How can we ensure God's word is heard, as seen in Jeremiah 36:6? Stepping into the Scene Jeremiah has dictated the LORD’s warnings to Baruch. The king refuses to listen, yet the prophet still wants every ear in Judah touched by heaven’s message. Key Observations from Jeremiah 36:6 • “read from the scroll … the words of the LORD” – the content is God’s own words, not human opinion. • “in the hearing of the people at the LORD’s house on a fast day” – choose a gathering when hearts are already softened. • “also read them in the hearing of all the people of Judah who come out of their cities” – widen the circle; don’t stop with one audience. Timeless Principles for Ensuring God’s Word Is Heard • Proclaim the Word publicly – Deuteronomy 31:11-12; Nehemiah 8:3 • Use faithful messengers – Jeremiah speaks, Baruch delivers. God still pairs proclaimers and scribes. • Meet people where they assemble – Temple courts then, churches, homes, coffee shops, and digital spaces now. • Leverage spiritually sensitive moments – Fast days then; crises, holidays, or seasons of searching today. • Read it aloud, clearly, and completely – “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). • Expect God to work through the hearing itself – “So then, faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17). • Trust the Word’s inherent power – “My word … will not return to Me empty” (Isaiah 55:11). Putting It into Practice Today 1. Prepare diligently • Write or print Scripture portions for distribution, just as Baruch penned the scroll. 2. Seek strategic settings • Small-group Bible readings, street outreaches, livestreams—any place people already gather. 3. Speak with simplicity • Let the text stand; explain only to clarify, not to overshadow. 4. Multiply voices • Train others to read and share so the message travels “out of their cities.” 5. Follow up with accessible copies • Hand out Bibles, send links, post verses. Acts 17:11 shows eager listeners will “examine the Scriptures every day.” 6. Persevere when resisted • Jeremiah’s scroll was later burned, yet he rewrote it (Jeremiah 36:27-28). Keep going when reactions are cold. Encouragement to Persevere The same Lord who urged Jeremiah still longs for His voice to ring out. As we faithfully proclaim, He supplies the power and the harvest. |
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