Jeremiah Pt 3 – The Struggle Between Science and Selfishness
By Todd Beiswenger
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At this part of the book of Jeremiah we get to some action. The kings of Judah are trying to avoid being taken over. Babylon threatens from the north, Egypt to from the south. Can they form an alliance with one to keep the other at bay? The key in this story is that Babylon represents selfishness, and Egypt scientific knowledge, so this story is an image of how we deal in spiritual crisis situations. Do we run to Babylon or Egypt, or do we listen to God's prophet, Jeremiah?
(References: Arcana Coelestia 1164, 1326; Jeremiah 36:2-7, 37:16-21, 38:2-6)
Jeremiah 38:2-6
2
Thus says Yahweh, He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey, and he shall live.
3
Thus says Yahweh, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it.
4
Then the princes said to the king, "Please let this man be put to death; because he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them: for this man doesn't seek the welfare of this people, but the hurt."
5
Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand; for the king is not he who can do anything against you.
6
Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king's son, that was in the court of the guard: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. In the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.
