Jeremiah 21: The Way of Life

In Jeremiah 21 King Zedekiah sends men to ask Jeremiah to pray, because the king of Babylon is making war against Jerusalem. The king hopes God will do a wonder and make the army leave. God's answer is that the city will fall. God sets before the people the way of life and the way of death. He tells the royal house of David to do justice every morning and to rescue people who are robbed.

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Read Jeremiah 21

World English Bible · 14 verses

¹ The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² “Please inquire of Yahweh for us; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. Perhaps Yahweh will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may withdraw from us.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Then Jeremiah said to them, “Tell Zedekiah:This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says, “Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the walls; and I will gather them into the middle of this city.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and animal. They will die of a great pestilence.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Afterward,” says Yahweh, “I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people, even those who are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life. He will strike them with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them, have pity, or have mercy.”’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ “You shall say to this people, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he who goes out and passes over to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he will live, and he will escape with his life.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ For I have set my face on this city for evil, and not for good,” says Yahweh. “It will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.”’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ “Concerning the house of the king of Judah, hear Yahweh’s word:This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² House of David, Yahweh says, ‘Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my wrath go out like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, and of the rock of the plain,’ says Yahweh. ‘You that say, “Who would come down against us?” or, “Who would enter into our homes?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings,’ says Yahweh; ‘and I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it will devour all that is around her.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Jeremiah 21 · Preschool

Choose God's Way

Name Date

Color the path that leads to life. God shows us the good way!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“You shall say to this people, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Jeremiah 21:8 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Then explain that God shows people the good way to go. When we follow God, we are on the way of life. Walk along a pretend path together and talk about good choices.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Jeremiah 21 · Grade 4

Two Ways Set Before Them

Name Date

Read and Think

This chapter jumps ahead to the last years of Judah. King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malchijah and Zephaniah the priest to Jeremiah. Please inquire of Yahweh for us; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. Zedekiah hoped God would deal with them according to all his wondrous works (21:2).

God's answer was not what the king wanted. Because the people had not turned from evil, God himself would not defend the city. The siege would bring great suffering, and the king would be handed to Nebuchadnezzar. Even so, God offered the people a choice. Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. Those who surrendered to the Babylonians would live.

God also addressed the royal house of David. Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor. A king's first duty each day was to protect the weak. God warned that injustice would bring his wrath like a fire that no one could quench.

Show What You Know

What did Zedekiah hope God would do?
Why would God not defend the city?
What choice did God offer the people?
What was a king's first duty each day?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

GodlifeKingjustice

Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malchijah and Zephaniah the priest to Jeremiah.
Zedekiah hoped would deal with them according to all his wondrous works (21:2).
Behold, I set before you the way of and the way of death.
Execute in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor.

Think About It

Zedekiah wanted God's help without turning to God. Why do people sometimes want that?
What does it look like to do justice in the morning in our own lives?

Memory Verse

“House of David, Yahweh says, ‘Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my wrath go out like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.”

Jeremiah 21:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for showing me the way of life. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can we help people treated unfairly?
Can we want God's help without changing?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Jeremiah 21 · Grade 5

The Way of Life and the Way of Death

Name Date

Read and Think

Jeremiah 21 is set near the end of Zedekiah's reign, during Nebuchadnezzar's siege. The king sent officials to Jeremiah with a hopeful request. Perhaps Yahweh will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may withdraw from us. Yet Zedekiah had not changed his ways; he wanted rescue without repentance.

God's reply reversed the king's hopes. Rather than fighting for Jerusalem, God said he would turn back the weapons of war in their own hands. The city would fall to Babylon, and Zedekiah would be handed over. Then God offered a choice that echoes Moses in Deuteronomy. Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. Staying meant death; going out and surrendering to the Chaldeans meant life. Faith now meant accepting God's judgment instead of resisting it.

The chapter closes with a word to the house of David. Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor. Kings were meant to be shepherds who defended the powerless. The coming disaster was not random but was tied to the evil of their doings. God's anger burns against injustice because he cares about the people who are robbed and oppressed.

Show What You Know

What did Zedekiah want from God?
How did God reverse the king's hopes?
What earlier figure does the choice of life and death echo?
Why is God angry at injustice?

Crossword

Across

And he will escape with his ____.
Execute justice in the ____.

Down

Execute ____ in the morning.
Into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar ____ of Babylon.
Into the ____ of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

Think About It

Why might surrender have been the way of faith for Judah at this time?
Who are people who are robbed or oppressed today, and how can we help them?

Memory Verse

Jeremiah 21:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for showing me the way of life. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why did God care about the weak?
What good choice can you make today?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Jeremiah 21: The Way of Life

Read Jeremiah 21

Worksheets

Choose God's Way

Prayer

Take It Home

God's Way

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Two Ways

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

The Way of Life

Prayer

Take It Home

The Way of Life

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Justice in the Morning

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

The Way of Life

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Two Ways Set Before Them

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

The Way of Life and the Way of Death

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options