Cutting And Burning God’s Words
BRD REFLECTIONS
Jeremiah 36 and Psalm 40 (NIV)
(Chang Lee Hoon, Companions in Christ Facilitator, Discipleship & Nurture)
READ:
Jeremiah 36 and Psalm 40 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
The passage is set in the 4th and 5th year during the reign of the wicked king Jehoiakim, who cut and burnt the scroll of Jeremiah’s prophetic words to Israel, Judah and all the other nations (Jeremiah 36:1-2).
God’s desire was to provide His people a chance to turn around, warning them of the judgement to come so that they would repent of their sins and wicked ways (Jeremiah 36:3).
The message was delivered to 3 audiences by Baruch who was a scribe, namely:
1) The general public at large (at the temple) during a day of fasting where many from different towns gathered (Jeremiah 36:6, 9-10);
2) The court officials and the princes (Jeremiah 36:15);
3) The king, the officials and his attendants (Jeremiah 36:21).
The king’s act of cutting the scroll and burning it (Jeremiah 36:23) and showing neither fear nor remorse brought more of God’s wrath upon him and his people. In verse 30, God sealed his fate with a terrible death in the 11th year of his reign and a turbulent time for the people of Judah.
APPLY:
Today, instead of cutting and burning God’s words, we have progressed to selecting and proclaiming passages from the Bible that please our eyes and cutting off those we feel are no longer relevant.
As the influence of social media affects my life each day, it is important for me to be deeply rooted in His words to know the truth. Let me not be swayed by the grey areas in life and think it is all right to move on with my peers and be tempted to use the penknife to cut away God’s words for me. King Jehoiakim’s deliberate and dramatic way of cutting and burning the scroll, hoping to destroy the power of God and rejecting His words, was an ignorant and foolish act. For the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever (Isaiah 40:8). It will never be destroyed.
DO:
I will seek to hear God as I pray, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire — but my ears you have opened — burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.” (Psalm 40:6)
PRAY:
Lord, may you open my ears that I may hear as I read your words each day. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
