Jeremiah’s Scribe Baruch

 

Introduction.  The prophet Jeremiah was called upon to carry out one of the most difficult tasks ever assigned to any servant of God.  During the last few years of the kingdom of Judah, beginning during the 13th year of the faithful king Josiah (Jeremiah 25:3); through the seige and burning of Jerusalem, after which the unfaithful king Zedekiah was imprisoned, and Nebuchadnezzar killed his sons before his eyes and had his eyes put out (Jeremiah 52:1-11); Jeremiah was called upon to prophesy to Judah that, because of their sin, they must accept the yoke of Babylon and not resist. 

•  He was not to marry nor have children, because of the desolation that would come upon the land (Jeremiah 16:1-4).

•  He was to enter the temple and declare its utter destruction (Jeremiah 26).

•  Before king Jehoiakim he was to present himself in bonds and a yoke, to demonstrate the need to submit to Babylon (Jeremiah 27).

•  He was imprisoned, opposed by false prophets, threatened with death, and viewed as a traitor. 

            But through him God prophesied not only the exile and return of the Jews but the establishment of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

            But our lesson this morning is not about Jeremiah, but about a man that was very important in his life.  Baruch, the son of Neriah was a friend, co-worker and scribe for the prophet Jeremiah.  The Bible records for us some very significant events that involved Baruch and the important contribution he made in the life of Jeremiah and ultimately in the work of Almighty God.

 

I.  Timeline.

•  609 BC  Josiah dies at Megiddo while opposing Pharoah Neco.  Josiah’s son Jehoahaz reigns 3 months and then is imprisoned by Pharoah Neco.  Pharoah Neco makes Josiah’s son Eliakim (Jehoiakim) king.   

•  605 BC  Nebuchadnezzar becomes king of Babylon and defeats Pharoah Neco at Carchemish.   

•  598 BC  Judah’s alliance with Egypt proves unsuccessful and Jerusalem is captures by Babylon.  Nebuchadnezzar takes Jehoiakim to Babylon.  Coniah (Jehoiachin) his son reigns 3 months and is also taken captive to Babylon.  Nebuchadnezzar makes Mattaniah (Zedekiah) Jehoiachin’s uncle king.

•  589 BC Because Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon and made alliances with the surrounding nations to oppose Nebuchanezzar Jerusalem is beseiged.

•  587 BC Jerusalem falls to Babylon.  The city and temple are burned.  Zedekiah is blinded and imprisoned after his sons are killed before him.  Many captives are taken to Babylon.  Jeremiah’s friend Gedeliah is made Babylonian governor.

•  587-6 BC  Gedeliah is murdered.

 

II.  Baruch’s Work with Jeremiah.

A.  (605 BC.)  Baruch was given assurance by God that his life would be spared when Jerusalem was captured by Babylon (Jeremiah 45:1-5).

B.  (605 BC.)  After Jeremiah was prevented from going into the temple, he dictated a scroll to Baruch which he read in the temple (Jeremiah 36:1-10).

1.  Baruch was urged by Michaiah and some others to hide along with Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:11-19).

2.  When the scroll is read to king Jehoiakim, he cut the scroll before he has heard all of the text and burns it.  He then commands his son Jerahmeel to seize Baruch and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:20-26).

3.  Jeremiah dictates another scroll to Baruch with the same words, along with an ominous prophecy against Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:27-32).

C.  (588 BC.)  While Jeremiah was imprisoned by Zedekiah, during the Babylonian seige of Jerusalem, Baruch is intrusted with the the purchase deed of a field which Jeremiah purchases as a sign that the Jews with dwell in Judah again (Jeremiah 32:1-16).

D.  (ca. 587-6 BC.)  After Gedaliah, who was appointed as the governor by Babylon is murdered, Baruch was taken by force along with Jeremiah by Johanan to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:1-7).

 

III.  Lessons From The Life of Baruch.

A.  Courage in the face of opposition.

            With Jeremiah restricted from the temple and the threat of the kings wrath Baruch goes into the temple and reads the Word of God given to Jeremiah.

1.  “The same sufferings are experienced” (I Peter 5:8-10).

2.  “Be brave, be strong” (I Corinthians 16:13).

B.  Faithful help to God’s people.

            I am certain that Baruch could have rationalized any number of good reasons not to stay so true to Jeremiah.  But through imprisonment, threats and hatred Baruch understood that to be on Jeremiah’s side was to be on the Lord’s side.  Compare…

1.  “Only Luke is with me” (II Timothy 4:9-11).

2.  “Onesiphorus…was not ashamed of my chain” (II Timothy 1:15-18).

C.  Trusting God’s assurances.

            The placement of the chapter of the book of Jeremiah which offers God’s assurance to Baruch comes near the end (as it has come to be arranged).  Although this is out of time sequence, there is kind of an interesting result that comes from this.  After seeing all the work which Baruch and Jeremiah did we are then given the initial reason that Baruch could have such confidence to do what he did – God was with him.

1.  Jesus’ assurance to us.  (Matthew 10:27-31).

2.  The love of Christ for us.  (Ephesians 3:14-19).

D.  Endurance under mistreatment.

            Even after the city is destroyed and fellow Jews are taken away captive Baruch’s troubles do not end.  He is accused of conspiring with Babylon and is taken by force to Egypt.  Even so there is no indication that his confidence in God diminished.

1.  Persecution for righteousness sake.  (Matthew 5:10-12).

2.  Suffering wrongfully.  (I Peter 2:19-24).