Jeremiah 35–37
Common Theme
God contrasts human obedience and disobedience: the Rechabites’ faithfulness to their ancestor’s command highlights Judah’s stubborn refusal to heed God’s Word, and despite repeated warnings, kings and people persist in rejecting God’s call to repentance. God’s word proves unshakable, whether through prophetic judgment or promises of restoration.
Questions
- Why does God hold up the obedience of the Rechabites as an indictment against Judah’s disobedience?
- What does the persistence of Jeremiah’s message, despite opposition and rejection, reveal about God’s determination to reach His people?
God Shot
God is patient yet uncompromising, continually sending His word through Jeremiah to confront rebellion and call His people back. He is a God who values obedience to His voice above all and will uphold His word even when kings and nations resist.
Deeper
Jeremiah 35
Jeremiah 35:1–19 discusses the Rekabites, a community that rejects wine, agriculture, and houses, possibly representing a conservative nomadic ideal or an alternative community. Jeremiah invites them to drink wine, highlighting their commitment to their values, which contrasts with the disobedience of Judah. The Rekabites, led by Jaazaniah, live in tents due to pressure from the Babylonian army, seeking refuge in Jerusalem. Their refusal to drink wine serves as a prophetic symbol against Judah’s lack of integrity. God instructs Jeremiah to share this encounter with the people, emphasizing the Rekabites’ obedience compared to Judah’s faithlessness. The chapter concludes with a promise to the Rekabites that they will always have a place with God. The application emphasizes the importance of community in faith, public obedience to God’s will, and the potential need to forgo cultural practices for the gospel.
Jeremiah 36
Jeremiah 36 recounts events during Jehoiakim’s reign, specifically in 605 BC, when Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, defeated Egypt, posing a threat to Jehoiakim’s rule. Jeremiah, banned from preaching in the temple, has his messages delivered by his scribe Baruch, who copies them onto a scroll. The scroll serves as a substitute for Jeremiah’s voice, aiming to prompt repentance among the people. A solemn fast in December 604 BC provides an opportunity for Baruch to read the scroll, but the people’s response is muted, indicating their indifference to the prophetic message.
The narrative contrasts Jehoiakim’s rejection of the scroll with his father Josiah’s reverence for God’s word. Jehoiakim contemptuously cuts the scroll, symbolizing his disregard for the prophetic authority. The officials, recognizing the danger posed by Jehoiakim’s hostility, advise Baruch and Jeremiah to hide, which they do, preserving their lives. God commands Jeremiah to create a new scroll, which contains similar judgments against Jehoiakim and Judah, emphasizing the inevitability of divine judgment due to their heedlessness.
The account illustrates the consequences of ignoring God’s word, while also highlighting those who preserved the prophetic messages for future generations. It serves as a reminder of the enduring nature of God’s word and its purpose to correct and instruct, prompting reflection on who today recognizes and heeds this divine guidance.
Jeremiah 37
Jeremiah 37:1–21 discusses King Zedekiah’s reign in Judah, highlighting his relationship with the prophet Jeremiah. Zedekiah, appointed by the Babylonians, faces pressure as an Egyptian army approaches, temporarily lifting the Babylonian siege. Jeremiah receives a revelation that Babylon will conquer the city, but when he attempts to leave for his property, he is beaten and confined due to suspicions of desertion. Zedekiah seeks guidance from Jeremiah but mistreats him despite his requests for help. Jeremiah’s confinement is painful, and he questions Zedekiah about his perceived wrongdoing. The text emphasizes the tendency to reject uncomfortable truths and suggests that even in judgment, God remains faithful to His promises, allowing for new beginnings despite tragedy.
*Deeper excerpt from NIV Application Commentary, One-Volume Edition.