Chapter 35 has an interesting story about a group of people called the Recabites. They were a nomadic people who were forced to seek refuge in Jerusalem because of the invading Babylonians. The thing that makes them interesting is that they were very dedicated to the law of their ancestors. God told Jeremiah to invite these people to a room and offer them wine to drink. The Recabites decline the offer and explain that they do not drink wine nor do they build houses, plant vineyards, or sow seed. They were to live in tents. They had carried out this law for many years in obedience to their forefathers. God used their example to show the people of Judah how ridiculous it was that these Recabites followed the commands of their forefathers so well but the people of Judah ignored the repeated warnings and commands of the Lord God, their own creator.
God’s Word will not be destroyed
The Lord told Jeremiah to have all that he had told him written on a scroll. God wanted him to write down everything from the beginning of his days as God’s prophet. So Jeremiah had a scribe named Baruch write it all down on a scroll. Jeremiah then sent Baruch with the scroll to Jerusalem, to the temple during a time of fasting when there would be many people. Baruch was to read the scroll to the people at the temple and when he did word traveled real fast. The officials sent for Baruch to come read it to them. When he read the scroll to them they were afraid and told Baruch to go hide with Jeremiah. When word reached the king he was enraged. He took the scroll and cut it into pieces and threw it into the fire. The king was highly offended and sent orders to have Jeremiah and Baruch arrested “but the Lord hid them.” (36:26) Because of this act the king brought a heavier judgement on himself and his family. God will NOT loose and his word will NOT be destroyed. Jeremiah took another scroll and had Baruch write it all again and even foretold the doom that would come to the king and his family because the people refused to listen to the Lord’s warning.
Jeremiah Arrested
Zedekiah was a king of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar. King Zedekiah also refused to listen to the warnings of the Lord through Jeremiah but he sure did want a blessing. He asked Jeremiah to pray for them.
The Babylonians pulled back for a short time which appeared to be that they were not going to burn the city like Jeremiah had warned but Jeremiah reported the warning not to be deceived. The Babylonians would return. During the time they pulled back Jeremiah headed back to the territory of Benjamin to settle family business when a captain of the guard named Irijah had him arrested accusing him of switching sides. While Jeremiah denied the allegations he was beaten and thrown into a dungeon. King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and spoke to him in private. He wanted to know if the Lord was still planning to hand them over to the Babylonians but he didn’t want anyone to know he was talking to Jeremiah. Jeremiah then asked the king not to send him back to the dungeon. King Zedekiah placed Jeremiah in the court of the guard and was given bread daily until there was no more bread.
The thing that encouraged me that most in today's reading is that God's Word is forever. I think of how much those who hate His word want to destroy it. How many attempts have there been to silence His truth?
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11
