How does Jeremiah 36:12 demonstrate the importance of delivering God's message accurately? The scene inside the palace “Then he went down to the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber. And there all the officials were sitting – Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.” (Jeremiah 36:12) Jeremiah’s words had just been proclaimed aloud by Baruch at the temple. Micaiah, who heard the reading, heads straight to the royal administration to relay the message exactly as he received it. This single verse opens a window on how seriously God’s Word was handled. A chain of custody that guarded precision • Micaiah doesn’t summarize or embellish; he “reported to them all the words he had heard” (v. 13). • He seeks out the scribes – men professionally trained to copy and preserve written revelation without alteration. • Multiple officials are present, providing corporate accountability so nothing is lost or reshaped. • The message moves from prophet to scribe to officials to king, with each link expected to transmit accurately. Why such careful accuracy matters • God forbids tampering with His Word: “You shall not add to the word I command you, nor take away from it” (Deuteronomy 4:2). • Every syllable is inspired: “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). • Altering revelation invites judgment: “If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues” (Revelation 22:18-19). • Truth, not opinion, changes hearts (Jeremiah 23:29; Hebrews 4:12). What Jeremiah 36:12 teaches us today • Faithful messengers don’t own the message; they steward it. • Accuracy is an act of obedience and reverence toward the Author. • Public accountability helps safeguard fidelity; isolation invites distortion. • Even unpopular truths (Jeremiah’s coming judgment) must be conveyed intact. Living out the principle • Study the text before sharing it; don’t lean on hearsay (Acts 17:11). • Quote Scripture plainly, letting God speak for Himself (1 Peter 4:11). • When teaching, distinguish clearly between God’s words and personal application. • Encourage mutual review – peer teaching, small-group feedback, elder oversight – to maintain doctrinal purity (Titus 1:9). Jeremiah 36:12 may feel like a narrative detail, yet it showcases heaven’s priority: the message must arrive unchanged, because only the undiluted Word carries divine authority and life-giving power. |
    |