Jeremiah 45
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The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
2 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch:
3 Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.
4 Thus shalt thou say unto him, The Lord saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
5 And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Jeremiah 45:1-5
Message to Baruch
1The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 3You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’ 4Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. 5And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Jer. 45:1-5
A Message to Baruch
1When Baruch son of Neriah wrote on a scroll the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch: 2“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3You said, ‘Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.’ 4But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. 5Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’ ”
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
Have you bought in to the prosperity gospel? Do you think that because you are a Christian that God owes you comfort and luxury in answer to your prayers? Or do you think that because your life revolves around serving Him that you deserve to be the exception in times of hardship as a reward for your service? Rest assured that God can and often does bless His followers in tangible ways, but it is never because we “deserve” it; it is always because of his mercy and goodness. Sometimes he reminds us that mere survival through the hard times is blessing enough.
Baruch faced similar temptations and must have been muttering to God when Jeremiah reported this word from the Lord, “Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don't seek them. Indeed, I'm about to bring disaster on all flesh,' declares the LORD, 'but your life will be spared wherever you go.'" Jeremiah 45:5 ISV. Hold on to Jesus during trials and answer with faithful Job, "I left my mother's womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken. May the name of the LORD be blessed." Job 1:21 ISV.
Karen D. Lifshay
Oregon USA (as of this writing)
