Day 218, August 6 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible readings (use your browser arrow to return): Jeremiah 36:8-32; 9:16-21; 10:17-25
Scorning God's Message
Some say there’s nothing like the scorn of a woman. Well, that’s serious, but there’s something worse—the results of scorning God. When the LORD gives a message which is meant for our good, and we purposefully ignore it, he acts. We may have heard people reject God’s word with statements like: “I know what the Bible says, but I don’t care. I am going to do it, anyway.” What can happen when we scorn God’s message?
Around 600 B.C., Jeremiah and his scribe, Baruch, are discouraged. Their message of judgment upon the nation of Judah makes them unpopular. No one wants them around. Jeremiah is even barred from going to the temple.
The prophet dictates God’s message of judgment to his scribe, Baruch. The scribe faithfully writes on a scroll every word Jeremiah gives him. Still, it’s one year later before Baruch finds the opportunity to deliver his message.
He finally reads God’s message in the temple, when everyone in Judah is fasting (not eating ). This isn't a hunger strike. The nation of Judah is a vassal kingdom of the Babylonians, and Jehoiakim wants to remove their yoke of oppression. Already, all the king’s treasures have been given to their enemies. Jehoiakim needs all the help he can get, even from the one true God, whom he doesn’t know. It appears King Jehoiakim calls a nationwide fast to gain God’s favor (with the notable absence of prayer).
The message of the LORD is reported to the palace. Jehoiakim sends representatives to listen to God’s word, so Baruch again reads the scroll. When they hear the words of judgment, they’re alarmed and hastily inform the king.
The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and Jehudi brought it from the room of Elishama the secretary and read it to the king and all the officials standing beside him.
It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire (Jeremiah 36:20-23, NIV).
King Jehoiakim isn’t affected by the words of judgment. He despises God’s Word—he doesn’t repent.
When Baruch returns to Jeremiah, God tells Jeremiah to write another scroll to replace the one burned. This means the judgment is certain! Baruch once again copies all the words of the first scroll as Jeremiah dictates them, and the prophet adds other similar words.
Jerusalem is under siege. Soon Nebuchadnezzar will attack Jerusalem, and it’ll be a dark day for her. Jeremiah tells the women of the city to mourn—“death has climbed in through our windows and has entered our fortresses; it has cut off the children from the streets and the young men from the public squares” (Jeremiah 9:21, NIV). He speaks as though it’s already happening.
Jeremiah says, “Gather up your belongings to leave the land, you who live under siege. For this is what the LORD says: ‘At this time I will hurl out those who live in this land; I will bring distress on them so that they may be captured’” (Jeremiah 10:17-18, NIV).
It gives Jeremiah no pleasure to announce this—he weeps and wails over the fulfillment of his prophecy. He’s trying to save their lives, but to no avail. The LORD will someday exercise mercy on Judah and Israel when he rescues them from exile. Then, God will destroy the nations which destroyed them, but not now. This is a time for his justice. Judah is scorning God’s word for the final time, and she’ll pay the price.
We may not be soon attacked by some foreign nation, but in our lives, do we scorn God’s Word? The LORD is gracious, but he’ll only save us if we seek him and turn from our evil ways (more...).
Discussion
What can happen if we proclaim judgment as part of God's Word?
When God gives a message meant for our good, and we despise it, how might he respond?
The Bible says there's only one way to go to heaven—Jesus Christ (John 14:6). If we scorn that message, what can happen?
Focus Verses
Acts 4:12 (NIV) “Salvation is found in no one else [than Jesus Christ], for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Hebrews 10:26-27 (NIV) “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod (the author)
Looking Ahead: God uses object lessons to try to get the attention of Judah before it is too late. See how we can do that.
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