Jeremiah 42:20

Jeremiah 42:20 delivers a powerful and convicting message from the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah to the remnant of Judah. This verse exposes the deep-seated hypocrisy and deceit in the hearts of those who approached Jeremiah, feigning a desire to obey God's will while already having predetermined their own course of action.

Context

This verse is situated in a critical period following the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon in 586 BC and the subsequent assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor. The surviving remnant of Judah, fearing Babylonian retribution, considered fleeing to Egypt. In a display of apparent piety, they approached Jeremiah, asking him to inquire of the Lord on their behalf, promising solemnly to obey whatever God commanded (as seen in Jeremiah 42:6). However, as Jeremiah 42:20 reveals, their outward plea for divine guidance was a facade; their hearts were already set on their own path, regardless of God's answer.

Key Themes and Messages

• Deceitfulness of the Human Heart: The core message is the exposure of human hypocrisy. The phrase "ye dissembled in your hearts" directly accuses them of insincerity. They pretended to seek God's counsel while intending to do their own will. This echoes themes found elsewhere, such as Jeremiah 17:9, which states, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
• False Piety and Hypocrisy: The people's request for prayer and their vow of obedience were hollow. They used religious language and actions as a cover for their disobedience, seeking not God's will but confirmation for their own desires.
• God's Omniscience: This verse underscores God's perfect knowledge of human intentions. He sees beyond outward appearances and knows the true motives of the heart. The remnant could deceive Jeremiah, but they could not deceive the Lord. 1 Chronicles 28:9 reminds us that "the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts."
• The Danger of Seeking Confirmation: Rather than genuine submission, the people were looking for divine approval of a decision they had already made. This is a common pitfall: asking God for guidance when one has already decided on a course of action.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "dissembled" translates the Hebrew verb kizbev (כִּזַּבְתֶּם), which means "to lie," "to deceive," or "to deal falsely." It powerfully conveys the intentional falsehood of their request, emphasizing that their hearts were not genuinely open to God's instruction but were instead filled with deceit concerning their true intentions to flee to Egypt.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 42:20 serves as a timeless warning against hypocrisy in our spiritual lives. It challenges us to:

• Examine Our Motives: When we pray for guidance or seek God's will, are we truly open to His answer, even if it contradicts our desires? Or are we secretly hoping He will affirm a decision we've already made?
• Cultivate Sincerity: God desires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6). Our prayers and requests should flow from a genuine desire to obey, not from a manipulative attempt to gain divine sanction for our own agenda.
• Trust in God's Wisdom: The remnant's fear of Babylon led them to trust their own judgment over God's clear word. This verse reminds us to trust God's wisdom and provision even when His path seems more difficult or counterintuitive than our own. Their subsequent disobedience ultimately led to their demise in Egypt, as prophesied in Jeremiah 44:12.

This verse encourages us to approach God with honest hearts, ready to hear and obey His every word, knowing that He sees and understands our deepest intentions.