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“THE WORKING WORD”

Thesis: To instruct the hearers concerning the power of God’s word, how it works in the hearts of people, and its every abiding nature.

Text: Jer 36:1-32

Introduction,
1. The section of Scripture we will be looking at today is the 36th chapter of the book of Jeremiah, the year is probably about 606 BC, Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, was in the 4th year of his reign, as you will see, he was a wicked, godless ruler over the nation of Judah, as can be seen today, many tend to follow the lead of the rulers over them, whether it be good, or evil, it was true of the southern kingdom in that day, and it’s true in this country today, let us always pray for our leaders (1 Tim 2:1-2).

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; 1Ti 2:2 for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.

2. What we are looking at here is Jehovah’s last ditch effort to bring Judah to repentance, in order to divert the end of Jerusalem, the temple, and the nation of Israel as a free and sovereign state.

3. What is so interesting about this account is the way that the word of God is put at the forefront, (as it often is) showing many of its active traits, and also showing man’s reaction thereto (Heb 4:12).

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.

4. Over the ages, men haven’t changed much, and God’s word hasn’t changed one iota, with that in mind we will look into this account and see how it shadows much of what we see today, in order that we can learn and grow “through the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Pet 1:23).

5. We will brake today’s lesson down into 4 sections . . .
1) The purpose and commission brought forth through the word (Jer 36:1-10)
2) The fear and wisdom brought forth through the word (Jer 35:11-19)
3) The deceitful reactions brought forth through disdain for the word (Jer 36:20-26)
4) The ever abiding nature of the word (Jer 36:27-32).

I. THE PURPOSE AND COMMISSION BROUGHT FORTH THROUGH THE WORD (Jer 36:1-10)

A. (v 1-3)

Jer 36:1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying, Jer 36:2 Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. Jer 36:3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

Here we see the phraseology which refers to the word that came from Jehovah, it was not of man, but of Divine origin, this or like allusions occur over 400 times in the Book of Jeremiah.

1. We need to keep in mind that the bible is not of human origin, but of God (1 Thess 2:13)

1Th 2:13 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.

i. And the words therein are authoritative (1 Cor 14:37).

1Co 14:37 If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

ii. They are that which determine who we fellowship, and who we don’t (2 Thess 3:14).

2Th 3:14 And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

iii. The reason behind this is the word of God is that standard by which we will be judged on the Last Day, not by the creeds, prayer books, or catechisms of men, but by the living word of the living God (John 12:48; Rom 2:16; Rev 20:12)

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Rom 2:16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

2. Here, Jeremiah was commanded to write down the prophecies which he had been delivering for the past 20+ years

i. They didn’t have books like we have today, rather they wrote on cleaned, stretched and dried sheepskin, which was sewn together and placed on two rolls (long round sticks).

ii. With Babylon soon to come upon Jerusalem, it is God’s hope that the people, when they hear the message may repent, in order that God can divert the coming destruction (Ezek 18:23).

iii. The same is true today, God had plainly stated in His word that it is during this life in which one has to come to believe and obey the Lord (Heb 9:27).

Heb 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment;

iv. And He has laid out a simple plan (Mk 16:16a).

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

v. Yet many attempt to follow the religions of men instead of the word of God, and many times that to their own demise (Pro 14:12; Mt 15:9; Col 2:8).

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.

Mat 15:9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

Col 2:8 Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:

B. (v 4-8)

Jer 36:4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book. Jer 36:5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of Jehovah: Jer 36:6 therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah in the ears of the people in Jehovah's house upon the (a) fast-day; and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. Jer 36:7 It may be they will present their supplication before Jehovah, and will return every one from his evil way; for great is the anger and the wrath that Jehovah hath pronounced against this people. Jer 36:8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of Jehovah in Jehovah's house.

Here is brought forth “Baruch” his name means “Blessed” he is Jeremiah’s amanuensis (writing secretary), he faithfully writes down the words of Jehovah as dictated by Jeremiah.

1. There are those today who are bringing forth a host of corrupt Bible versions, these are not like Baruch, they do not faithfully render God’s word, rather they twist it to there own destruction and those that follow it (Mt 15:14), attempting to force their doctrines of inherited depravity, modern day miracles, and premillennialism into the text.

i. Those that have their parts in these perversions will give account on That Day, let us pray that they repent and denounce their handy work as fallacious, in order that that flow of the blind into the pit can be stopped.

ii. For some reason Jeremiah was restrained from going to the temple himself, any answer here would be mere speculation.

