Therefore thus says the Lord: “You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and every one to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim liberty to you,” says the Lord “to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine! And I will deliver you to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth.” (Jeremiah 34:17)

The Liberty Of God

Slavery was not condemned in the Law of Moses, but there were strict rules governing the treatment of those enslaved. A bondservant must be released from obligation in the seventh year of his service. During the year of the Jubilee, all slaves were to be released regardless of their time as slaves. His property was also returned to him with a liberal amount of food and livestock. Darrell Hymel writes, “The Hebrew slave was not a victim of a harsh, cruel system. Hebrew slavery actually served a social purpose for the destitute, allowing them a source of food and shelter.” Slaves were treated as hired servants who were not to work on the Sabbath. Masters were commanded to treat their slaves without severity for fear of God.

In the final days of Judah, the remnant faced the Babylonian army led by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. God warned the people through the prophets of the impending doom and destruction. Jeremiah told Zedekiah, king of Judah, that Nebuchadnezzar would burn Jerusalem and all its cities with fire but that he would escape death. The Lord told the king he would be spared and taken to Babylon. During this tumultuous time, Zedekiah implored the people to set free their male and female slaves (Hebrew) and that no one should keep a Jewish brother in bondage. The people agreed and set their slaves free.

After setting their slaves free, the people changed their minds. They made the male and female slaves return, whom they had set free, to serve as slaves once again. This displeased the Most Holy God. Jeremiah reminded the people what the Law of Moses commanded. At the end of seven years, every man should set free their Hebrew brother. The people did this but then reneged on their covenant. Taking the Hebrews back into slavery displeased God, and He brought His divine wrath upon them.

Jeremiah suggests the Lord sheathed his sword when the people let their slaves go free. When they enslaved the people again, the sword of the Lord came out of its divine sheath. God’s wrath would be brought against His people for their flagrant disregard of His law. The promise God made was to give the people a liberty they would never forget. This liberty was the liberty of the sword, pestilence, and famine. God’s wrath would be let loose among the people for their blatant disregard for His word. The sword of God would bring a pestilence upon the people, leading to a famine. God’s wrath was to be meted out against the evil hearts of the people.

The lesson in this story is how God’s wrath is equal to the rebellion of the people. They gave liberty to the slaves and then took that liberty away. It was a harsh thing to set the people free only to enslave them once again. Because of their evil hearts, God brought His own liberty to the disobedient in the form of a sword, pestilence, and famine. God’s wrath is against all unrighteousness. The mercy of God justifies punishment. His divine wrath gave liberty to the disobedient in the form of their own doom. God has no desire for any to perish. His love has been given to bring men to Christ. Most people are unconcerned about Jesus Christ. The world is filled with people who do not believe in God or His only begotten Son.

Liberty for the world is to do whatever the heart pleases. Life can be filled with all the pleasures of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life. The world can enjoy all its liberties, but the Lord’s liberty will soon recompense the evil. An eternal punishment is the liberty God will give to all those who refuse to obey His will. It will not be a sword, pestilence, or famine. The liberty of the Lord is a lake of fire and brimstone that no one will escape.