“The LORD Will Hide you From Your Enemies!”

“The LORD Will Hide You From Your Enemies!”(Jer. 36:20-26).
Dear friend, it’s another day of grace. Let us thank God for his unconditional care and concern. Since Tuesday up to tomorrow Saturday our reflections is from the prophet Jeremiah, during the reign of king Jehoiakim of Judah. We recall that Jeremiah was called to prophesy to Judah during the reign of king Josiah, son of Amon. We recall that Josiah was eight years old when he became king and he reigned over Jerusalem for thirty-one years. Jeremiah’s prophetic calling was in Josiah’s thirteenth year of reign.
Jeremiah prophesied during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoahaz his son who reigned for three months, Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah.
If only these kings had listened to the prophet, the Babylonian captivity may not have taken place. When water has been muddied at the source there may not be any clean water down stream. When evil and wickedness is baptised as good by the leaders, its rippling effects becomes evident everywhere. To all the above kings, their chroniclers always include, “And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his fathers had.”
Our reflections is under the reign of king Jehoiakim. When the officials went are narrated the accounts of Baruch’s scroll, the king asked that they should bring the scroll to him. As the scroll was being read to him, he was cutting off the read chunks and burning them in the ????. When they had read it all, he burnt everything; despite pleas from some of his officials protesting his actions.
The king ordered for the arrest of Baruch and Jeremiah. “But the LORD had hidden them.” You see, a young man told his friends jubilantly that he had finally freed himself of all the dos and don’ts of the Bible. When his friends asked how he did it, he responded, “I have stopped reading the Bible!” Such was the action of king Jehoiakim. He burned the scroll. Ironically he had already listened to it. It is difficult to completely eface what one has listened to – especially such hurtful messages that touch our soft spots.
We should act on the word of God rather than destroying or ignoring it. And to the prophets, fear not. The king may command for your arrest but the LORD will hide you. After all, all who believe in the Son of God are already hidden in him – the Christ! Hallelujah!
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit enable us to let the word of God to burn in our hearts so that we may not sin, rather than to burn the word of God and perish in sin. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with!
Rev Babila Fochang.