What can we learn about obedience from the officials' actions in Jeremiah 36:20? Setting the Scene Jeremiah had dictated the Lord’s words to Baruch. After hearing the scroll read in the temple, a group of court officials carried the message to King Jehoiakim. Jeremiah 36:20 records their next move: “So they went to the king in the court, but they had deposited the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe. Then they reported all the words to the king.” Observations on the Officials’ Conduct • Immediate action: “So they went...” shows no hesitation once they recognized the message came from God (compare Psalm 119:60). • Preservation of the Word: By placing the scroll safely in Elishama’s chamber, they guarded Scripture from harm before delivering its contents—evidence of reverence for God’s revelation (see Psalm 119:11). • Faithful reporting: They “reported all the words,” not a summary, not an edited version. Obedience included full accuracy (cf. Deuteronomy 4:2). • Respect for proper channels: They approached the king, the highest earthly authority, reflecting the biblical principle of orderly submission while ultimately serving God’s authority (Romans 13:1). • Courage under potential backlash: Jehoiakim was notoriously hostile to Jeremiah’s prophecies. Relaying the message risked the king’s wrath, yet they proceeded (Acts 5:29). Lessons About Obedience 1. Obedience Acts Quickly – Delayed compliance is practical disobedience (James 4:17). 2. Obedience Honors God’s Word – Safeguarding Scripture and refusing alteration reveal a heart that trembles at His Word (Isaiah 66:2). 3. Obedience Tells the Whole Truth – God requires complete fidelity, not selective reporting (Jeremiah 26:2). 4. Obedience Respects Order Yet Remains God-Centered – The officials used proper protocol, but their ultimate loyalty was to the Lord’s message (Colossians 3:23–24). 5. Obedience May Involve Risk – True servants refuse silence even when the audience may reject or persecute (2 Timothy 3:12). Applying These Truths Today • Treat every portion of Scripture as sacred—study it, protect it from distortion, share it intact. • Respond promptly when God’s Word exposes sin or directs a change, refusing procrastination. • Speak God’s truth fully in your sphere of influence—family, workplace, church—without trimming hard edges. • Follow legitimate structures (parents, pastors, bosses, government) while remembering that obeying God is supreme. • Expect resistance, but draw courage from the Lord: “Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) Jeremiah’s court officials, even amid a hostile royal court, offer a timeless portrait: obedience is swift, respectful, truthful, and fearless—because it flows from unwavering trust in the living God and His unbreakable Word. |
    |