2. Baruch was commissioned by the prophet that when a fast day came about, he would go to the temple and read the “words of Jehovah” into their ears, in order that they may pray a prayer of repentance unto God, and bear fruits worthy of repentance in order that God might turn from His great anger and wrath that was soon to be manifested through the Babylonian war machine.

i. We need also to read the “words of Jehovah,” it is the word of God which contains the power (Rom 1:16a), there is far too little of God’s word being preached today, and far too much of man’s wisdom being propagated from the pulpits across the world, we are commanded to (2 Tim 4:2-4) . . .

2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.

ii. And when some finally hear the truth, it is shocking in comparison to much of what they have been hearing from the religions of men, it is sad that many are so far from the truth that claim to follow the Lord.

C. (v 9-10)

Jer 36:9 Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that all the people in Jerusalem, and all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem, proclaimed a fast before Jehovah. Jer 36:10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan, the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the new gate of Jehovah's house, in the ears of all the people.

Now in the next year (the 5th year and the 9th month) there was a fast proclaimed, the purpose is not revealed, but it certainly was not the one fast commanded by the Law of Moses, which was the Day of Atonement (which was in the 7th month), these people were far from following God’s Law at this time, it must have been one of their own concocting.

1. What is important to note here is that Baruch, did as commanded by the prophet, he “went” and “read” God’s words in the temple to “all” the people.

i. Today God’s house, God’s temple, is the church (1 Tim 3:15; 1 Cor 3:16-17).

1Ti 3:15 but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1Co 3:17 If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.

ii. And all Christians, those who are members of God’s family today are under the perpetual command to make disciples of all the nations (Mt 28:19-20).

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you . . .

iii. . . . Which includes making disciples and baptizing them

iv. Let us all follow the good example of Baruch and make the truth known to as many people as possible while we are going in this world, in order that some might have the opportunity to believe and obey from the heart unto salvation (Rom 6:17-18).

Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; Rom 6:18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

II. THE FEAR AND WISDOM BROUGHT FORTH THROUGH THE WORD (Jer 36:11-19).

A. (v 11-16)

Jer 36:11 And when Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of Jehovah, Jer 36:12 he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes were sitting there, to wit, Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. Jer 36:13 Then Micaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people. Jer 36:14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thy hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them. Jer 36:15 And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears. Jer 36:16 Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one toward another, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.

When Micaiah heard the words of Jehovah by the mouth of Baruch, he went to the kings house and summarized what he had heard to the princes (government officials), they then summoned Baruch to come there are read the book to them.

1. Thus Baruch did so, and when they heard it, they looked at one another in fear and said that they must tell the king the words which they heard.

i. The fear that is manifested by those that hear the word of God is not so often seen this day, and if it is, it is short lived, the business of the world often pushes it to the back of one’s mind, but God is no back seat driver, neither is He riding shotgun, He is at the helm, people may be able to push Him out of their minds, but they will stand before His Son and be judged by that same word one day, and those that had opportunity, will have wished they had obeyed from the heart, when they had a chance (Acts 17:31).

Act 17:31 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

ii. They are likened to Felix, whom Paul preached to in Acts 24 about “righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come,” and was “terrified” (Acts 24:24-25).

Act 24:24 But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. Act 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.

iii. Yet that terror did not (as far as we know) prompt him to the obedience of faith (Rom 1:5; 16:26).

iv. We need to keep in mind while we are on this subject, that God has not condemned man, man did this to himself, God’s laws cannot be put aside, sowing and reaping, action and reaction, the soul that sinneth dies (Ezek 18:20), (Rom 6:23a).

Rom 6:23a For the wages of sin is death

v. The 1st appearing of Christ came about “not” that people would be judged, they were and are already guilty (Rom 3:23),

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

vi. But rather Christ came that they might be “saved” though Him (John 3:17), in this is the love of God manifest.

Rom 6:23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

vii. Yet most today, tend to use their own terms to define sin, not God’s (1 John 3:4), they hadn’t committed murder or thievery or fornication, therefore many don’t believe they need a Saviour, yet God states that even those that lied are eternally condemned, they are on the same level of guilt as the murderer (Rev 21:8).

Rev 21:8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

viii. Therefore let us believe God and access His grace that is found in the gospel in order that this may not be our end (Rom 5:1-2).

B. (v 17-19)

Jer 36:17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth? Jer 36:18 Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. Jer 36:19 Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye are.

The princes then question Baruch about the words that he wrote, his answer was simple, Jeremiah spake, I wrote.

