In Jeremiah 36, the prophet went back in time to describe an incident that had taken place during the 4th year of Jehoiakim’s reign which was Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st year as Babylon’s king. This chapter and the next two are descriptions of the events that took place prior to the siege of Jerusalem. It began with Lord instructing the prophet to take a scroll and record the messages concerning Israel and Judah and the nations that He had given through him since the time of King Josiah.
What Jeremiah was told to record were some 23 years of His
preaching, all the messages he had delivered prior to the siege of Jerusalem. God, being gracious and merciful, wanted to warm the people with what Jeremiah was instructed to record. Verse 3 said, “Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the calamity
which I plan to bring on them, in order that every man will turn from his
evil way; then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.” God
was providing an opportunity for His people not to continue in their waywardness but
to repent and return to Him. In so doing, God was also keeping a legacy for His people in days to come concerning
His ways.
What’s underscore for us in these three verses is the importance
of the written word. It keeps people who were not present at that time
informed of God and His dealings. It was aimed to help people to know God and His
ways through what He had inspired to be written so that their lives could be
lived accordingly to His will. Paul tells in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable
for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work.” We all need guidance in our
walk. The Inspired Word of God is a needful source to help us achieve
godliness. Let us not neglect the Word of God. Don’t allow it to be just an
item on our bookshelf. We need to read, study and meditate on the Word so that
we can become the person God intends for us to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment