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Introduction:
We do not
know much about the last three kings of Judah before the
Babylonian captivity based on the histories found in II
Kings and II Chronicles.
However, we are given an interesting insight into Jehoiakim’s
life in Jeremiah
36. More importantly, we are given an interesting insight
into God’s word. Reading that text, we learn three simple, yet
profound points regarding God’s word. Allow me to briefly set
the stage for you. According to II
Kings 23:34, Pharaoh Neco of Egypt had conquered Judah and
brought them under his rule. When he killed Judah’s king
Jehoahaz was made king by the people of Judah. However, within
three months, Neco exercised his power and deposed Jehoahaz,
setting up his brother Jehoiakim (also called Eliakim) as king.
However, over the next several years the tides of change were
sweeping across the world. Nebuchadnezzar was conquering the
world. Egypt would fall to him. With that fall, Judah came under
Babylonian control. What would Nebuchadnezzar do with Judah? The
story in Jeremiah
36 tells us what he would ultimately do and why. As we
read this chapter, pay careful attention to the role of God’s
word. Discussion: I.
God’s word is for salvation. A.
According to Jeremiah
36:3, 7, the primary purpose of God’s word is not to
condemn but to save. Granted, it may accomplish that goal by
warning of condemnation, however, the goal is to bring about
repentance and supplication, which lead to salvation. B.
Consider the contrasting story of Jonah’s preaching to
Nineveh according to Jonah
3:4-10. Jonah’s message was simple. “In forty days,
Nineveh will be destroyed.” This message contained no
proclamation of forgiveness if the people repented. However, the
king of Nineveh did repent and commanded the people to repent. His
thought was, “Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw
His burning anger so that we will not perish.” According to vs.
10, that is exactly what God did. His word is always
designed to save us. C.
Consider Acts
20:32; II Timothy 3:14-17; James 1:21 and I
Peter 1:22-2:3. God’s word is intended to save us. We
must use it that way in our lives. Further, we must use it that
way in our teaching. All too often, like James and John in Luke
9:54-56, we view our mission as one to condemn everyone
who is not doing exactly what God’s word says. That is not our
job. Our job is to teach the word that people might be saved. No
doubt, we will have to rebuke some. No doubt, we will have to warn
some. No doubt, we will have to be firm and even harsh at times to
rescue some from the fire. But we must always remember that our
goal is to save souls with the word of God, not call fire down
upon them from on high. II.
We cannot alter or destroy God’s word. A.
In vss.
23-26, Jehoiakim evidently believed he could destroy
God’s word. In vs.
29, we learn that Jehoiakim did not believe Nebuchadnezzar
would destroy Judah. Based on his disbelief, he cut up the scroll
and burned it. Clearly, he thought he could dictate what would and
would not happen. If he destroyed the scroll and captured the
authors of it, he could keep the judgment from occurring. However,
vs.
32, demonstrated that no matter what happened to the
scroll upon which God’s word had been written, God’s word
could not be destroyed. B.
If we do not like God’s word, we cannot change it. Satan
will try to make us think otherwise. That was his approach from
the very beginning. Satan tempted Eve by casting doubt on God’s
word. God had said, “From any tree of the garden you may eat
freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you
shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely
die” (Genesis
2:16-17). Satan said, “You surely will not die! For God
knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis
3:4-5). Satan twisted God’s word. Eve accepted the
alteration. However, she learned, as Jehoiakim would learn, we can
try to make God’s word say what we want, but it never changes. C.
Read I
Peter 1:22-2:3 again. God’s word endures forever. We may
not proclaim it properly, but we cannot change God’s word. As Romans
3:3-4 demonstrates, we do not have to believe what God has
said. But God’s word is true and if we say anything else, we are
liars. III.
If we try to alter or destroy God’s word, then our
judgment will be worse. A.
This final point is the kicker in this whole story of
Jehoiakim and the burning scroll. Vss.
30-32 say that the judgment on Judah and especially on
Jehoiakim would be even worse than initially stated. The final
words of the chapter are “And he wrote on it at the dictation of
Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah
had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to
them.” B.
While God’s word was written to save us, it warns us of
great judgments. We, for some reason, may not like what it says.
We may want to follow our own brand of Christianity. We may want
to mix and match our spirituality with our own desires. Here is
the frightening fact, we can do whatever we want, but we cannot
change God’s word. If we hide it, alter it, change it or twist
it, the judgment we are trying to avoid will only be worse. Peter
declared as much in II
Peter 3:16. C.
The closing comments of Revelation
are very appropriate to this discussion. “I testify to everyone
who hears the words of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will
add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if
anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God
will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy
city, which are written in this book” (Revelation
22:18-19). While I certainly believe these two verses are
written specifically for Revelation,
the sentiment is one that should be applied to all of God’s
word. We must not believe we can change it or twist it. Our duty
is simply to study it and teach it as it is. Otherwise, we only
magnify our judgment. Conclusion: Jehoiakim sets a great example for us of how not to behave. When we read something in scripture that we do not like, we must not think we can ignore it or alter it in any way. Rather, we must simply submit to it, turning away from our sins and supplicating God for our forgiveness. Thankfully, we do not have to respond like the King of Nineveh. He was not sure if God would forgive them. We, however, can be sure. According to I John 1:9, if we repent and confess our sins to God, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins. What is the key to all of this? We must ever stick with God’s word as our guide and never change it.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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