Old Testament - Jeremiah 36 - October 20, 2022

10/20/2022 – Jeremiah 36

Jeremiah told, and continued to tell, the Jews the things they needed but did not want to hear. The Lord was giving them the things that would change their lives, but they closed their ears and continued to follow the errors of King Zedekiah, and then King Jehoiakim, and his people. 

In v’s 1-3 the Lord told Jeremiah to write “all the words that I have spoken unto thee” for “It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”  Once it was written by his scribe, Baruch, Jeremiah (who was now under arrest) told Baruch to go to the temple on their day of fasting so that Judah will hear the Lord’s words once again. (v6) Jeremiah’s hope was that they would finally HEAR the Lord’s words and “return every one from his evil way” (v 7). 

The Israelites were still fasting and coming to the temple as had been commanded, but they were not changing from the wicked ways they had picked up and followed. When Jeremiah warned them of the Lord’s concerns for them, they felt they were fine because they did fast, and they did attend the temple at the times they were supposed to do—but their worship was only in form for they were far from being righteous.

Once the king heard of the scriptures that Baruch was reading to the Israelites, he had his men bring him the roll which Baruch was reading to the people. After listening to “three or four leaves” (v 23) the king cut up the paper and put it into the fire. The king then sent his men to find Jeremiah and Baruch, “but the Lord hid them.” (v 26) The Lord told Jeremiah “Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll.” (v 28). Then the Lord told Jeremiah to go to the king and tell him that “the king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast” (v 29) and that the king would die a terrible death.

Cutting up and burning these scriptures did nothing to stop what had been written to come to pass. And as we read on it is shown that the Lord’s words will be fulfilled regardless of whether we believe in them or not.

The Lord tells us the very same thing in our time in D&C 1:37-38: “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and thou the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:24-52 - January 19, 2022

 1/19/2022 – Moses 6:24-52 The Old Testament tells us just a little about Enoch, but the Book of Moses greatly increases our understanding of his life, his ministry and his teachings. Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam. In those seven generations, many had left the teachings of the Lord. It was when Enoch “journeyed in the land among the people” (v 26) that “He heard a voice from heaven, saying, Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off.” (v 27). I read this and I feel the warning to us that we are not to rely only on our ‘earthly vision’. The Lords rewards are not always immediate. But if we keep the commandments, keeping our eyes focused on the ultimate reward that the Lord holds in store for us, THEN we will be able to “see afar off”.  In v...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 7:16-47 - January 29, 2022

  1/29/2022 - Moses 7:16-47 I didn’t realize I was repeating Moses 6 until I was finished with it the 2nd time. But what was beautiful to me is that studying the same scriptures a second time simply brought more thoughts and understanding and desires to be sure to return to my Father in Heaven….to finish my earthly life with the same goals that I started it. I LOVE studying the scriptures! There were now so many people on earth who had chosen not to follow the ways of the Lord. V 16: And from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness.”  V 18: “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” V 19: “And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.”  Zion was est...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:40-56 - January 27, 2022

 1/27/2022 – Moses 6:40-59 [I’m still in Moses 6—haven’t figure out I’m reading this again) Enoch has seen and spoken with the Lord, and he follows the Lord’s instructions no matter what they entail.  President Monson once said: “It’s not enough to wish, it’s not enough to dream, it’s not enough to promise. We must do.”  And that’s just what Enoch did! He is going into areas where there is much evil. When the people there ask about him, he tells simply and honestly: “I came out of the land of Cainan, the land of my fathers, a land of righteousness unto this day. And my father taught me all the ways of God.” (v 41) Enoch answers their questions, he teaches them many things about God, but he keeps the profound spiritual things the Lord has revealed unto him to himself. The people he is teaching, are not ready to receive a higher law or standard. In v 46 Enoch tells them that his people keep a “book of remembrance” that they have written, according to the pattern given by th...
Read more