Jeremiah 37-40: God Helps Those Who Trust

The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people. But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields. - Jer 38:8-10 NIV

What a contrast in these chapters between those in high positions of authority who would trust in anything but God and what God says through his prophets, and the poor in the land who had nothing to trust in but God.  The one group, those with everything to lose, lost it all.  In spite of disbelief at what God promised would happen, Zedekiah watched as his children were slain and then had his own eyes put out.  While the other group, the poor who owned nothing, with nothing to lose, was able to live in relative prosperity under the rule of the same enemy who carted those in power away. It isn't a case of 'God helps those who help themselves', God helps those who trust in him. 

2010 Post - Jeremiah 37-40:  The Right Right Way