Living Translation)

2 The captain of the guard (Nebuzaradan) called for Jeremiah and said, “The Lord your God has brought this disaster on this land, 3 just as he said he would. For these people have sinned against the Lord and disobeyed him. That is why it happened.

The Babylonians have captured Jerusalem. The people of God are completely conquered. The captain of the guard comes to a set of prisoners (there were thousands of prisoners) to find the prophet Jeremiah.

Note the words from the person who does not belong to God’s people and does not worship God. The captain of the guard knows what prophets have relayed to the people from God. He knows how the people responded to these words of God.

All this Godly wisdom from someone else. You don’t have to be a follower of God to know about God. God’s work is evident to all. And then believe. Did this captain of the guard believe or come to believe? We aren’t told here. The captain of the guard gives honor to Jeremiah and offers to bring him to Babylon and take care of him.

God, help me to learn from this outsider.