Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 36 | Sabbath: May 3, 2025
Memory Verse: Psalm 19:7
Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Weekly Proverb: Proverbs 21:20
Proverbs 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
Introduction: The word of God has been with man since Moses, even before Moses. His word is His message to man for our good, our salvation. Some would think to destroy His word. This lesson is an example of how God oversees his word, giving us the assurance that what is written is accurate and is the word of God.
Definition: The word "sure" means to be confident, reliable, and stable. A sure foundation cannot be destroyed.

1. Jeremiah was a prophet from his childhood. Jeremiah 1:5, 6. God had spoken to him for many years. What did God want him to do with the words he had received over so many years? Jeremiah 36:1, 2
Jeremiah 36:1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jeremiah 36:2 Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
2. What was the purpose of the book? Who was the book for? How could this book change the future of the small nation of Judah? Jeremiah 36:3
Jeremiah 36:3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
3. What destructible material was the book written on? Jeremiah 36:4
Jeremiah 36:4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
4. The words came from God, Jeremiah was the prophet, and Baruch was the scribe and the messenger. Was the book delivered and read to the people? Jeremiah 36:5, 6, 10
Jeremiah 36:5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:
Jeremiah 36:6 Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD's house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.
Jeremiah 36:10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house, in the ears of all the people.
5. Did anyone think that Jeremiah's book was important? Important enough that others should hear it? Did others want to hear it? Jeremiah 36:11-15
Jeremiah 36:11 When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,
Jeremiah 36:12 Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.
Jeremiah 36:13 Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.
Jeremiah 36:14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.
Jeremiah 36:15 And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.
6. These words were prophecies for Judah. When the princes heard them, what was their reaction? Who were they afraid for? Jeremiah 36:16-19
Jeremiah 36:16 Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.
Jeremiah 36:17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
Jeremiah 36:18 Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.
Jeremiah 36:19 Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.
7. They knew that the book was so important that it had to be read to which very important person? Did they have a responsibility to have it read to him? Did he have the power to act on the book? Jeremiah 36:16
Jeremiah 36:16 Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.
8. So the book was delivered to the king and read to him. What did Jehudi, the reader, and the king think of Jeremiah's prophecies? What did they think the fire would accomplish? Jeremiah 36:20-24
Jeremiah 36:20 And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.
Jeremiah 36:21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
Jeremiah 36:22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
Jeremiah 36:23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
Jeremiah 36:24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
9. Paper was destroyed. (Yes, papyrus or vellum.) But, what of God's words? Will God allow His words to die before their time? Jeremiah 36:27, 28
Jeremiah 36:27 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
Jeremiah 36:28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.
10. Can God's word be destroyed? What prophecy was given to the man that thought to destroy the prophecy of God? Jeremiah 36:29-31
Jeremiah 36:29 And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim the king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?
Jeremiah 36:30 Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.
Jeremiah 36:31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.
11. It was the king's decision to ignore the book, destroy the book. Who were the beneficiaries of his decision? Jeremiah 36:31
Jeremiah 36:31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.
12. Resurrecting a man from the grave is miraculous. Is this any less miraculous? What was added to the first book? (Other than what was added, was the second book an exact copy of the first?) Jeremiah 36:32
Jeremiah 36:32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.
Conclusion: This is an excellent example of why Peter can confidently make the statement that we can be "born again. . . .by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1 Peter 1:23.