“Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD which He had spoken to him. Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, ‘I am restricted; I cannot go into the house of the LORD. So you go and read from the scroll which you have written at my dictation the words of the LORD to the people in the LORD’S house on a fast day. And also you shall read them to all the people of Judah who come from their cities.’ … Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the LORD in the LORD’S house” (Jer 36:4-6, 8).
I’m sure all of us would jump at the opportunity to meet one of Israel’s ancient prophets. We may have even entertained the thought that going to a prophet’s “live concert” is far better than listening to a recording. But if there’s one lesson we can learn from this chapter it is this: the written word of the prophet is just as potent and just as inspired as the prophet himself. We can even say that the book is the prophet, and through it the prophet still speaks the word of the LORD.
Every time we open the book, we meet the prophets and the apostles, and their words are just as powerful and just as inspired as when they were first spoken and written down.
It is crucial to notice that Jeremiah was “restricted,” that is, under arrest. The people of Israel thought that if they could silence Jeremiah’s physical presence, they would no longer have to hear his prophecies. But the moment Baruch put Jeremiah’s words on parchment, it no longer mattered whether Jeremiah himself read the scroll or not. In fact, it did not even matter whether the historical prophet was dead or alive, for the scroll was now the prophet. And the scroll was simultaneously “the words of the LORD” (Jer 36:8).
Such is the wonder of Scripture. Every time we open the book, we meet the prophets and the apostles, and their words are just as powerful and just as inspired as when they were first spoken and written down.
This means we must never forget that we have prophets and apostles dwelling in our homes, longing to speak to us God’s infallible, inspired, all-powerful word. So do you want to meet the real Jeremiah, Daniel, Matthew, or Paul? Then go grab your Bible, because now is your chance!
