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Commentary on "Baruch: Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 4: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 - Thwarted Ambitions

 

Overview

Today’s lesson is centered on Jeremiah chapter thirty-six. It begins in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. Jeremiah, under the direction of God, instructs Baruch to write the words of the Lord on a scroll. Since Jeremiah has been barred from entering the temple grounds he instructs Baruch to take the scroll and read the words of this prophecy on a day the people are fasting and praying to God. It is hoped that they will hear the word of God and repent of their sins. Later, in the fifth year and in the ninth month of his reign, the king has the scroll read to him and burns the scroll, piece by piece, as it is read to him. This is total arrogant rebellion against God. This action of the king assures the destruction of the nation of Judah. Any personal ambitions that Baruch may have had are clearly lost.

 

Observations

Before we make too much of what Baruch’s personal opinions about his own future may have been when we study Scripture, we must realize that we really don’t know much about him other than what has been recorded in the book of Jeremiah, chapter forty-five. Since that chapter is covered in tomorrow’s lesson we will remain focused on chapter thirty-six.

Verse two makes it clear that the actual writing of the scroll by Baruch was just as Holy Spirit led as when God communicated the message to Jeremiah.

Verses 4 through 6 make it very clear Jeremiah was God’s selected prophet and Baruch took his orders from him. Baruch, as a good servant, simply did as he was instructed.

The context of verses 19 and 20 imply that the temple officials were receptive to the message but were well aware of the danger represented by the king and his court, when they advised that Baruch and Jeremiah should hide before they took the scroll to the king.

After the first scroll has been destroyed by the king, God seals his fate by declaring that his body will be cast out and none of his offspring would ever sit on the throne of Judah, verses 30 and 31.

Jeremiah then simply has Baruch rewrite on a new scroll all of the original prophecy along with the added postscript, which proclaimed the details of the king’s personal doom.

 

Summary

  1. While any personal ambitions Baruch may have had were obviously thwarted by these turn of events, that is not what this chapter is about.
  2. Whatever Baruch’s feelings may have been is not revealed in this chapter. What we do see is that he faithfully obeyed the instructions given to him by Jeremiah. Since he survived the wrath of the king and the subsequent fall of Judah, he must have also been wise enough to follow the advice to hide from those who would seek his death.
  3. No matter who we are, we are not above the need to respond to and obey God. Nowhere in the book of Jeremiah do we see where the king considered Jeremiah as a false prophet. The context suggests that he well knew he was in rebellion against God.

 

GO TO DAY 5

 

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