27 Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 28 “Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. – Jeremiah 36:27-28
God’s Word
The Word of God brought creation into existence. It brought light and order to an earth that was “without form” and it brought life where there was “void.” The inherent goodness of the Creator was reflected in His creation. But God wasn’t done. His objective was not creation, but fellowship. God not only formed and breathed life into Adam, but He also spoke with him. His words to Adam were simple. This you may eat, and this you may not. Adam apparently did not understand the significance of God’s words. But the enemy did. It has been his objective to destroy God’s creation since his fall. What better way to do it than the destruction of God’s Word?
Broken Trust
In the Garden of Eden, Satan brought into question the integrity of God’s Word. Did God really say? Yes! God really said, “you shall not.” And He meant it. Satan may have succeeded in getting Adam and Eve to disobey God’s Word, but His Word was not destroyed. Not at all. When put to the test, God’s Word was validated. Disobedience led to death just as God said it would. While Adam and Eve were being “escorted” out of the Garden and Satan was slithering on his belly, God’s Word stood true.
Smashed Tablets
When Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, he heard the singing of the people. When he saw the golden calf and the people dancing, his “anger burned hot” and he threw down the tablets at the foot of the mountain and smashed them. Moses was “delayed” on Mount Sinai. The people wanted a god to lead them. Satan suggested an idol. The people listened and fashioned one. And then they danced. Satan had gotten God’s children to violate the very first commandment God had written on the tablets. The fact that Moses smashed the tablets is ironic. Satan perhaps thought he had destroyed God’s Word. But he didn’t. After God disciplined the Israelites for their disobedience, He rewrote the Ten Commandments.
34 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. – Exodus 34:1
Burnt Scrolls
If smashing God’s Word won’t destroy it, perhaps cutting and burning it will. At least that it was Jehoiakim seems to think as we read in today’s passage. He didn’t like what God had to say so he threw the scroll into the fire. As if burning the Word of God can stop the will of God. Doesn’t work. Jehoiakim’s fire wasn’t the end of God’s Word. In actuality, Jehoiakim was merely fanning the flames. Men really should be careful when “playing” with fire. As if burning the scroll wasn’t enough, Jehoiakim wanted to silence God’s spokesmen, Jeremiah and Baruch, but God had other plans. God not only protected Jeremiah and Baruch, he also replaced the scroll that was burned.
27 Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 28 “Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. – Jeremiah 36:27-28
Indestructible!!
God’s Word is indestructible. The prophecies regarding Jehoiakim and Judah came true. Burning the scroll did not prevent God from carrying out His plan. But the enemy is persistent. History is replete with attacks on God’s Word and His messengers. With sin rampant in the hearts of men, Satan has no shortage of accomplices.
In 175 BC, the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, ordered the Jews to destroy their Scriptures and worship the Greek gods. This was no idle threat. Antiochus Epiphanes was an evil and violent man. Some of his contemporaries referred to him as Epimanes (“the mad one”), the Jews referred to him as harasha (“the wicked”). He ordered the tearing and burning of any Scriptures his officials found. Those possessing Scriptures were sentenced to death. Later, he would lead an all out assault against the Jews. Over a three day period of time he ordered the slaughter of forty thousand Jews with another forty thousand being sold into slavery. As he was raging against the Jews God struck him down.
A “madman” may wreak havoc with God’s people, but God’s Word is indestructible. While Antiochus Epiphanes is buried in infamy, God’s Word remains. While Satan was working through King Antiochus Epiphanes, God raised up Judas Maccabaeus to lead a revolt and “save” the Scriptures. Furthermore, the revolt won independence for the Jewish nation and resulted in the re-dedication of the Holy Temple. Today the Jews still celebrate this event at Hanukkah. Like Jehoiakim before him, Antiochus wasn’t destroying God’s Word, he was fanning the flames.
Far from being extinguished, the Word of God was about to take on flesh and blood.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God will stand forever.” – Isaiah 40:8