Today, we explore chapters 35 and 36 of Jeremiah in today’s Daily Devotional, finding timeless wisdom amidst the challenges of time and circumstance. These ancient verses resonate deeply in our lives today, reminding us of the enduring relevance of God’s Word. In our previous study on Jeremiah 34, we discovered the significance of cherishing the Scriptures, a theme that continues to unfold.
Chapter 35
Chapter 35 unveils a powerful contrast between obedience and disobedience, as Jeremiah parallels Jonadab’s descendants’ faithfulness with Israel’s rebellion against God’s call for repentance. This simple yet profound illustration underscores the ease of obedience, often overlooked in favor of self-will. In our prior reflection on Jeremiah 34, we learned to value the written words within God’s Word, a lesson reiterated here.
Chapter 36
In chapter 36, we witness Jeremiah’s unwavering commitment to documenting God’s message, despite opposition and the destruction of his initial efforts. Through Jeremiah and Baruch’s faithful perseverance, the Word of God endures, a testament to its divine preservation throughout history. Their example highlights the importance of heeding God’s instruction and recognizing the enduring nature of His Word. As we meditate on these passages, may we embrace the simplicity of obedience, following both earthly and heavenly directives, and may we cherish and obey God’s Word, knowing its lasting impact for today and generations to come.
Jeremiah 35 and 36 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
In Jeremiah 35 and 36, the king of Judah throws the pages of Jeremiah’s scroll into a fire, so how do we have this book today? Are you glad we do? Please read or listen to the nineteen verses of Jeremiah 35 and the thirty-two verses of Jeremiah 36.
In my journal in 2016, concerning these two chapters, I wrote, “An example of obedience. A family whose father said, ‘drink no wine’ (35:14), a simple thing to discard, this family obeyed. All of them. So obedience to a father over drinking wine could be kept, but the children of Israel could not keep God the Father’s commandments.”
The Written Word of God
I continued, “God instructs Jeremiah to, ‘Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken’ (36:2).Jeremiah dictates to Baruch all the words of the Lord that He had spoken to him. Jeremiah is banned from going to the house of the Lord, so he sends Baruch to read the scroll. Some people fear when hearing God’s Word, others laugh at what God says. The king burned the scroll. How do I respond to God’s Word? God tells Jeremiah to write it all again.”
In chapter 35, Jeremiah uses a simple illustration from the Lord to demonstrate how easy it would have been for Israel to fulfill God’s Word. He uses the example of a father who tells his family not to drink wine. And they obeyed. Verses 14-15 of chapter 35 make the point of the illustration:
The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, “Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.” But you did not incline your ear or listen to me.
To us, it should be as easy as that. Sometimes our fathers give us instruction and we are to obey them. Our heavenly Father has given us instruction to, and we are to obey those instructions like we do our earthly fathers.
What Does Jeremiah 36:27-28 Mean?
Why do we have the Book of Jeremiah today? Because God instructed Jeremiah to write down everything He said. “Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today” (36:2).
Yes, God instructed Jeremiah to write this book. Yes, it was burned, but Jeremiah and Baruck rewrote it:
Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll” (36:27-28).
Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them (36:32).
We Have God’s Word Today
We have the Book of Jeremiah; we have the Word of God because God wanted us to have it. Let’s pray.
Father, we thank You our fathers gave us simple instructions and we obeyed them. You, heavenly Father, give us instructions as well and we are expected to obey them. Lord, help us hear Your words and be willing to obey.
And Lord, we thank You that You have preserved Your Word for generations. We thank You we have the Word of the Lord today. Hallelujah! Thank You for preserving Your Word. Amen.