1. The Bible plainly teaches that God’s word was delivered by the medium of words (2 Sam 23:2; Jer 1:9; 1 Cor 2:10-13; 2 Pet 1:19-21), not thoughts, this is what is known as verbal (words), plenary (all of them), inspiration (inspired of God)

2Sa 23:2 The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, And his word was upon my tongue.

Jer 1:9 Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth:

1Co 2:10 But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1Co 2:11 For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. 1Co 2:12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. 1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.

2Pe 1:19 And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: 2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. 2Pe 1:21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

2. God did not put a message in individual’s heads and left it up to fallible man to deliver words based on their own human judgment.

i. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that we have a Bible translation that is a “word for word” translation, a so called dynamic equivalence is based upon the “fidelity of the thought of the Biblical writers” what does their thought matter, it's God’s words that matter.

ii. These so called translations are nothing more than a paraphrase, a commentary on what certain men “think” God’s word says, not what it actually says, and oftentimes they bring their doctrines into these works of men, and actually boast of it as being “transdenominational” which means that the errors which they propagate are accepted by the majority of denominations.

3. These princes (officials) knew the ungodly nature of the king, therefore they told Baruch to get Jeremiah and hide, in order that no harm would come to them.

i. This is reminiscent of the time that the Jews plotted to kill Paul for preaching Jesus as the Christ in Acts 9, and he escaped by a basket at night.

ii. There may be a time that we are called on to give our life for Christ, but we need to use the wisdom God gave us in order to extend our time on earth, in order that we can serve God and others through preaching and teaching, a dead child of God couldn’t have converted many souls in Jeremiah’s time, nor in ours.

III. THE DECEITFUL REACTIONS BROUGHT FORTH THROUGH DISDAIN FOR THE WORD (Jer 36:20-26)

A. (v 20-22)

Jer 36:20 And they went in to the king into the court; but they had laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe; and they told all the words in the ears of the king. Jer 36:21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll; and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes that stood beside the king. Jer 36:22 Now the king was sitting in the winter-house in the ninth month: and there was a fire in the brazier burning before him.

When the princes first went to the king, they did not bring the roll, they did show some care for the word, they seemed to know their king very well, but the king sent for the roll and had it read in His presence.

1. There are some today who want to hear the word, just so they can destroy it by twisting its plain teaching, as did Hymenaeus and Philetus in 2 Tim 2:16-18 who taught that the resurrection was already past, their word is described as gangrene that eats up the faith of others.

i. The king’s house had a section which was airy in which he lived in during the warm months, and a heated section in which he resided in the winter months, and it was heated by something likened to an open woodstove.

B. (v 23)

Jer 36:23 And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves (columns), that the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

And when Jehudi read 3 or 4 columns, the king took a penknife and cut up the roll and threw it into the fire until it was all consumed.

1. The word translated “leaves” or “columns” here is literally “folding doors” (perhaps similar to our closet doors) and it is believed that books as we know them did not exist at this time, but the Scriptures were written in a multi-column format throughout the ages as seen in our Bibles today.

i. The penknife was probably likened unto today’s exacto knife, it was the scribes knife used for sharpening the reed which was used for writing and to make erasures on the roll.

4. People throughout time have been attempting to destroy or change God’s word throughout time, but as seen with the case of Jehoiakim, God’s word endures, while these men are destroyed

i. Satan attempted to change it in the Garden, he only changed “one” word “ye shall NOT surely die” (Gen 3:3-4) and it cost mankind his intimate fellowship with God.

ii. The Bible was banned, cut away from the common people by the catholic church in the dark ages, it was literally chained to the pulpits in the church, but men like John Wycliffe and William Tyndale gave it back to them in the 14th and 15th centuries, which ultimately brought about that which is referred to as the reformation movement, movement towards the truth, and away from the catholic apostasy; without men such as these, who paid dearly for their efforts, we would not have access to God’s word today. (Wycliffe’s bones were dug up from his grave, burned and cast into a river; 1415; Tyndale was strangled and burned at the stake; 1536).

iii. But today, we have more cleverly disguised Jehoiakims working around us.

iv. We have Jehoiakim critics, they say that much of God’s word is nothing more that the work of men.

v. We have Jehoiakim religions, which cut out any part of God’s word that doesn’t fit the times, or the sins of the people.

vi. We have Jehoiakim translations that teach every false doctrine under the sky.

vii. We have Jehoiakim preachers who cut out everything seemingly abrasive from God’s holy word which may scare some prospects away; hell, judgment, covetousness, adultery, modesty, and selflessness are all pushed aside for love (which is important), power, and success in this world, and the next.

viii. And last of all, and probably the biggest problem of all is we have Jehoiakim hearers and readers of God’s word, they pick to believe and obey the parts of God’s word that fits into their lives, and ignore or explain away the parts that are too hard, or doesn’t fit what they want, this type of person is spoken of in Ps 50:16-17 . . .

