It's always better to obey the Word of God

Jeremiah 37-38 teaches us the following lessons:

Beware of a 'false hope'

The temporary withdrawal of the Babylonian army from besieging Jerusalem, when the Egyptian army came out of Egypt, did not mean that Jerusalem was safe because the Word of the Lord was that the Babylonian army would return and the destruction of the city was a fixed certainty (Jer. 37:1-10)

Don't think that the servants of God will always have a 'first class' life experience

The prophet of God did not have an easy life. For his faithful declaration of the Word of God, Jeremiah got falsely accused and imprisoned and even cast into an empty, muddy cistern (Jer. 37:11-38:6)

It's always better to obey the Word of God

Even at the very end, while the Babylonians were besieging Jerusalem, God gave the people an opportunity to be spared and for the city to not get destroyed, if they would choose to obey the Word of God (Jer. 38:17-18, 20).

Application: It is ALWAYS better to obey the Word of God!

So, we don't want to cling to false hopes that all our problems will just go away, and we don't expect to be spared all the pains of this life, but we know that it is always best to follow the Word of God and generally if we choose to "obey now the voice of the Lord ....it shall be well with you" (Jer. 38:20).

Proverbs 25:28 ESV says:

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."

Lord God of hosts, please give us the "self-control" to obey your Word and not give way to fear. In Jesus' Name. Amen.