Why does the Lord instruct Jeremiah to speak a word to the king of Judah?

The Lord’s response to King Zedekiah’s request for Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord (Jeremiah 21:1–2) continues in this passage (Jeremiah 21:11–22:9). There is a pattern that is repeated twice in the passage. First, the Lord sends Jeremiah to speak to the king of Judah, who is reminded that he sits on the throne of David (Jeremiah 21:11; Jeremiah 22:1–2). Secondly, the Lord warns the king to rule according to the standards of the covenant (Jeremiah 21:12a; Jeremiah 22:3), and then, thirdly, the Lord describes the consequences of the failure of the king to rule in this way (Jeremiah 21:12–14; Jeremiah 22:4–9). The implication of this passage is that Zedekiah has utterly failed in his duties. In the next passage (Jeremiah 22:10–30) the Lord also condemns the behaviour of the three kings of Judah who came before Zedekiah: Shallum (Jehoahaz) (Jeremiah 22:10–12); Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 22:13–19) and Coniah (Jehoiachin) (Jeremiah 22:24–30). This devastating review of all the kings of Judah who ruled during Jeremiah’s ministry describes one of the major reasons why the Lord has rejected Zedekiah’s call to intervene in the siege and why the nation faces the judgment that has just been set out in Jeremiah 21:1–10. It also sets the scene for the Lord’s promise of a righteous Branch who will rule his people with righteousness and justice (Jeremiah 23:1–8).

King Zedekiah is not mentioned by name in this passage (Jeremiah 21:11–22:9) and much of what is said would have applied to all the kings of Israel, including those who came just before Zedekiah. In fact, the oracles spoken here may even have come from different periods in Jeremiah’s ministry but have been brought together here to highlight the failure of Judah’s kings. The context, however, makes it clear that Zedekiah is the immediate audience here when the Lord says to Jeremiah, And to the house of the king of Judah say, Hear the word of the Lord, O house of David! Thus says the Lord.' The Hebrew word bayit is translated as house and means dynasty. So, these words are spoken not just to Zedekiah, but to the whole royal establishment that had the responsibility of ruling the land¹ The fact that the kings dynasty is referred to as the house of David is a stark reminder that the standard for Zedekiah, and all of Israel’s kings, is that of David who ruled the land according to the covenant the Lord established with him.