Jeremiah 36:25 says, “Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.”
When we refuse the truth and go our own way, presuming that we know what is best, regardless of what God says, we commit presumptuous sin.
My first car, a 1950 Ford, needed some serious repair. My Sunday School teacher, Earl Housinger, helped me fix it. He told me, “If you will drive this car at 55 miles per hour it will last you forever.” Of course, I knew better. The speed limit was 70 and I found out the car would go 100. Within a year I blew the motor up. I ruined a number of cars before I finally realized the wisdom of my Sunday School teacher.
King Jehoiakim was sitting before the fireplace enjoying the warmth of the fire. Outside it was winter and his kingdom was in a mess. Judah was in trouble with God. The nation was soon to be punished for their sins. God had given, over and over, warning words to Jeremiah that he had faithfully preached to the people. His voice went unheeded.
In the time of great trouble, we see God’s great mercy in Jeremiah 36:2-3, “Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.” God was willing to give them another chance!
Jeremiah did as instructed. When the roll was finally read to King Jehoiakim, as he sat in front of his nice warm fire, he cut the pages out of the book and threw them into the fire—a few pages at a time. If he had taken heed, he could have perhaps led Judah back to God. There could have been a great revival in the land.
Think of what our president could do today if he would listen to God. Perhaps our whole nation would humble itself. This was God’s hope for Judah. It is God’s hope for America, for churches, for families, for you and for me.
The saddest part of this account is that the king would not hear when Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged him not to burn the roll. Why did he do it? Why did he refuse God’s mercy? Why did he let the nation down? Why do we presume today that we don’t need God?
I love the words of Will L. Thompson in his hymn, “Softly and Tenderly.” Verse 2 says, “Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me? Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, mercies for you and for me?”
We all need God’s mercy. We all need another chance. Even though King Jehoiakim burned the roll, God had it written again. We cannot destroy God’s mercy. However, Judah did go into Babylonian captivity. Sin will be punished every time.
Jesus took our punishment. Come home to Him while you can.
I sure miss that ’50 Ford. It is gone forever because I would not hear. Let us not lose our souls because of presumptuous sin!
What a great blog, Larry. Good words, we really needed to hear. We had to stop and sing that old invitation song.
Also, believe it or not, my first car was also a 1950 Ford. I got it in the winter and was going to drive it to school the next day but it wouldn’t even start!! I was so disappointed. Dad said he would pay for the parts and I would have to do the work overhauling the engine. It did eventually run good — even did a 100 miles an hour a couple of times.