Jeremiah 36:27-32: a reflection

27Then the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah, after the king had burned the scroll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 28“Take again another scroll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. 29Concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘The LORD says: “You have burned this scroll, saying, ‘Why have you written therein, saying, “The king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cause to cease from there man and animal”?’” 30Therefore the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: “He will have no one to sit on David’s throne. His dead body will be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. 31I will punish him, his offspring, and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring on them, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they didn’t listen.”’” 32Then Jeremiah took another scroll, 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 many similar words were added to them.

When King Jehoiakim heard the words God had given Jeremiah, he took the scroll on which they were written and burned it, piece by piece, in the fire, thinking to destroy God's word. But God simply had it written again. Take another scroll, God tells Jeremiah, and write in it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim has burned. And Jeremiah did, and many similar words were added to them. The king could burn the scroll, but he could not destroy God's word; it was written again, and more added besides. God's word cannot be destroyed or silenced by those who oppose it; burn it, and it is rewritten; suppress it, and it endures. The king's attempt to destroy God's word by burning the scroll came to nothing; the word stood, rewritten and enlarged. Those who oppose God's word cannot finally destroy or silence it; it endures beyond every effort to suppress it.

Notice the futility of the king's attempt to destroy God's word. He burned the scroll, thinking to be rid of the word that troubled him; but God simply had it written again, and added more words to it. The word he tried to destroy not only survived but grew. This shows the indestructibility of God's word: it cannot be silenced or destroyed by those who oppose it. You can burn the scroll, but not the word; you can suppress the messenger, but not the message. God's word endures beyond every human effort to destroy or silence it; it outlasts its opponents. Jehoiakim is long gone; the word he tried to burn remains. This is a comfort and an assurance: God's word is not at the mercy of those who oppose it; it cannot be destroyed, however people try. What God has spoken stands, whatever is done to suppress it. The word endures; its opponents pass. God's word cannot be burned out of existence.

That is worth resting in, for God's word cannot be destroyed or silenced by those who oppose it. We can be troubled when God's word is opposed, attacked, suppressed, as though it might be destroyed by those who set themselves against it; but Jehoiakim burned the scroll, and God simply had it written again, with more added. God's word cannot be destroyed or silenced; it endures beyond every effort to suppress it, outlasting its opponents. What God has spoken stands. When God's word seems under attack, remember that it cannot be destroyed; Jehoiakim burned the scroll, but the word endured. Rest in the truth that God's word cannot be destroyed or silenced by those who oppose it, as Jehoiakim burned the scroll of Jeremiah's words but God had it written again, with many similar words added; for the word of God is not at the mercy of those who set themselves against it, and though they burn the scroll they cannot destroy the word, which endures beyond every human effort to suppress or silence it, outlasting its opponents, so that what God has spoken stands whatever is done to destroy it.

Lord, when King Jehoiakim heard the words you had given Jeremiah, he took the scroll on which they were written and burned it, piece by piece, in the fire, thinking to destroy your word. But you simply had it written again. Take another scroll, you tell Jeremiah, and write in it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim has burned. And Jeremiah did, and many similar words were added to them. The king could burn the scroll, but he could not destroy your word; it was written again, and more added besides. Your word cannot be destroyed or silenced by those who oppose it. Show me the futility of the king's attempt to destroy your word. He burned the scroll, thinking to be rid of the word that troubled him; but you simply had it written again, and added more words to it. The word he tried to destroy not only survived but grew. This shows the indestructibility of your word: it cannot be silenced or destroyed by those who oppose it. One can burn the scroll, but not the word; suppress the messenger, but not the message. Your word endures beyond every human effort to destroy or silence it. Jehoiakim is long gone; the word he tried to burn remains. Let me rest in that, for your word cannot be destroyed or silenced by those who oppose it. I can be troubled when your word is opposed, attacked, suppressed, as though it might be destroyed; but Jehoiakim burned the scroll, and you simply had it written again. Your word cannot be destroyed. When your word seems under attack, help me remember that it cannot be destroyed, Lord, that Jehoiakim burned the scroll but the word endured, and rest in the truth that what you have spoken stands whatever is done to suppress it.