How does Jeremiah 36:27 connect to the theme of God's enduring word? Setting the scene Jeremiah 36 takes place during the reign of King Jehoiakim. God has Jeremiah dictate a scroll of prophetic warnings, which Baruch reads publicly. When the scroll reaches the king, Jehoiakim defiantly cuts it up and throws it into the fire. Then we read: “After the king had burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.” (Jeremiah 36:27) The attempt to silence God’s voice • Jehoiakim’s action is deliberate, hostile, and symbolic. • By burning the scroll, he thinks he can erase both the prophecy and its Author. • Yet the moment the ashes cool, “the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.” God simply speaks again. God’s immediate answer Verse 28 records God’s command: “Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll.” • The same message is repeated—nothing is lost. • Added judgments are pronounced on Jehoiakim for his rebellion (vv. 30-31). • Baruch pens an expanded scroll (vv. 32), showing that attempts to destroy Scripture only amplify its reach. How Jeremiah 36:27 showcases the endurance of God’s word • Indestructible origin – The word proceeds from God Himself; human intervention cannot sever its source. • Immediate preservation – The dictation is redone before any time gap can obscure it. • Multiplication through opposition – What Jehoiakim tries to delete becomes lengthier and more public. • Moral accountability – The unchanged message proves God will hold every generation responsible for the revelation they receive. Scriptures echoing the same theme • Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” • Psalm 119:89 – “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” • Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” • 1 Peter 1:24-25 – “The word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.” Historical confirmations • Early Jewish scholars safeguarded Jeremiah’s scrolls, copying them meticulously. • The discovery of multiple Jeremiah manuscripts among the Dead Sea Scrolls testifies to the text’s survival across millennia. • Church fathers quoted Jeremiah freely, showing the book circulated widely despite repeated persecutions. Practical takeaways today • Treat Scripture as unbreakable truth; every command and promise still stands. • Expect resistance, yet remain confident that God’s revelation cannot be suppressed. • When culture “throws the scroll into the fire,” keep proclaiming and preserving the same unaltered message. |
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