Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
36:32 So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.
This verse gives some insight into how the book of Jeremiah was written. We don't know how many copies Baruch made. However two versions of Jeremiah have been found where one is much longer than the other. We find one in the Septuagint and the other in the Masoretic text. This shouldn't bother us as the theology remains the same. It reminds us that Jeremiah is a compilation of prophesies put together over many years.
The other thing that is interesting about this verse is that, even though Jehoiakim sought to destroy God's word more was gained than was lost. Our enemy seeks to steal from us but in God we gain more than we lose.
36:32 So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.
This verse gives some insight into how the book of Jeremiah was written. We don't know how many copies Baruch made. However two versions of Jeremiah have been found where one is much longer than the other. We find one in the Septuagint and the other in the Masoretic text. This shouldn't bother us as the theology remains the same. It reminds us that Jeremiah is a compilation of prophesies put together over many years.
The other thing that is interesting about this verse is that, even though Jehoiakim sought to destroy God's word more was gained than was lost. Our enemy seeks to steal from us but in God we gain more than we lose.
37:3 King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehukal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: “Please pray to the LORD our God for us".
What a cheek! The King and the priests had not paid any attention to Jeremiah and his prophesies and now they want him to pray for them.
People ignore God and then expect him to answer their prayers when they are trouble.
37:3 King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehukal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: “Please pray to the LORD our God for us".
What a cheek! The King and the priests had not paid any attention to Jeremiah and his prophesies and now they want him to pray for them.
People ignore God and then expect him to answer their prayers when they are trouble.
38:27 All the officials did come to Jeremiah and question him, and he told them everything the king had ordered him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had heard his conversation with the king.
Jeremiah told the officials what the king had ordered him to say – but it was a lie (v.26). Jeremiah kept the king's conversation secret – it was none of their business anyway.
Protecting others is important (Rahab). If we are going to be people that others trust we need to be able to keep people's legitimate secrets.
38:27 All the officials did come to Jeremiah and question him, and he told them everything the king had ordered him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had heard his conversation with the king.
Jeremiah told the officials what the king had ordered him to say – but it was a lie (v.26). Jeremiah kept the king's conversation secret – it was none of their business anyway.
Protecting others is important (Rahab). If we are going to be people that others trust we need to be able to keep people's legitimate secrets.
39:17-18 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear.
In this chapter there are two men God protected Jeremiah (v. 14) and Ebed-Melek the Cushite who rescued Jeremiah (v. 7-13). Protected because they trusted in the Lord. In amongst all the death and destruction God is able to protect those who trust him.
39:17-18 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear.
In this chapter there are two men God protected Jeremiah (v. 14) and Ebed-Melek the Cushite who rescued Jeremiah (v. 7-13). Protected because they trusted in the Lord. In amongst all the death and destruction God is able to protect those who trust him.
40:2-3 When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The LORD your God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the LORD has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the LORD and did not obey him.
How amazing that this Babylonian commander knew that this disaster was because the people had sinned against the Lord. (These near Easterners believed gods were territorial, so it didn't necessarily produce faith in him).
Strange when non-Christian tell Christians God's truth.
40:2-3 When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The LORD your God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the LORD has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the LORD and did not obey him.
How amazing that this Babylonian commander knew that this disaster was because the people had sinned against the Lord. (These near Easterners believed gods were territorial, so it didn't necessarily produce faith in him).
Strange when non-Christian tell Christians God's truth.