How does Jeremiah 36:18 demonstrate the importance of accurately recording God's word? Setting the scene Jeremiah is imprisoned, so he dictates God’s warnings to his scribe, Baruch. The king’s officials later ask how the scroll came to be. Baruch’s reply underscores meticulous care in capturing every syllable the prophet spoke. The key verse “Baruch answered, ‘He dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.’” What the verse shows about accurate recording • Baruch’s role was purely transmissive—he “wrote,” he did not edit. • He used “ink,” a permanent medium, signaling intention to preserve the message unchanged. • “All these words” stresses completeness; nothing was omitted or summarized. • The officials accepted this process as reliable, revealing the community’s expectation of exact transcription of God-given revelation. Scriptural threads that echo the same standard • Exodus 17:14—“Write this on a scroll as a memorial.” God initiates written preservation. • Deuteronomy 31:24—Moses finishes writing “the words of this law from beginning to end.” Completeness again. • Proverbs 30:5-6—“Every word of God is flawless… Do not add to His words.” Accuracy protects purity. • Matthew 5:18—Jesus affirms that not “one jot or one tittle” will pass from the Law. Precision down to the smallest stroke. • 2 Peter 1:21—Prophecy came as men “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Divine supervision guarantees fidelity. Why this matters for us today • The same Spirit who guarded Jeremiah’s words guards Scripture for every generation. • Confidence in an exact record fuels trust during crisis, just as Judah could have trusted Jeremiah’s scroll. • When we teach or share Scripture, God expects careful handling (2 Timothy 2:15). Accuracy honors the Author. • Personal study thrives when we approach the text convinced each word is intentionally placed for our instruction. Living it out • Read with a highlighter, noting repeated phrases like “all these words” that stress precision. • When memorizing, aim for word-perfect recall—mirroring Baruch’s diligence. • Verify quotations and references you hear or share, ensuring they match the text. • Pass on biblical truth without embellishment; let Scripture speak for itself, just as Baruch did on that ink-filled scroll. |
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