THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The Lord commands, Go to the residence of the king of Judah and deliver this message: Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, seated on the throne of David, you and your officials and your people who enter through this gate. The Lord declares, Administer justice and righteousness, and rescue the oppressed from the grasp of the accuser; do not mistreat the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow, and do not unjustly oppress, nor spill innocent blood for the sake of vengeance. For if you follow this counsel, then the kings descended from David shall enter through the gates of this house, sitting upon his throne, riding chariots and horses, along with their servants and people. Yet if you refuse to heed these words, I, the Lord, have sworn that this house will become desolate.
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This message from the Lord was given to the prophet either prior to Zedekiah sending his envoys or after he had instructed them on what to convey to the king. Jeremiah is directed not to communicate with the king through the envoys but to approach the palace himself to deliver the message directly. Here we see divine wisdom: when speaking to the ambassadors, he is instructed to share both the dire news and the possibility of mercy if the king repents; but since he is going to the palace himself, he conveys advice to the king on how to escape the looming judgment of God. It is the duty of kings to uphold justice and truth, to liberate the oppressed from their adversaries, and to support the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow, who are often vulnerable to the powerful. To encourage a deeper commitment to God’s commandments, he urges, Do not oppress them—not only should you abstain from taking from them, but also do not permit others to harm them through your negligence. Additionally, do not shed innocent blood in this place; for carrying out justice against murderers and wrongdoers is not bloodshed but upholding the law. If you, O kings of Judah, carry this out, you will maintain your authority and enter the gates of Jerusalem with honor. However, if you fail to act, O house of the king, it is not merely a matter of the Lord’s severity but of your own choices that will lead the entire city to desolation. It is vital for bishops, fellow presbyters, deacons, and all others within the church hierarchy to recognize that if they fulfill their duties and avoid shedding innocent blood, leading astray even the least (Matthew 18:6) and wounding the conscience of others (1 Corinthians 8:12), they will preserve the ministry entrusted to them by the Lord. Conversely, neglecting these responsibilities will result in the Church becoming a desolate wasteland. Those of David’s lineage shall enter Jerusalem’s gates and sit upon its throne, embodying strength and authority, riding chariots and horses when they have controlled both their own desires and those of the people, adhering to the path set forth in the Church, united with the harmony of multiple virtues. To affirm the truth of this promise, He swears by Himself, as no greater authority exists by which He can swear (Hebrews 6).