Baruch

Jeremiah 45:1-5; NKJV

45 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 

2 "Thus says theLORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 

3 'You said, "Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest."'

4 "Thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. 

5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the LORD. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go."'"

Baruch's Story

Son of Neriah (32:12)
Brother of Seraiah (51:59, 61; 52:24)
Scribe to Jeremiah (605 BC – 36; 45)
Read Jeremiah's words publicly on a day of fasting, then read them to the officials of the king's court (36)
Suffered Discouragement in 605 BC (45)
Received the Purchase Deed to Jeremiah’s Field (587 BC - 32:12-16)
Taken to Egypt (43)

Baruch's Blessing

1.  He helped a prophet write the word of Jehovah.

2.  Jehovah spoke to Him:
–Don’t put your hope in the future of Judah
–Your life will be spared

Jeremiah 25:1-14

Who:  Jehovah, Jeremiah, the people of Jerusalem and Judah

What:  The word of Jehovah concerning the Babylonian captivity

When:  The 4th year of King Jehoiakim's reign (606/605 BC)

Where:  Jerusalem, Judah

Why:  To remind those still in Jerusalem who watched Daniel and others led out of Judah to Babylon that they have not listened, that Nebuchadnezzar is just getting started, the captivity is going to last for 70 years, and then Babylon will punished for their sin.

1 Peter 4:17-19; NKJV
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 

18 Now

"If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Hidden in My Heart

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."  (Hosea 4:6; NKJV)

"O My Servant Jacob"

Jeremiah 46:27-28; NKJV
 
27 'But do not fear, O My servant Jacob,
And do not be dismayed, O Israel!
For behold, I will save you from afar,
And your offspring from the land of their captivity;
Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease;
No one shall make him afraid.
 
28 Do not fear, O Jacob My servant," says the LORD,
"For I am with you;
For I will make a complete end of all the nations
To which I have driven you,
But I will not make a complete end of you.
I will rightly correct you,
For I will not leave you wholly unpunished."

No matter how dark the day, Jehovah always gives His people the bright light of His promises…

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place…” (2 Peter 1:19-22; NKJV)

Jeremiah Laments Josiah's Death

2 Chronicles 35:20-27; NKJV

20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. 21 But he sent messengers to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you." 22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.

23 And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am severely wounded." 24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem. So he died, and was buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

25 Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And to this day all the singing men and the singing women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. They made it a custom in Israel; and indeed they are written in the Laments.

26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodness, according to what was written in the Law of the Lord, 27 and his deeds from first to last, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Destroys idolatry (2 K 23:4, 20, 24; 2 CHRON 34:33)

Observes the Passover (2 K 23:21-23; 2 CHRON 35:1-19)

Slain in battle (2 K 28-30; 2 CHRON 35:20-27)

Lamented by Jeremiah (2 CHRON 35:25; JER 22)

Ancestor of Christ (MATT 1:10-11)

The Restoration Principle

The Restoration Principle:  "Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” (2 Kings 23:21; NKJV)

Restoration (2 Kings 23)
1.  Reading the Word of GOD (2)
2.  Making a commitment (3)
3.  Casting out items of false worship (4)
4.  Putting down false teachers (5)
5.  Casting out idols (6)
6.  Putting away immorality (7)
7.  Following the pattern of worship (21)

Like a Burning Fire

Jeremiah 20:7-9; ASV

7 O Jehovah, thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am become a laughing-stock all the day, every one mocketh me.

8 For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, Violence and destruction! because the word of Jehovah is made a reproach unto me, and a derision, all the day.

9 And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot (contain).

—Three Kinds of Preachers:
1.The first has to say something.
2.The second has something to say.
3.The third has something to say and has to say it.