Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. These were dark days for God’s people. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had already gone into captivity, and Judah was on the precipice of the same fate.
King Nebuchadnezzar had made Zedekiah king of Judah in the place of Coniah, Zedekiah’s uncle, who had only reigned for three months. There was great political tension during this time. Because of this, we see the Egyptians coming to aid Judah, most likely as a request from Zedekiah himself. The king also sends word to Jeremiah to pray for God’s help. We see that the king is desperate for help from anyone and everyone.
So the Egyptian army comes out in full force, which causes the Babylonians to leave Jerusalem. It seemed that Zedekiah’s plan had worked. But God tells Jeremiah that captivity to the Babylonians is inevitable. King Zedekiah was hoping that the Babylonians would leave, but even if the entire army had been wounded, they would still rise up and capture Jerusalem.
The people of Judah had a bitter resentment against Jeremiah because he never prophesied good to them. So Jeremiah decides to head back to the land of Benjamin, which was where his home was located. But he’s stopped at the gate by Irijah, an official who accused him of siding with the Babylonians, and attempting to leave and join them. As a result, Jeremiah is put under guard in a prison house.
THE KING'S QUESTION AND THE PROPHET'S ANSWER(v. 17)
The king asks, “Is there any word from the Lord?”
Jeremiah answers, “There is.”
THERE IS A WORD FROM THE LORD FOR THE ISSUES FACING OUR NATION
There is a word from the Lord on abortion
There is a word from the Lord on marriage
There is a word from the Lord on transgenderism and identity
There is a word from the Lord on parenting and education
THERE IS A WORD FROM THE LORD FOR THE PERSONAL STRUGGLES YOU FACE
There is a word from the Lord for your loneliness
There is a word from the Lord for your worries and fears
There is a word from the Lord for your depression
There is a word from the Lord for your temptation
There is a word from the Lord for your trial
There is a word from the Lord for your sorrow
There is a word from the Lord for your pain brought on by others
There is a word from the Lord for your uncertainties
GOD'S WORD IS SUFFICIENT for every need you have and every problem you encounter!
That’s a big statement! So then the next question is, how? How is God’s Word sufficient? Well, I believe God’s Word is sufficient for your life in three specific areas:
1. THE BIBLE HAS THE ANSWER THAT YOUR PROBLEM NEEDS
Life is full of problems, and without the Bible, you might never get the answers to those problems. You can turn to psychology; you can buy a self-help book; you can go to a counselor or a lawyer, but these are fallible solutions. There is no need for them when God has given us answers that cannot fail from His Word.
I mentioned just a moment ago common struggles that are typical to life: loneliness, worries, fears, depression, temptations, trials, sorrow, pain, uncertainties, and there are many more. The Bible has the answer to all of these.
I Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
And where will that answer come from? It will come from God’s Answer Book, the Bible.
II Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Doctrine: what’s right. Reproof: what’s wrong. Correction: how to get right. Instruction in righteousness: how to stay right. We tend to bring a lot of problems on ourselves. We would be much better off if we lived according to the doctrine, commands, principles, and promises of the Bible.
“There’s an app for that.” How about, “There’s a verse for that.”
Turn to I Samuel 30. (explain the context of this story)
I Samuel 30:6, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
How did David do that? Did he give himself a pep talk? No, that would have been encouraging himself in David. I believe David quoted Scripture, perhaps even a psalm that he had written. He put his focus on the Lord, which is right where it needed to be. You will see that the next thing David does is pray. God’s Word and prayer go hand in hand. The story has a happy ending—they get everyone back. God’s Word had the answer to David’s problem.
2. THE BIBLE HAS THE GUIDANCE THAT YOUR LIFE NEEDS
Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
The Bible compares your life to a path, a journey.
Pro. 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Psa. 27:11, “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path…”
Pro. 4:18, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
Jer. 6:16, “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…”
Illustration: when you go on a hike, you need a map or compass or something.
The Bible is the guiding light that you need for life! It is “a lamp unto your feet” as it shows you the next step you need to take, but it is also the “light unto your path” in that it shows you the path you need to stay on, or a new path that you need to get on.
Psa. 119:10, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”
When you choose to put God’s Word aside, you will wander off the path. You have put the lamp down. “I don’t need this, I can find my own way!” You won’t. Many have said the same thing, and then have wandered right into the quicksand of this world. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Pro. 14:12).
Let the Bible guide you in your decisions. Let it guide you in your prayer life. Let it guide you in your temptations. Let it guide you in your trials. Let it guide you in your witnessing. Let it guide you in every step that you take.
3. THE BIBLE HAS THE PEACE THAT YOUR SOUL NEEDS
It’s interesting to study peace in the Bible. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). It is something supernatural that only the Spirit can produce in your life. At the same time, peace is connected with prayer.
Phil. 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Peace is also connected with God Himself.
Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
But finally, we see that peace is connected with the Word of God.
Psalm 119:165, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
If you love God’s Word, then you will read it, and if you read it, the Holy Spirit will use it to produce that peace that passes all understanding in your life. Life is often full of turmoil. We need the peace of God. If you love God’s Word, you can have that peace.
The Bible is sufficient because it has the answer that your problem needs, it has the guidance that your life needs, and it has the peace that your soul needs.
CONCLUSION
In light of these truths, what should we do? The answer is obvious. We must know God’s Word! You have the Word of God, but do you know it? We live in a technological era. We have access to the Bible like never before, and yet, many Christians are biblically illiterate. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6).
When King Zedekiah asked Jeremiah, “Is there a word from the Lord,” the answer came back immediately, “There is.” And tonight, there is a word from the Lord for you, and it is this book! God has given you this book that you might know Him and live a life pleasing to Him. Take the time to read it, and love it! This book has the answer to every problem you will face; it has the guidance that you will desperately need; and it has the peace of God that you cannot live without. Yes, there is a word from the Lord for you.
