Jeremiah 35 - 40

So many of us are concerned what others may think about us. Why is it that we fear man more than God? Nephi said -

"Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:31)

In modern day the Lord as said -

"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:19)

We see this even in the days of Zedekiah. Zedekiah knew Jeremiah was a prophet. Jeremiah had prophecied multiple times before the king, but each time Zedekiah seemed to be more influenced by his counselors. On one occasion -

"...Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me." (Old Testament Jeremiah 38:14)

The king as his leaders had not been kind to Jeremiah so -

"...Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?" (Old Testament Jeremiah 38:15)

"So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life." (Old Testament Jeremiah 38:16)

Jeremiah again warns Zedekiah and provides this instruction -

"....Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:
18 But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand." (Old Testament Jeremiah 38:17 - 18)

Zedekiah is again more concerned of what his friends may think saying -

"...I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me." (Old Testament Jeremiah 38:19)

Jeremiah may have rolled his eyes and in disgust answered -

"...They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live." (Old Testament Jeremiah 38:20)

But then in undeniable seriousness he warns -

"But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:
22 And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.
23 So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire." (Old Testament Jeremiah 38:21 - 23)

Again, Zedekiah is more worried about his friends and answers -

"...Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die." (Old Testament Jeremiah 38:24)

Of course, Zedekiah relies on the counsel of leaders and the arm of flesh than the words of the Lord through his prophet and as warriors of Babylon had come -

"...that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain." (Old Testament Jeremiah 39:4)

Which was contrary to the counsel of Jeremiah. As a result of ignoring the counsel of Jeremiah -

"...the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.
6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.
7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon." (Old Testament Jeremiah 39:5 - 7)

"And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem." (Old Testament Jeremiah 39:8)

Again -

"Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:31)