Today’s passage: Jeremiah 36:1-32
Helpful thoughts:
- You may have noticed, these events are not being recorded in perfect chronological order. The last few chapters have been bouncing around from king to king, not in order. More likely, they are recorded in this order for thematic reasons.
- This fasting would have been scheduled to try to get God to prevent Judah from being defeated. It should have been a time for the people to be receptive to God’s ministry to them through Jeremiah. Some were receptive (The princes), others were not (The king and his servants).
- If the king had called the fast, it certainly seems strange that he would also destroy God’s word without fear. He wasn’t getting the results he wanted.
Questions to consider:
- Why didn’t the king’s men find Jeremiah and Baruch (Verse 26)? When are we “safe” and when are we in “danger” in following the Lord? Who ended up being the one who was not “safe” (Verses 30-31)?
- What motives could have been behind the idea to call a fast in Judah during this time of crisis? What results would the people have desired depending on what their motives were?
- How do these events help us to understand that full meaning of God’s promise to Isaiah when He said His words would never return void and always accomplish what He purposed (Isaiah 55:11)? When we share the Gospel with others, are we only ever successful when they repent and get saved?