John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 39:11-12

"Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee." — Jeremiah 39:11-12 (ASV)

The Prophet now describes the paternal care of God, which he had experienced in the preservation of his life and safety. The innocent, we know, are often killed in a tumult, and the storming of cities is turbulent, so that many things are done without any thought; indeed, even the leaders are not able to moderate the excesses of the victorious.

When, therefore, the Chaldeans burned the palace, Jeremiah might have perished at the same time, being suffocated by the very smoke of the fire. We know what happened at the taking of Syracuse. Marcellus did not want Archimedes to perish; in fact, he commanded that he be preserved, for he wished to save that man because of his singular industry and noble genius.

However, while he was drawing circles on the ground, he was killed by a common soldier. If no one had come to Jeremiah, he might, as I have said, have been buried under the ruins of the palace when the king’s court was burned down. But he says that he had been wonderfully preserved, for Nebuchadnezzar had given a command concerning him, so that he would not be exposed to any trouble, but that Nebuzaradan, as well as the whole army, should ensure his safety.

It is indeed probable that the king of Babylon had heard of Jeremiah; and though he was in prison, yet the Word of God, which he boldly proclaimed, was not bound. Then the report of this might have reached the king of Babylon, and for this reason, he was inclined to preserve him, for he had given faithful counsel to Zedekiah. But Nebuchadnezzar no doubt regarded only his own advantage; and so we should bear in mind the wonderful goodness of God in preserving, as it were, by His own hand, the life of the Prophet, so that in extreme circumstances no one touched him, but he remained free and undisturbed, as we shall see later. But we must postpone the rest until tomorrow.

Prayer:

Grant, omnipotent God, that since You have once given us such a dreadful proof of Your wrath in the destruction of that city, which You chose, and in which You had Your holy habitation — O grant, that we may learn so to submit to You in true humility and obedience, that we may not provoke Your extreme displeasure, but on the contrary anticipate it by genuine repentance, and that being terrified by Your threatenings, we may so submit ourselves to You as to obtain Your mercy, and thus to regard You as a Father, ever favorable to all those who flee to You through Christ Jesus our Lord. — Amen.