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because of Baruch

Jeremiah 36:1-20 (JDV)

Jeremiah 36:1 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from Yahveh. This is what it said:
Jeremiah 36:2 “Take a scroll, and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations from the time I first spoke to you during Josiah’s days until today.
Jeremiah 36:3 Perhaps when the house of Judah hears about all the disaster I am planning to bring on them, each one of them will turn from his evil way. Then I would forgive their violation and their failure.”
Jeremiah 36:4 So Jeremiah summoned Baruch son of Neriah. At Jeremiah’s dictation, Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words Yahveh had spoken to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 36:5 Then Jeremiah commanded Baruch, “I am restricted; I cannot enter the temple of Yahveh,
Jeremiah 36:6 so you must go and read from the scroll – which you wrote at my dictation – the words of Yahveh in the hearing of the people at the temple of Yahveh on a day of fasting. Read his words in the hearing of all the Judeans who are coming from their cities.
Jeremiah 36:7 Perhaps their petition will come before Yahveh, and each one will turn from his evil way, because the anger and fury that Yahveh has pronounced against this people are intense.”
Jeremiah 36:8 So Baruch son of Neriah did everything the prophet Jeremiah had commanded him. At Yahveh’s temple he read Yahveh’s words from the scroll.
Jeremiah 36:9 In the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people of Jerusalem and all those coming in from Judah’s cities into Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before Yahveh.
Jeremiah 36:10 Then at Yahveh’s temple, in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate of Yahveh’s temple, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read Jeremiah’s words from the scroll.
Jeremiah 36:11 When Micaiah son of Gemariah, son of Shaphan, heard all the words of Yahveh from the scroll,
Jeremiah 36:12 he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace. All the officials were sitting there – Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
Jeremiah 36:13 Micaiah reported to them all the words he had heard when Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.
Jeremiah 36:14 Then all the officials sent word to Baruch through Jehudi son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi, saying, “Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come.” So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them.
Jeremiah 36:15 They said to him, “Sit down and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch read it in their hearing.
Jeremiah 36:16 When they had heard all the words, they turned to each other in fear and said to Baruch, “We must surely tell the king all these things.”
Jeremiah 36:17 Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us, how did you write all these words? At his dictation?”
Jeremiah 36:18 Baruch said to them, “At his dictation. He recited all these words to me while I was writing on the scroll in ink.”
Jeremiah 36:19 The officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah must hide and tell no one where you are.”
Jeremiah 36:20 Then, after depositing the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, the officials came to the king at the courtyard and reported everything in the hearing of the king.

because of Baruch

This is the beginning of the story of another dramatic point in Jeremiah’s life and that of Judah. What came to my mind as I read this is that we each have the opportunity that Jeremiah did. He was restricted in that he was no longer allowed access into the temple courts, but his words could get there, because of Baruch.

There are many places where we might want to go and bring the good news of God’s gospel, or even the bad news of God’s coming judgment. We are often forbidden to go to those places for that purpose. Yet God has ways of getting his word where he intends it to go.

Lord, show us how to bring your word to those places where it is not welcomed.