JEREMIAH 36


Jeremiah causes Baruch to write his prophecy and publicly to read it (vv. 1-10). Hearing of this from Michaiah (whose name means 'Who is like Yahweh') the princes send to fetch the roll and read it (vv. 11-18). They urgently advise Baruch and Jeremiah to hide themselves (v. 19; see v. 26). But in his anger, king Jehoiakim had no desire or patience to hear above three or four sections. He deliberately rejected the Word, tears part of the roll, and burns it (vv. 20-26). Jeremiah declares his judgment, by the Word and warning of Yahweh (vv. 27-31), and finally Baruch writes a new copy with added words (v. 32).

Thus this chapter reveals the proof that Yahweh's Word will stand against all, even when a king burns the Roll, resulting in great judgments that the prophet revealed will be brought upon them. This was given that the people might hear the Word and fearing the divine displeasure, return from their evil doings. Any who do so will be forgiven; the rest will not have any excuses, and receive the devastation of divine judgment. All this was done in the spirit of the greater prophet, for Moses declared:

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him."

See also John 14:26:

"the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

For this wickedness of rejection of the divine Word, Jehoiakim was excluded from the genealogy of Christ (Mat. 1:10-11), firstly because he no longer deserved recognition in the throne of David, and secondly because the independence of the kingdom came to an end with the defeat of Josiah at Megiddo. He is excluded because his great apostasy, and

"that which was found in him" (2Chr. 36:8), showed that he was not truly of the seed of David".

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