The book of Jeremiah has so many great stories. Stories that are historically and theologically true.
Jeremiah chapter 36 is one of my favorite chapters in the book of Jeremiah.
In chapter 36, the Lord tells Jeremiah:
"Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin."
(Jeremiah 36:2-3)
So Jeremiah called Baruch, his secretary, and dictated to him the words that the Lord had spoken to him. Jeremiah told Baruch to go to the house of the Lord and speak these words to them, that
"It may be that their plea for mercy will come before the LORD, and that every one will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and wrath that the LORD has pronounced against this people."
(Jeremiah 36:7)
While Baruch was at the house of the Lord, some officials from King Jehoiakim heard him and said that these words should be read to the king. So the scroll was taken to the king. Look at how much contempt the king had for the Word of the Lord:
"It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him. As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments. Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the secretary and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them."
(Jeremiah 36:22-26)
The king was so brazen that he burned the Word of the Lord in the fire. I love how the Lord responded:
" Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, 'Thus says the LORD, You have burned this scroll, saying, "Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it man and beast?" Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night. And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring upon them and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and upon the people of Judah all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, but they would not hear.'" Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them."
(Jeremiah 36:27-32)The Lord preserves his Word. His Word is indestructible. Today's culture ignores the Word of God. The History Channel and books like the Davinci Code have tried to show that the Bible is historically inaccurate, inconsistent, or is missing books. National Geographic and others say why don't we include the Gospel of Judas and Gospel of Thomas as part of the Canon of Scripture.
Friends, I can't address all of those issues today. But know that the Bible we have is the Word of God. It is the revelation that God has given us. The world may try to discredit God's Word and to show that it is not indestructible.
But let's look at what the Lord Jesus said about the Word of God:
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
(Matthew 24:35)
"If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—"
(John 10:35)
Scripture can not be broken. It is indestructible. We can trust that what the Word says about Jesus Christ and His Character to be true.
Praise be to God!!!!
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."(Hebrews 13:8)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
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