Jeremiah 38

Rejected prophet cast into the pit

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire. Jeremiah 38:6

Jeremiah is rejected by his own leaders, condemned for speaking God's truth, and let down into a pit, then lifted out alive. His suffering softly echoes the Savior, the rejected Prophet whose own people sought His death.

• alludes to Psalm 69:2 — The messianic psalm's cry "I sink in deep mire" uses the same picture of the righteous sufferer.

Creation by Christ

So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life. Jeremiah 38:16

Even in a secret oath, the king names the LORD as the living God who made our souls. Latter-day scripture teaches that Jehovah, Jesus Christ, is the Creator.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ is "the Creator of all things from the beginning."

Jehovah

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: Jeremiah 38:17–20

Jeremiah speaks for Jehovah, the premortal Christ, pleading with Zedekiah that obeying His voice is the way for his soul to live.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)