How does Jeremiah 36:15 connect with the theme of obedience in Scripture? Setting the Scene: Jeremiah 36:15 “Then they said to him, ‘Sit down now and read it in our hearing.’ So Baruch read it in their hearing.” Immediate Observations • Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, obeys both the prophet and the princes without hesitation. • The officials choose to listen—an initial act of obedience to God’s word before deciding what to do with it. • The verse forms a hinge between Jeremiah’s faithful proclamation and the officials’ impending response. Obedience Highlighted in Baruch’s Actions • Submission to God-Given Authority – Jeremiah had commanded Baruch to write and read (Jeremiah 36:4–8). Baruch complies fully. • Courageous Faithfulness – Reading God’s judgment-laden scroll to royal officials risked his safety (later the king burns the scroll, vv. 23-24). • Model of Servant-hearted Obedience – Baruch’s unquestioning service echoes the servant imagery of Isaiah 50:4-5—ears opened to obey. The Officials’ Initial Response • They Invite the Word – “Sit down…read” shows willingness to give Scripture priority (cf. Acts 17:11). • Hearing Precedes Doing – Romans 10:17: “Faith comes by hearing.” Their act of listening positions them for either obedience or rebellion. Broader Biblical Threads of Obedience 1. Hear, Then Obey • Deuteronomy 6:4-6 – The Shema connects hearing God’s voice with loving obedience. • James 1:22 – “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” 2. The Cost of Ignoring God’s Voice • King Jehoiakim’s later rejection (Jeremiah 36:23) parallels Saul’s disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22-23). • Hebrews 3:7-8 warns, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” 3. Faithful Messengers and True Obedience • Noah (Genesis 6:22) and Moses (Exodus 40:16) illustrate complete compliance, just like Baruch. • Jesus, the ultimate obedient Son (John 6:38; Philippians 2:8), fulfills the pattern Baruch foreshadows. Practical Takeaways • Obedience often begins with simple, immediate steps—write the scroll, read the scroll, listen to the scroll. • God values obedience over status; Baruch, a scribe, proves more faithful than a king. • Every act of hearing Scripture carries a decision point: receive and obey, or resist and suffer loss. Conclusion: Jeremiah 36:15 in the Obedience Mosaic Baruch’s calm compliance and the officials’ attentive hearing illustrate the first stage of obedience—giving God’s word a hearing heart. The verse reminds us that obedience is not merely dramatic deeds; it starts quietly, when God’s people sit down, open the scroll, and let His voice rule their next step. |
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