SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 36
JEHOIAKIM BURNS JEREMIAH’S SCROLL (vs. 1-32)
The Lord told Jeremiah to take a scroll and write on it all the words concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations so that when the people heard it, they will turn from their wicked ways and I will forgive their sins”. So Jeremiah called Baruch to write it on the scroll while he dictated it. Then he told Baruch to read the words of the Lord in the scroll to all the people of Judah.
Baruch did everything Jeremiah the prophet had told him to do. When Micaiah heard all the words of the Lord from the scroll, he went down to tell Eushama – the secretary, Delaiah, Elnathan, Gemariah, Zedekiah and all the officials. After hearing them, all the officials sent Jehudi to tell Baruch to read the scroll which Jeremiah had dictated. After hearing it, they told Jeremiah and Baruch to hide and they reported it to the king. The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll and read it to him. While reading, the king cut them out of a scribe’s knife and burned it in the firepot. Then the king commanded them to arrest Baruch and Jeremiah. But the Lord had hidden them.
After the scroll had been burned, the Lord told Jeremiah to take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll. So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch to write it as he dictated.
Because Jehoiakim, king of Judah had burned the scroll, this was his punishment. He will have no one to sit on the throne of David. His body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night. His children and attendants will be punished for their wickedness. There will be disaster in Jerusalem and Judah.
THOUGHTS:
King Jehoiakim burned the scroll to destroy the word of God. People may reject God’s word but they cannot destroy it because God’s word will stand forever.