Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 284
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IMMERSE
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PROPHETS
35:15–36:11
of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: Go and say to the people in
Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Come and learn a lesson about how to obey me. The
Recabites do not drink wine to this day because their ancestor Jehonadab
told them not to. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse
to obey me. Time after time I sent you prophets, who told you, “Turn from
your wicked ways, and start doing things right. Stop worshiping other gods
so that you might live in peace here in the land I have given to you and your
ancestors.” But you would not listen to me or obey me. The descendants
of Jehonadab son of Recab have obeyed their ancestor completely, but you
have refused to listen to me.’
“Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of
Israel, says: ‘Because you refuse to listen or answer when I call, I will send
upon Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have threatened.’”
Then Jeremiah turned to the Recabites and said, “This is what the Lord
of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed your ances
tor Jehonadab in every respect, following all his instructions.’ Therefore,
this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehon
adab son of Recab will always have descendants who serve me.’”
During the fourth year that Jehoiak im son of Josiah was king in Judah, the
Lord gave this message to Jeremiah: “Get a scroll, and write down all my
messages against Israel, Judah, and the other nations. Begin with the first
message back in the days of Josiah, and write down every message, right
up to the present time. Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they
hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be
able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.”
So Jeremiah sent for Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated
all the prophecies that the Lord had given him, Baruch wrote them on a
scroll. Then Jeremiah said to Baruch, “I am a prisoner here and unable to
go to the Temple. So you go to the Temple on the next day of fasting, and
read the messages from the Lord that I have had you write on this scroll.
Read them so the people who are there from all over Judah will hear them.
Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the Lord’s
forgiveness before it is too late. For the Lord has threatened them with
his terrible anger.”
Baruch did as Jeremiah told him and read these messages from the Lord
to the people at the Temple. He did this on a day of sacred fasting held in
late autumn, during the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah.
People from all over Judah had come to Jerusalem to attend the services
at the Temple on that day. Baruch read Jeremiah’s words on the scroll to
