Jeremiah 36:27-37:2 ~ the words of the Lord

Psalm Scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls

Jeremiah 36:27-37:2 (Today's New International Version)

²⁷ After the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah's dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: ²⁸ "Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up. ²⁹ Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, 'This is what the LORD says: You burned that scroll and said, "Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and wipe from it both people and animals?" ³⁰ Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; his body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night. ³¹ I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.' "

³² So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.

Jeremiah 37

¹ Zedekiah son of Josiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he reigned in place of Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim. ² Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.

Recently our church has been doing a study of 40 Days of Love on a book The Relationship Principles of Jesus By: Tom Holladay. Written by Rick Warren's co-pastor at Saddleback Church. It's been a fantastic study. I've been participating in bible studies for about 32 years and this is one of my favorites. When someone wants to criticize the church, it is usually for not being loving enough; what could be a better study than focusing on God's core - Love?

The core of forgiveness is to let go of grievances - let God heal. We should forgive all intentional & accidental hurt we've experienced. We don't have to be asked to forgive, we pray for God's love to fill us with His grace and forgiveness. This doesn't mean renewing a wrecked relationship - trust in a relationship requires real repentance and restitution, time given to restore trust.

At the heart of forgiveness is to pray for a former enemy, to pray for them to experience the redeeming love of God, Jesus Christ. To experience grace and become part of His Kingdom.

So many people shun the Bible; they don't know it & don't explore salvation. With kindness and love, ask the people willing to so vocally condemn the Bible, if they know the Bible and challenge them to read what is God's love written for them. Ask them if they know what the Dead Sea Scrolls really mean. Ask them to take time to look for themselves. It's the loving thing to do.

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