“Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken..."

Jeremiah 36 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, ² “Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning Israel and concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day. ³ Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the calamity which I plan to bring on them, in order that every man will turn from his evil way; then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

⁴ Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord which He had spoken to him. ⁵ Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, “I am restricted; I cannot go into the house of the Lord. ⁶ So you go and read from the scroll which you have written at my dictation the words of the Lord to the people in the Lord’s house on a fast day. And also you shall read them to all the people of Judah who come from their cities. ⁷ Perhaps their supplication will come before the Lord, and everyone will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and the wrath that the Lord has pronounced against this people.”….

²⁰ So they went to the king in the court, but they had deposited the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and they reported all the words to the king. ²¹ Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it to the king as well as to all the officials who stood beside the king. ²² Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning in the brazier before him. ²³ When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. ²⁴ Yet the king and all his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments. ²⁵ Even though Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah pleaded with the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. ²⁶ And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them.

As you read these verses it is easy to become distracted and focused on the various names. What I want to focus on is that there was a word from the Lord and the Lord told Jeremiah that the word should be written so that it could be shared with all the people. There was a group who heard the word and warning from God and presented it to the king. The text says:      ²³ When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. ²⁴ Yet the king and all his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments. ²⁵ Even though Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah pleaded with the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.

So,  because the king did not like the word which was written, he cut it away and through it into the fire to be burned. Many today do the same thing with the word of God. They take it and cut away the parts that offend them. They think, like the king, that disregarding or destroying what is written can change what God has said. In reality that is little different than a rebellious child holding their hands over their ears so as not to hear their parents instruction or discipline. God doesn’t need to say anything more, He owes man no farther explanation of what He intends for the future and what He expects of His people. Yet He is  loving and compassionate. God is, is patient with you (all mankind), not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. God’s word, the Bible is more readily available in the written form than it has been at any time throughout history. Between printed and digital copies the word of God, the god news of the gospel, the message of the cross and salvation through Christ is available throughout the world.

Each one has a choice of what they will do with the word of God. No one can change or destroy what God has said, but each one can choose to respond either in repentance to God’s word or like the king to cut away and disregard what is said. Even more because God is loving and patient, though He owes man no father warning, He continues to speak living words today. While the written word sometimes seems dated and out of context with today’s culture and society, God sends those, like Jeremiah, with words for people today.  Amos 3:7 says: Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets. There are many prophetic voices today. Unfortunately many will respond to these in much the same way as the king in today’s text.     And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them.   Many will come against the messenger because they don’t want to hear the message. God will protect His prophets and His people.

One thing that we must remember is that when God speaks through His prophets today, while the message may be updated, made current for better understanding, the truth of the word will never change. God’s living word, the message He speaks today will not disagree with His written word. Any word that is contrary to the written word of God is not a new word from God.  God is not human, that he should lie,     not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act?     Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Regardless of what any man or any philosophy of man says, Jesus is not one of many ways to God. God’s word remains true. The truth is as Jesus says in John 14:16:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The truth is as it says in Acts 4:12:  there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.

Thank You Heavenly Father, for Your written and spoken word which never changes. Thank You for sending Jesus, Your Son, the Word became flesh, that through Him we have salvation and restoration. Through Jesus Christ and none other are we redeemed. Thank You.  Amen.