What is the meaning of Jeremiah 36:19? Then the officials... The royal counselors who had just heard the scroll recognized the divine weight behind its words. Jeremiah 36:12 lists them—“Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor…”—well-placed men capable of alerting the king. Like the officials in Jeremiah 26:10 who sat “in the new gate of the LORD’s house” to hear prophetic charges, these leaders stand at a decisive intersection of truth and power. Their reverence for the message shows that God’s word pierces even palace walls (Hebrews 4:12). said to Baruch, Addressing the scribe rather than the prophet underscores Baruch’s vital role. Earlier they had asked him, “Tell us now, how did you write all these words?” (Jeremiah 36:17–18). God often works through “faithful men” who handle His word accurately (2 Timothy 2:2). Just as Hilkiah handed the rediscovered Law to Shaphan the scribe in 2 Chronicles 34:15–18, Baruch carries the revelation entrusted to him. You and Jeremiah The officials speak of the pair as a single unit, recognizing their shared mission. Baruch penned what Jeremiah heard from God (Jeremiah 36:4). The scene illustrates 2 Peter 1:21: “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Partnership in obedience magnifies the testimony (Ecclesiastes 4:9). must hide yourselves Their counsel is protective, not cowardly. Kings who reject Scripture often lash out (Jeremiah 36:23; cf. Matthew 14:3–10). Earlier, the prophet Uriah was hunted down and killed for similar words (Jeremiah 26:20–23). God sometimes commands flight: “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next” (Matthew 10:23). Obedience can include strategic retreat, as when Elijah hid by the brook (1 Kings 17:3) or Paul escaped Damascus (Acts 9:23–25). and tell no one where you are. Secrecy serves the preservation of the message. Proverbs 22:3 notes, “The prudent see danger and take cover.” Jesus Himself “would not walk in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill Him” (John 7:1). Silence here is not denial but wisdom, ensuring the word remains available for God’s appointed time (Isaiah 55:11). summary Jeremiah 36:19 shows palace officials acting on conviction: they recognize God’s word, protect its messengers, and advise prudent concealment. The verse reminds us that reverence for Scripture must translate into action—sometimes bold proclamation, sometimes guarded retreat—so that God’s unfailing word can accomplish all He intends. |
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