Burning the Book

In the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, we read not only the prophecies which God made through Jeremiah, but we also encounter much of Jeremiah's life. And as you read his life you are often struck with a sense of pity for this man who faithfully obeyed God year after year after year and seemed to receive little but pain and scorn in return.  Part of why his life proved so difficult was the nature of his message. Jeremiah was speaking to the people of Judah shortly before their captivity in Babylon. He frankly warns them that this is coming, tells them it's too late to change this fact, and exhorts them to bear up submissively underneath the pain that will come.

But the people, especially those in the highest places, resist these words from the Lord through his prophet. 

In chapter 36 we find the story of Jeremiah dictating the words of his prophecy to his assistant, Baruch. After Baruch takes the full dictation, Jeremiah instructs him to take this scroll down to the temple and to read it in the presence of all the people. 

Rightly Responding

In verse 9 we read that the people were gathered together for a time of fasting (given the timing, perhaps because certain cities within the kingdom had fallen to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the people were worried about Jerusalem being next). And during the gathering, Baruch stands to read from the scroll. Following this, a number of officials pull him aside and ask him to read it to them again in private (verses 11-15). 

Verse 16 then informs us, When they [the officials] heard all the words, they turned to one another in fear. God's judgement was coming. Nebuchadnezzar would take the city, and the people needed to know how to rightly respond to this. Fear was a right feeling, a good response. And it drives them to their next thought: the king needs to hear this (v16b). 

Proverbs 1:7 tells us that, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. These men are on the path to knowledge and understanding. If they are willing to submit to what God has spoken through his prophet, though they will still go into captivity, they will know how to prosper there. But the end of Proverbs 1:7 also contains a warning: fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Light it Up

After ushering Baruch away and instructing he and Jeremiah both to hide, these officials bring the scroll to the king. And king Jehoiakim respond? He has his underling Jehudi take the scroll and read it to him. But rather than patiently and humbly listen, every couple of columns he has the servant stop. 

Now pause for a moment and place yourself in the land of Israel, some 2,600 years ago. It's winter time, and there is a definite chill. It isn't Minnesota, but it isn't warm. And there's no boiler or furnace to turn the knob and get some extra heat. So the king sits before a fire. And verse 23 tells us, As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. 

Have you ever responded this way to God? I remember in my high school years I was given a copy of Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle. In this book, Ryle simply unpacks some solid biblical truths for young men to live by. And I didn't want to hear it. So instead of carefully heeding his advice, as a wise person would have done, I rejected it. What does some preacher from the 19th century know, anyway? I valued my ideas more than the wisdom that comes from God.

We see this attitude in Jehoiakim as well. In verses 24-25 we read, Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments. Even when Elnathan and Deliah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.

He didn't fear the Lord. He wouldn't hear God's word. He despised both wisdom and instruction. And as the story continues, rather than finding repentance, we find the king seeking to seize the prophet and his secretary. It is a tragic story of hardheartedness. But it's also not an unusual story. It's pretty easy to see myself in Jehoiakim's shoes. Let me urge you, as you open God's word, or listen to it on your phone, or sit in church hearing a sermon: plead for humility and a softness of heart. Heed the voice of the real king, the king of heaven.