Jeremiah

Jeremiah 36: The LORD’s word cannot be burned

Begin in prayer

Before we read about a king who burned God’s word, let us gather before the LORD in prayer. Ask Him to make us glad to hear His word, to be with our family as we listen, and to show us Jesus, the Word who never passes away.

The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.

Psalms 119:130

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Your word stands forever, even when people burn it, and help us to trust You. Show us Jesus, the living Word, and help us to turn from our sin and trust Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The LORD tells Jeremiah to write on a scroll everything He has said against Israel, Judah and the nations (verses 1 and 2). He hopes the people will hear the warning, turn from their evil ways and be forgiven (verse 3). Jeremiah cannot go into the LORD’s house, so Baruch reads the scroll there on a fast day (verses 5 to 10). The princes hear the words, become afraid, and tell Baruch and Jeremiah to hide (verses 11 to 19). King Jehoiakim cuts the scroll with a penknife and throws it into the fire (verses 22 and 23). The king is not afraid, and he seeks to arrest Baruch and Jeremiah, but the LORD hides them (verses 24 to 26). The LORD tells Jeremiah to write a new scroll, and He judges Jehoiakim (verses 27 to 32).

As you read Jeremiah 36, look for the answers:

• Why does the LORD tell Jeremiah to write the scroll? (verse 3)
• What does King Jehoiakim do with the scroll, and what do the officials ask him? (verses 23 and 25)
• What does the LORD command Jeremiah to write again? (verses 28 and 32)

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD’s word stands forever, even when a king burns it.

The LORD’s word came to Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (verse 1). Baruch wrote down every word Jeremiah spoke, so the scroll kept the LORD’s words exactly as they were given (verses 4 and 18). The purpose of the scroll was mercy, because the warning could move the people to turn back and be forgiven (verse 3). Jehoiakim sat by a brazier in his winter house, and he cut the scroll with a penknife (verses 22 and 23). Some of the officials pleaded with the king not to burn it, but he would not listen to them (verse 25). No king can destroy God’s word, so the LORD hid Jeremiah and Baruch, and He gave a new scroll (verses 26 and 32). The LORD also said Jehoiakim would have no one to sit on David’s throne (verse 30). Jesus is the Word who became flesh, and the cross could not destroy Him, because God raised Him on the third day.

How does Jeremiah 36 show us that the LORD’s word stands forever, even when a king burns it?

The LORD’s word stands forever.

The LORD’s word came to Jeremiah, and the king’s fire could not undo it (verses 1 and 27). The LORD gives His word again, with many similar words added (verse 32). The Lord’s word endures forever, and the good news of Jesus is the word that every sinner needs.

No king can stop God’s word.

Jehoiakim cut the scroll and burned it, and he would not listen to the officials (verses 23 and 25). He tried to arrest Jeremiah and Baruch, but the LORD hid them (verse 26). The LORD keeps His word, and no king can silence Him.

The LORD sent His word so that He could forgive.

The LORD sent His words to call the people to turn from evil and be forgiven (verse 3). The good news in God’s word is Jesus, the Word who became flesh. He bore the punishment our sin deserved, and God raised Him on the third day.

Memorize

Take again another scroll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned.

Jeremiah 36:28

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what part of God’s word do I push away, and do I need Jesus?

Jehoiakim cut the scroll with a penknife and threw it into the fire, but the LORD’s word was not burned (verses 23 and 27). The LORD gave Jeremiah another scroll, and many similar words were added to it (verse 32). God’s word cannot be destroyed by a king.

God’s greatest word is His Son, Jesus, the Word who became flesh. Men put Jesus to death on the cross, but God raised Him on the third day. He bore the punishment our sin deserved, and His work is finished. Nothing can undo what He has done for sinners who come to Him.

So come to Jesus, the living Word, and do not push His word away. Turn from your sin and trust Him, because His word stands forever. Every sinner who comes to Him will be forgiven, and He will refuse no one who comes to Him. God’s word still stands, and it still calls every sinner to Jesus.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD’s word stands forever, even when a king burns it. Parents, you may want to explain that Jehoiakim burned God’s word, but God gave Jeremiah another scroll. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that His word stands forever, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.

Psalms 119:160

Lord, thank You that Your word stands forever, even when people burn it. Forgive us for pushing Your word away and for hard hearts that do not listen. Thank You for Jesus, the living Word, who rose from the dead and gives life to all who trust Him. Help each of us to turn from sin, trust Him, and receive Your word gladly this week. Amen.