How does Jeremiah 36:23 illustrate the rejection of God's word today? The Historical Snapshot: Jeremiah 36:23 “ As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire.” (Jeremiah 36:23) King Jehoiakim held God’s dictated words in his hand, sliced them apart, and set them ablaze—an act of open contempt against the Lord’s revelation. Anatomy of Rejection: Then and Now • Deliberate dismissal: Jehoiakim heard the message, understood its source, and still destroyed it (Jeremiah 36:24–25). • Symbolic erasure: By burning the scroll, the king tried to erase both the warning and the accountability that came with it. • Modern counterparts: – Ignoring parts of Scripture that confront popular morals. – Editing or re-interpreting clear texts to fit cultural preferences. – Physically banning, restricting, or mocking the Bible in public spheres. • Scripture foresaw this pattern: “For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine…” (2 Timothy 4:3). Modern Expressions of Scroll-Burning 1. Academic dismissal • Treating the Bible as merely ancient literature rather than God-breathed truth (2 Peter 1:21). 2. Selective obedience • Cherry-picking “comfortable” verses while discarding those on sin, judgment, marriage, or holiness (James 1:22). 3. Cultural censorship • Labeling biblical morality as hate speech and removing it from public discussion (Amos 8:11–12). 4. Personal indifference • Bibles closed on shelves, unread, functionally “burned” by neglect (Psalm 119:11). Why the Word Still Stands • Divine preservation: “The grass withers, the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8) • Ineffective opposition: After the scroll was burned, God simply told Jeremiah to write it again—adding even more words of judgment (Jeremiah 36:27–32). • Living power: “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12) • Guaranteed fulfillment: Every prophecy given to Jeremiah eventually unfolded exactly as spoken, validating Scripture’s accuracy (Jeremiah 52). Responding Faithfully • Receive the whole counsel of God, not just preferred portions (Acts 20:27). • Guard against cultural pressures that tempt us to “cut out” hard teachings (Romans 12:2). • Stand confident that God’s word cannot be silenced, even when society attempts its own version of the king’s fire (Matthew 24:35). |
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