What can we learn about reverence for God's word from Jeremiah 36:24? Setting the Scene Jeremiah, obeying the LORD, dictated prophecies to Baruch. When King Jehoiakim heard them read, he sliced the scroll and tossed it into the fire, line by line (Jeremiah 36:20-23). Key Verse: Jeremiah 36:24 “Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words were afraid, nor did they tear their garments.” Lessons on Reverence Drawn from the Verse • God’s word demands holy fear. Jehoiakim’s indifference shows a heart unmoved by divine authority. • Tearing garments was an outward act of repentance (2 Kings 22:11). Their failure to do so reveals an absence of inward conviction. • The scroll’s destruction could not nullify the message; God immediately ordered Jeremiah to rewrite it (Jeremiah 36:27-28), underscoring the inviolability of Scripture. Contrast: A Proper Response to Scripture • King Josiah: “When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes” (2 Kings 22:11). Reverence produces humility. • Isaiah 66:2: “But to this one will I look: to him who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.” • Ezra 9:4: Those who “trembled at the words of the God of Israel” gathered with Ezra, illustrating corporate reverence. Consequences of Disregard • Jeremiah 36:30-31: Jehoiakim’s lineage lost the throne; judgment followed contempt. • Proverbs 13:13: “He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” • Hebrews 2:1-3 reminds believers not to “drift away” from the message that is literally, unfailingly true. Cultivating Reverence Today • Read Scripture daily with expectation, acknowledging its complete accuracy. • Respond immediately—repent, adjust attitudes, and obey without delay. • Memorize passages; hiding the literal word in the heart builds holy fear (Psalm 119:11). • Share the message faithfully; when God’s word is spurned, proclaim it again as Jeremiah did. Takeaway Jeremiah 36:24 warns against casual attitudes toward divine revelation. Genuine reverence trembles, repents, and submits, trusting every word as the unbreakable, literal truth of God. |
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