The Indestructible Word (3)

Pray Psalm 33.4, 5.
For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

Sing Psalm 33.4, 5.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns )
Joyfully shout! His Word is true;
He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through;
the Lord loves truth and righteousness.

Read and meditate on Jeremiah 36.1-19.

Prepare.
1. What was Jeremiah instructed to write? Why?

2. How did the princes respond to the reading of this book?

Meditate.
The book of Jeremiah does not unfold in a strictly chronological manner. Here is another “flashback”, to the days of Jehoiakim, who followed Shallum to the throne (both were sons of Josiah) and preceded Jeconiah and Zedekiah. Jeremiah is recalling the time when he wrote the words which we have read today in the book that bears his name.

We get a glimpse of the process of divine revelation in these verses. God spoke to Jeremiah certain words. Jeremiah recited these to Baruch, and Baruch wrote them in a scroll – the ancient equivalent of a book. The purpose of this was so that Baruch could read the Word of God in many places, and so that the Word would have permanence beyond the lifetime of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was in confinement at the time (v. 5 and would be released, vv. 19, 26), but God did not choose to have His Word in confinement. Hence, the writing of the scroll.

The purpose of the reading was to bring the people of Judah to their senses, to provoke them to fear and repentance in response to what God was threatening because of their sin (vv. 4-8). This seems to have gone on for a year or so (cf. vv. 1, 9), until Jehoiakim called a fast before the LORD for all the people in Judah and Jerusalem. At that time, Baruch again read from Jeremiah’s book to the people gathered in Jerusalem (v. 10).

The princes of Judah who heard these words were startled (vv. 11-19), and they felt like they needed to tell the words to King Jehoiakim. He had no doubt heard them already (hence, the fast), but apparently, he had not fully considered the gravity of the words. The princes were determined to tell the king, but they knew him to be hard of heart, so they urged Baruch and Jeremiah to go into hiding.

The Word of God is living and powerful. It can reach to the soul, where God does whatever work He has determined to do in any person. Our calling, like that of Baruch, is to receive the Word and to proclaim it, and especially to declare its central message, that Jesus has paid the price for our redemption. But we’d better be ready, because not everyone to whom we proclaim this Good News will be happy to hear it.

Reflect.
1. What do we mean when we say that the words of Scripture are “inspired”? Why should that matter to us?

2. We note that Baruch merely read the Word of God. He did not “preach” it. What does this suggest about the place of reading God’s Word, privately and in worship?

3. Should we fear some of what we read in God’s Word? Explain.

Jeremiah then stood, as it were, between God and Baruch; for God, by his Spirit, presided over and guided the mind and tongue of the Prophet. Now the Prophet, the Spirit being his guide and teacher, recited what God had commanded; and Baruch wrote down, and then proclaimed the whole summary of what the Prophet had taught. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Jeremiah 36.4

Thank You for Your Word, O Lord. Help me to live it out as I…

Pray Psalm 33.1-3, 7-9.
Our God is sovereign still. Praise Him for His unchanging Word and His great faithfulness. Ask Him for an opportunity to talk with someone about Jesus today.

Sing Psalm 33.1-3, 7-9.
Psalm 33.1-3, 7-9 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the Lord,
for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words,
and let new songs of praise be sung!

God spoke and heaven came to be,
and all its hosts His Spirit wrought.
He heaps the waters of the sea;
the deeps their dwelling place are taught.

Let all below now fear the Lord;
let all in awe of Him abide!
The worlds exist by Jesus’ Word;
let all on earth in Him confide.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).