Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Sit down now, and read it in our hearing"
Text: Jeremiah 36:15
THE EFFECT OF JEREMIAH’S BOOK
Micaiah’s report of what he heard from Baruch startled the assembly of the princes, scribes and close friends. The people wanted to hear Baruch personally.
“Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah,
the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying,
‘Take in your hand the scroll from which
you have read in the hearing of the people, and come.’
So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them.
And they said to him, ‘Sit down now, and read it in our hearing.’
So Baruch read it in their hearing.
Now it happened, when they had heard all the words,
that they looked in fear from one to another, and said to Baruch,
‘We will surely tell the king of all these words.'”
Jeremiah 36:14-16
1. “Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah,
the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, ‘Take in your hand the scroll from which you have read
in the hearing of the people, and come.’
So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them”
a) The princes who were gathered together responded swiftly to what they heard from Michaiah.
b) Jehudi the son of Nethaniah was sent.
i) His ancestry seemed to be quite noble.
ii) But little is known about him.
c) Baruch was invited to meet with the princes.
d) He was asked to bring the scroll that he had read to the people.
e) Baruch complied and came to the princes with the scroll in hand.
2. “And they said to him, ‘Sit down now, and read it in our hearing.’
So Baruch read it in their hearing”
a) The princes greeted Baruch with courtesy.
b) They invited him to sit down with them and to read Jeremiah’s scroll to them.
3. “Now it happened, when they had heard all the words, that they looked in fear from one to another, and said to Baruch, ‘We will surely tell the king of all these words'”
a) They listened to Baruch as he read the scroll of Jeremiah.
b) They became afraid of what they had heard.
c) They told Baruch that they would have to report this matter to the king.
i) This was not a threat to Baruch.
ii) But the princes were probably under obligation to report to the king
all consequential news.
iii) This reading of Jeremiah’s scroll by Baruch was cause for great concern.