10.20.7 "If You Don't Believe it, Tear it Out!"

"If You Don't Believe it, Tear it Out!"

Jeremiah 35:1-36:32
I Timothy 5:1-25
Psalm 89:14-37
Proverbs 25:25-27

When I was a student at North Central Bible College (Now called North Central University), we had daily chapel services. One of the professors was speaking one day, and as he read a few scriptures, he'd tear the page right out of his bible and he crumpled it up and threw it on the floor. His message was very clear. If you don't believe it, you could just as well tear it out. (I should mention that we later found out that the professor had put another book inside his bible and was ripping out those pages, not destroying the bible!)

I was reminded of that sermon as I read Jeremiah 36. "This word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 'Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, each of them will turn from his wicked way; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin."

Jeremiah then dictates all the words to Baruch who writes them on a scroll. Baruch then reads them before the people and ultimately the scroll is brought before King Jehoiakim. "It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. Even though Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them." Jer. 36:22-25

The King orders the arrest of Jeremiah and Baruch, but the Lord hides them. Then the Lord says to Jeremiah, "Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim King of Judah burned up. (Jer.36:28) In Verse 32 it says, "So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch... and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them."

There are several things to think about from this portion of scripture:

1. Think of God's love. The whole purpose of his commands are that "Perhaps when the people hear... each of them will turn from his wicked way... then I will forgive." (36:3). God's word empowers us for repentance!

2. Think of the obedience of Jeremiah. To write down ALL the words the Lord had spoken to him! He knew this would ultimately get him into trouble, yet he did it. It was a lot of work.

3. Think of his faithfulness in spite of the results. After all his work, the scroll had been burned up. How many of us would say, "Sorry God, your idea didn't work! I'm not going there again!"

4. One of the more convicting thoughts is this: Think of the king. Sitting at the comfort of his fire, hearing the word of God, deciding not to heed it, and throwing it into the fire. How does that apply to us? How many times am I hearing the word of the Lord, and for one reason or another I choose not to follow, apply, or obey what I just heard? Maybe I've heard it so much I've become numb to it. What I am in essence doing is tearing it out and throwing it into the fire of my comfort. How tragic. Now God will have to speak it again. With more words than the time before!

Let the Word of God reach you today. Don't tear it out. Let it equip you for repentance. Let it transform you!


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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