Response to God's Word

Steven’s Scribbles
“Response to God’s Word” 
Jeremiah 36


    When Jeremiah, known as the lamenting prophet, was being the mouthpiece for God, Israel was already in Assyrian captivity, and Judah, as well as the remnant of Israel, were on the brink of Babylonian captivity. God had Jeremiah write to the king so that “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” (Jere. 36:3). The Lord was wishing that they would turn from their wickedness and was seeking to warn them of their impending doom if they did not comply. However, King Jehoiakim did not heed God’s word and when the words of the Lord were read to him, he not only destroyed the parts he did not like with the scribe's knife, but he also threw the words of God into the fire. In brief, Jehoiakim was offended. This did not deter God from warning of the calamity, he had Jeremiah send him the same message again, and then add what would happen to Jehoiakim directly (Jere. 36:28-32). For his service to God, Jeremiah was imprisoned (Jere. 37:11ff). Today, God is doing the same for mankind. God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). Yet people today, that God loves and sent His son as a sacrifice for (John 3:16), blaspheme and deny God’s word. What should we do? Make sure that we are doing what Jeremiah did and preach God’s word. Timothy was also instructed to “preach the word” and be ready “in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2). We have to be sure to not have the mind of Jehoiakim to destroy God’s word, but we need to heed it. This attitude was brought on by irreverence and arrogance. Let’s be sure to not “yield not to temptation.” I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley