Jeremiah 36

20–26 When the king was informed about the scroll, he asked that it be read to him (verses 20–21). However, the words clearly angered the king, and he burned the scroll in the fire bit by bit as it was being read (verse 23). The words of judgment did not cause Jehoiakim and his attendants to fear the Lord or tear their clothes in repentance¹¹⁰ (verse 24). Instead, the words of the scroll prompted the king to demand the arrest of Jeremiah and Baruch. However, the Lord had hidden them (verse 26).

27–32 The Lord next instructed Jeremiah to write on a second scroll all the words that had been written on the first one (verse 28). God’s words can never be permanently “lost”; God makes sure that His word endures (Matthew 5:17–18; Mark 13:31).

Jehoiakim had been angered at Jeremiah’s statement that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land (verse 29). Because of Jehoiakim’s contempt for God’s word, God would make sure His words concerning the king came true! Indeed, Jehoiakim would die a disgraceful death, and he would have no one (no heir) to sit on the throne of David¹¹¹ (verse 30).

In this chapter we are shown how God’s word is recorded and preserved. The words that Jeremiah dictated and that Baruch wrote on the scroll were not their own words; they were the Lord’s words, transmitted through the inspired Jeremiah. And even though Jeremiah was restricted (verse 5), God’s word was not “restricted” (see 2 Timothy 2:9). Jehoiakim tried to destroy God’s word, but God’s word ended up destroying Jehoiakim!