It literally was about a year’s worth of work. The LORD had told Jeremiah to write down all the revelations that had been given to him to warn the people of Jerusalem and Judah, and especially the king. So Jeremiah had commissioned Baruch as his scribe and Jeremiah spent the better part of a year dictating. It was no small work.
Then the LORD told him to read it in the hearing of the people at the temple who were there for a fast. Jeremiah wasn’t allowed in as he had been barred from doing so, but Baruch, his scribe was allowed. So he sent Baruch to read the scroll to them.
When Micaiah, son of Shaphan, son of Gamaria heard these words, he trembled at them and took the scroll to the officials. They too trembled at the word of God. These were honorable men, men of integrity, and men of God who knew the fear of the LORD. They were not like ordinary men.
Wisely they instructed Baruch that he and Jeremiah should hide. But that they were going to take the scroll to the king, a king they knew who had hardened his heart to truth.
When the officials told the king about the word of the LORD that was dictated in the scroll, king Jehoiakim had the scroll brought to him. After every few paragraphs were read, Jehoiakim took a knife, cut the scroll and threw it into the fireplace. It was wintertime and a fire had been burning.
The men of honor implored him not to burn the scroll. But king Jehoiakim did anyway. He refused to accept the message that Jerusalem and Judah would be conquered by Babylon if they did not repent.
God had given them countless opportunities to repent. They didn’t take even one.
The king then declared that they were to seize Baruch and Jeremiah. But thankfully they were hidden. The LORD covered them.
After the king burned the scroll, the LORD came again to Jeremiah. He told him to again write another scroll with the same word. It was no small undertaking to do it again, but Jeremiah began again. And even added more.
Meanwhile the LORD declared that since King Jehoiakim refused to listen to the Word of the LORD, he would die and his body would be tossed outside to rot in the heat of the day and the cold of the night.
Her furthermore declared that punishment would come on Judah and Jerusalem. God had warned them. He wanted to relent. But they had nothing but harden their hearts further.
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- I never stop being amazed at just how many times the LORD warned them that if they did not repent, he was going to bring them disaster. He gave them every opportunity and more but they refused to listen. Surely it couldn’t happen to them. But their great sin had aroused the “anger and fury of the LORD,” but they persisted on in their rebellion (v. 7).
- It’s interesting to note also that this word was proclaimed during the time of the national fast. All the people had come to fast and pray before the LORD. And yet their fasting was pointless because their hearts were so far from Him. God does not want religious devotion greater than our hearts (Is 58).
- The time it took for Jeremiah to dictate those scrolls was great. It makes me think of the missionary that had just finished translating the Bible when it was burned up. This was before the days of computers and copy machines. He had to start over again. It seems like it was India or China or something. Can’t remember. But what devotion.
- In the darkest hours, great men (and women) of honor are raised up. The ones names in this chapter are truly inspiring. They trembled at the Word of God, they were wise with the times telling Jeremiah and Baruch to hide, but they were also bold to take the message to the king.
Wow. Just wow. It makes me think of when I first heard of those in Louisiana who first started sanctuary cities for the unborn. It almost took my breath away to hear of this incredible act.
Anyway, terrible times reveal the worst and the absolute very best. May we see this again.