Psa 50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, And that thou hast taken my covenant in thy mouth, Psa 50:17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, And castest my words behind thee?

ix. We need to remember, it’s not what we want, but what God wills, and it will be done! The second one passes from this life the bitter truth will be realized to those that think that God doesn’t mean what He says, these will be like the rich man in Luke 16, he found out the hard way, and said “send someone back, tell them it’s really true!” and he was answered, they have the word, let them hear, believe and obey that (Luke 16:29-31).

C. (v 24)

Jer 36:24 And they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

And these men were not the slightest bit fearful of the living God, they, like most today, must not truly believe what God says, surely these men are not suicidal, thus they can’t believe, consider God’s warnings concerning the book of Revelation (Rev 22:18-19) . . .

Rev 22:18 I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: Rev 22:19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. 1.

Today some believe that they can rest assured with some one else’s interpretation on a matter, yet all will stand before God on “His” terms, according to “His” word, not an interpretation, therefore let us strive to walk in the light of God’s word literally “as it is written” for (Rom 14:12) . . .

Rom 14:12 . . . each one of us shall give account of himself to God.

D. (v 25)

Jer 36:25 Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll; but he would not hear them.

Here we see 3 men that attempted to stop the king from his evil, they seemed to have a change in heart, but to no avail; we need more men like these today who are not fearful to tell those in authority that they ought not to do things or command things that are contrary to God’s will.

E. (v 26)

Jer 36:26 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Jehovah hid them.

And just like the princes thought, the king wanted to kill the messengers, yet God’s providence had already hidden them.

1. The same is true today as it has been throughout the ages, instead of men believing and obeying God, they often lash out at those that are trying to do what’s best for them, but they just don’t see it that way,

2. Because of men like the king, many faithful delivers of God’s word have paid a high price (seemingly); yet they believe God not men (Mt 5:10-12).

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.

IV. THE EVER ABIDING NATURE OF THE WORD (Jer 36:27-32).

A. (v 27-28)

Jer 36:27 Then the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, Jer 36:28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

Here we see the Lord commanding Jeremiah to write another roll, “heaven and earth shall pass away” one day (Gen 8:22; Mt 24:35; 2 Pet 3:10), but just because a man destroys written God’s word does not mean that the things written therein will not come to pass, it is written (Mt 24:35) . . .

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

1. That was the thrust Of Jesus’ statement in Mt 24:35, the physical creation will one day cease to exist, but Christ’s words concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, and Judaism will come to pass, His words will not pass away unfulfilled.

i. And all the Bibles may be burned in the world, but just like Jesus’ prophecy came to pass, so will every iota of God’s word, one will be judged by it, whether they have access to it or not.

ii. But every time that man attempts to rid the world of the ever abiding, living and active word, it seems to keep cropping up its beautiful, soul saving head, the KJV is a witness to that fact.

iii. There may be a ton of perversions in the world today, don’t get me wrong, there is some of the word of God in these translations, but there is also enough of man’s doctrines in there, that if you follow and believe what it says to a tee, it could cost you your soul.

iv. But for almost 400 years the KJV has been the standard by which all others are compared to, and rightly so, it is not perfect, but the errors contained therein will not cost you your soul, and it is written in a far more accurate rendition of the English language.

v. It has been around for 400 years, and it will probably be around for 400 more, if the Lord doesn’t come first, and those that use older translations because of their lack of denominational bias, will probably be evil spoken of then, as they are now.

2. Let us note that this also teaches us that God does not demand the original copy be available, for He surely could have brought it back from the ashes whence it went.

i. And with man’s tendency to worship physical things, such as seen in the case of Moses’ brazen serpent (2 Ki 18:4), it probably is in God’s plan that no original copies of His word be found today, or any day.

ii. But as long as a word for word copy of God’s message is available, God is satisfied, and men can read, believe, and obey unto eternal life.

B. (v 29-31)

Jer 36:29 And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? Jer 36:30 Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. Jer 36:31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they hearkened not.

Now concerning the disregard for God’s word and the disobedience of men to it, God considers it very serious business.

1. God’s Word is all sufficient (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:3) and self sufficient, for it teaches its adherents to be pillars upholding it (1 Tim 3:15), to teach it according to the pattern (2 Tim 1:13; 2:2), and to obey that pattern unto salvation (Rom 6:17).

i. It also contains warnings at the beginning (Deut 4:2), in the middle (Pro 30:6), and at the end (Rev 22:18-19) concerning the adding to or taking away from it, and here is a testimony of one who tried to remove it.

ii. Jerusalem ultimately fell to Babylon in 586 BC, it was the final and deciding battle making the fall of Judah complete.

iii. There are some that state that this prophecy concerning Jehoiakim’s son was not fulfilled, seeing that his son was on the throne, but the fact is when his son came to the throne, Jerusalem was immediately taken besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, and after three months he was deposed, and he was never confirmed by Babylon to be king, under whose rule he was, and Zedekiah who was put in power after him, he was Jehoiakim’s brother, not his seed.

iv. And Jehoiakim would not enjoy a king’s burial, as formerly prophesied by Jeremiah in Jer 22:18-19, he would have the burial of an ass (donkey), we have no evidence that states this didn’t take place.

C. (v 32)

Jer 36:32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and there were added besides unto them many like words.

Here we see the account of the new roll being written, with the added prophecies because of the attempted destruction and total disregard for God’s word, this shows us the end of all who attempt to bring God’s word to no account, their demise is assured.

1. We need to consider God’s word as something to be held in reverential fear, some thing that when obeyed, brings great reward (Pro 13:13).

Pro 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

2. For it is by it that we receive the knowledge to be saved (Phili 3:8).

Phi 3:8 Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,

3. And it is by it that we will be judged on that last day (John 12:48; Rom 2:16; Rev 20:12).

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Rom 2:16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

4. Let us therefore treasure it as something of such great worth that can not be measured by this world’s standards (Ps 119:127-128).

Psa 119:127 Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold, yea, above fine gold. Psa 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; And I hate every false way.

Conclusion,
1) We looked at “the purpose and commission brought forth through the word” (Jer 36:1-10), Baruch fulfilled his, and thus also should we make God’s truth known to all, that they might hear, believe and obey, so they don’t ask Jesus in their hearts, but rather obey the gospel of Christ from the heart, the one and only power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16).

2) And then we looked into “the fear and wisdom brought forth through the word” (Jer 35:11-19), When the princes heard it, they feared, but let us deliver it in a wise manner in order that we may be able to keep on teaching and preaching for many years.

3) Then we looked at “the deceitful reactions brought forth through disdain for the word” (Jer 36:20-26) Jehoiakim cut it up and burned it, many do so today in differing ways, through unbalanced preaching, bad versions, and destructive criticism, are we cutting up the word of God and tossing it in the figurative fire? Putting it on the back burner?

4) And lastly we looked at “the ever abiding nature of the word” (Jer 36:27-32). No matter what we do, the word will still be there on that Last Day, it will be that standard which will judge all, by the Judge of all, Christ Jesus the Lord.

5) And His plan of salvation is not to ask Him into your heart, He knows the hearts of all men, He knows what’s in a man (John 2:25), and He doesn’t need permission to examine the work of His hands (Col 1:16)

6) He has delivered a plan through certain chosen men in the 1st century, and they went about and preached it, people believed it, obeyed it, and were saved, what is it, the same as it was almost 2,000 years ago . . .

One must . . .

Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17)

Rom 10:17 . . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This is how the Father plants the Word within the good ground, the good, honest and open heart

One must . . .

Believe that Jesus is the crucified and risen Christ (John 8:24); and that God rewards those that earnestly seek after Him (Heb 11:6)

One must . . .

Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5), repentance is a change of mind that results in a changed life, Jesus stated . . .

Luk 13:3 . . . except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.

One must . . .

Confess Jesus as the Christ before men (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9), the eunuch said . . .

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

So must you, And you must confess him through the means of your life of service to Him

One must . . .

Be baptized (immersed), which doth now save us (1 Pet 3:21), and washes away our sins (Acts 22:16) immersed into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) where His precious blood was shed (John 19:34) unto (for the purpose of) the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16); at which point God adds you to the church (Acts 2:47) translates you into the kingdom (Col 1:13) adds you to that one body (1 Cor 12:13), and writes your name in the Lambs book of life (Rev 20:12). And finally one must live a holy life unto God (1 Pet 1:15), not perfect, but faithful (Rev 2:10), being renewed day by day, through study and application of God’s ever abiding word

Putting off that old man, and putting on the new, being constantly in a state of spiritual growth, Showing forth God’s love through your life as a Christian (only), as the Bible teaches . . .

Doing the will of the Father in order that you won’t have your name blotted out of that book, In order that you may be able to enter into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


"That in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written"

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Evangelist - Kenneth Windbiel
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