What is the meaning of Jeremiah 45:1? This is the word • “This is the word” announces divine speech, not mere human opinion. As in Jeremiah 1:2 and 2 Kings 20:4, God’s “word” carries His authority, certainty, and power. • The phrase reminds us that every prophecy in Scripture stands trustworthy (Isaiah 55:11; 2 Peter 1:19–21). • Because it is God’s word, the message is timeless and demands our attention today just as it did then. that Jeremiah the prophet spoke • Jeremiah’s prophetic office is underlined (cf. Jeremiah 1:5; 25:3). God selected him, equipped him, and put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). • By calling Jeremiah “the prophet,” the text validates both his credentials and the authenticity of the message—reinforcing that Jeremiah was not acting on personal impulse (Jeremiah 14:14–15). • Prophets often carried unpopular warnings, yet obedience required faithfully delivering the word (Ezekiel 2:7). to Baruch son of Neriah • Baruch appears frequently as Jeremiah’s companion and scribe (Jeremiah 32:12; 36:4). His lineage (“son of Neriah”) situates him in a respected family, possibly among Judah’s scribal class. • Baruch models faithful service: he records, safeguards, and reads the scroll despite personal risk (Jeremiah 36:10–19). • His inclusion shows God’s care for individuals serving behind the scenes; Baruch needed the same encouragement and correction as the nation (Jeremiah 45:2–5). when he wrote these words on a scroll • Writing secures the permanence of prophecy (Jeremiah 30:2). A spoken message could be dismissed; a scroll can be reread, copied, and preserved. • God often commands inscription to testify against future generations (Deuteronomy 31:24–26; Habakkuk 2:2). • The written record becomes a lasting witness of God’s promises and judgments—ultimately pointing to the compiled canon we hold today (Romans 15:4). at the dictation of Jeremiah • Jeremiah dictates; Baruch records. The pattern highlights cooperative inspiration: God → Jeremiah → Baruch → the scroll (Jeremiah 36:17–18). • Dictation underscores accuracy. Baruch did not edit, embellish, or omit; he preserved exactly what Jeremiah spoke (Jeremiah 36:32). • This process safeguards the text’s integrity, echoing how other prophets employed scribes (e.g., Isaiah 8:1–2). in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah • The date Isaiah 604 BC, a pivotal moment: Babylon’s power surges after Carchemish (Jeremiah 46:2). • Jehoiakim, unlike his godly father Josiah, rebels against the Lord (2 Kings 23:36–37). The prophecy’s timing warns of imminent national judgment (Jeremiah 25:1–11). • Historical anchoring verifies Scripture’s reliability, placing the reader within real events and rulers, not myth or legend (Luke 3:1–2 follows the same pattern). summary Jeremiah 45:1 sets the stage for God’s personal message to Baruch. Each phrase underscores divine authority, prophetic authenticity, faithful transmission, and historical reality. By dating the event and naming those involved, the Spirit invites us to trust the Scripture’s exactness and to receive its timeless call to faithfulness amid looming judgment. |
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