You are to proclaim concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah that this is what the LORD says: You have burned the scroll and said, 'Why have you written on it that the king of Babylon would surely come and destroy this land and deprive it of man and beast?' You are to proclaim concerning Jehoiakim king of JudahJehoiakim ruled Judah from 609 to 598 BC during the years when Babylon rose to dominate the ancient Near East. Though he sat on David’s throne, he resisted the word of the LORD and led the nation further into rebellion. 2Ki 23:35-37 So Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh Neco… that this is what the LORD says: Jeremiah spoke under divine authority, not personal resentment toward the king. The message held Judah’s ruler accountable before the covenant God whom he was bound to serve. Jer 1:7-9 But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’… You have burned the scroll Jehoiakim publicly cut up and burned the scroll containing Jeremiah’s prophecies, seeking to silence the warning rather than submit to it. Destroying the written record could not cancel God’s decree or protect the king from its fulfillment. 2Ch 36:15-16 Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers,… and said, ‘Why have you written on it Jehoiakim’s objection revealed contempt for the message because it confronted his security, policies, and sin. He treated God’s warning as an unwelcome political threat rather than a merciful call to repentance. Jer 26:11-15 Then the priests and prophets said to the officials,… that the king of Babylon would surely come Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had already demonstrated Babylon’s power over Judah. Jeremiah’s warning announced that Babylon’s advance was not merely an international development but an instrument of God’s judgment against persistent covenant unfaithfulness. Jer 25:8-11 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says:… and destroy this land The promised devastation would reach the land God had given Israel, including Jerusalem and its temple. Judah’s possession of the land did not exempt the nation from judgment when its leaders and people abandoned the LORD. Jer 4:7 A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer… and deprive it of man and beast?’ The predicted removal of people and animals portrayed a land emptied by war, exile, famine, and desolation. Jehoiakim rejected the warning, but the Babylonian campaigns that culminated in Jerusalem’s fall proved that God’s word stands even when earthly rulers oppose it. Jer 32:43 And fields will be bought in this land, about which… Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah, often facing opposition and persecution. 2. Jehoiakim The king of Judah who rejected God's word delivered through Jeremiah, demonstrating his rebellion by burning the scroll. 3. Baruch Jeremiah's scribe who wrote down the words of the prophecy as dictated by Jeremiah. 4. The Scroll The written record of Jeremiah's prophecies, which was burned by King Jehoiakim in an act of defiance against God's message. 5. Babylon The empire prophesied to bring destruction upon Judah as a consequence of their disobedience to God. Teaching Points The Authority of God's WordGod's word stands firm regardless of human attempts to suppress or destroy it. Jehoiakim's act of burning the scroll did not negate the truth of the prophecy. The Consequences of Rejecting God's Message Jehoiakim's rejection of the prophecy led to the fulfillment of the very judgment he sought to avoid. Ignoring God's warnings can lead to dire consequences. The Role of Prophets and Messengers Jeremiah and Baruch's faithfulness in delivering God's message, despite opposition, serves as a model for believers to stand firm in proclaiming truth. God's Sovereignty in Judgment and Redemption The prophecy concerning Babylon underscores God's control over nations and history, using them to accomplish His purposes. The Enduring Nature of God's Word Despite physical destruction, God's word endures and continues to accomplish what He intends, as seen in the re-writing of the scroll. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jehoiakim's reaction to the scroll reflect common attitudes toward God's word today, and what can we learn from this?2. In what ways can we ensure that we are not rejecting God's message in our own lives, even if it is difficult to accept? 3. How does the account of Jeremiah, Baruch, and the scroll encourage us to remain faithful in sharing God's truth, even in the face of opposition? 4. What are some modern "scrolls" or messages from God that people might be tempted to "burn" or ignore, and how should we respond? 5. How can we apply the lessons of God's sovereignty and the enduring nature of His word to current global events and personal challenges? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Kings 24Provides historical context about Jehoiakim's reign and the political situation in Judah, including the Babylonian threat. Jeremiah 25 Offers a broader picture of the prophecies concerning Babylon's role as an instrument of God's judgment. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Highlights the importance of all Scripture as God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, contrasting Jehoiakim's rejection of God's word. Hebrews 4:12 Emphasizes the power and living nature of God's word, which Jehoiakim attempted to destroy physically but could not nullify spiritually.
People Abdeel, Achbor, Azriel, Baruch, Cushi, David, Delaiah, Elishama, Elnathan, Gemariah, Hammelech, Hananiah, Jehoiakim, Jehudi, Jerahmeel, Jeremiah, Josiah, Micah, Micaiah, Michaiah, Neriah, Nethaniah, Seraiah, Shaphan, Shelemiah, Shemaiah, ZedekiahPlaces Babylon, Jerusalem, New GateTopics Animal, Animals, Babylon, Beast, Book, Burned, Burnt, Cause, Caused, Causing, Cease, Certainly, Cut, Destroy, Destroyed, Destruction, Fire, Hast, Jehoiakim, Jehoi'akim, Judah, Putting, Roll, Saying, Says, Scroll, Surely, Thence, Therein, Thus, Wherefore, WrittenDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 36:4-32Library Jeremiah's Roll Burned and Reproduced'Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch ... who wrote therein ... all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire, and there were added besides unto them many like words.'--JER. xxxvi. 32. This story brings us into the presence of the long death agony of the Jewish monarchy. The wretched Jehoiakim, the last king but two who reigned in Jerusalem, was put on the throne by the King of Egypt, as his tributary, and used by him as a buffer to bear the brunt … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Growth of the Old Testament Prophetic Histories On the Interpretation of Scripture The Secret of Its Greatness The Essay which Brings up the Rear in this Very Guilty Volume is from The... Jeremiah Links Jeremiah 36:29 NIVJeremiah 36:29 NLT Jeremiah 36:29 ESV Jeremiah 36:29 NASB Jeremiah 36:29 KJV Jeremiah 36:29 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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