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Rejecting God's Word - Jeremiah 36
Rejecting God's Word - Jeremiah 36
One of the most infamous events of the kings happened in Jeremiah 36. The Kings were to read and make a copy of the Law. This was to ensure their fear and reverence for God. In particular, they should have taken to heart Deut. 28-30, where we find the curses for unfaithfulness to this covenant.
We have come to the reign of Jeconiah (a whole 3 months in 597). God has destroyed the northern kingdom because of their unfaithfulness. Now God has pronounced judgment upon Judah. Babylon had already come and subjugated Judah (606 B.C.). God has decreed complete judgment upon the king and the people as they continued in their unfaithfulness to Him.
Yet, even at this point, God holds out the opportunity of avoiding such judgment, IF ONLY they would repent and turn back to God (vs. 3 & 7). We have seen this principle stated by Jeremiah earlier (18:7-10). We have seen this principle in action as God did NOT destroy Nineveh (Jonah). How would the king respond?
We note first of all, that what Jeremiah dictates and Baruch writes down are the words of the LORD. Rejecting this is NOT rejecting the words of man, but the LORD. While the people react with fear, Jeconiah responds by burning the scroll. What was he thinking? It is easy to burn the scroll but that doesn't destroy God's WORD. The message is NOT the scroll. God's word is as eternal as God. The scroll is the instrument through which God reveals His mind, thoughts, and purposes. As we watch this story unfold, we see that it is as easy for God to inspire a copy of the scroll as it was to produce the original!
The battle against God's word as repeated itself many times as the BOOKS are burned. The results are ever the same: God's word endures! As Isaiah said, and Peter quoted and applied to the New Testament message: "All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you." Peter introduced this quote by speaking of it as the imperishable seed, the living and enduring word of God. (1Pet. 1:23-25).
Jeconiah rejected the message only to find himself being condemned of God. Jesus warned that His word will judge us in the last day! (John 12:48). How are you responding to the message of God? Burning it? Ignoring it? Denying it? Obeying it?
Hugh DeLong
