Baruch, the Scribe

GOLDEN TEXT: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”—Psalm 119:105

JEREMIAH 36:4-8—In modern terminology, we might say that Baruch served as Jeremiah’s secretary, and in this honored association with the prophet it was inevitable that he should share in much of the ignominy and persecution which at that time, even as now, is leveled against those who dare to tell the truth even though it be a message not pleasing to the ears of those for whom it is given.

The Scriptures make mention of several important co-laborers of some of the Lord’s outstanding and inspired servants. Epaphroditus rendered valuable service to the Apostle Paul. (Phil. 2:25-30) Mark also co-labored faithfully in the ministry. (II Tim. 4:11) And there were many others. When the plan of God has reached its glorious consummation in the blessing of all the families of the earth it doubtless will be found that a great deal of the success of many of his prominent servants has been due to the zeal and self-sacrificing devotion of the less prominent servants who labored with them and upheld their hands.

The Lord assigned Jeremiah a difficult task. He was a prophet in Israel during a period when it was a backsliding nation, when its sins were bringing down the judgments of God upon the people. It was his unhappy task to tell the nation of its sins, and to warn its rulers of impending catastrophe. God appreciated this service, but so far as the people were concerned it was a thankless task; and even worse, he was persecuted for telling them the truth.

And Baruch, the scribe, because he co-labored with the prophet, also came into a measure of disrepute. Our present lesson begins at a point in the prophet’s experience in which he declares, “I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the Lord.” It is trot too apparent just what the prophet means by this. Later he was thrown into prison by some of the wicked “princes,” and perhaps even before this he felt restrained from speaking boldly the message the Lord had given to him. In any case he gave the message to Baruch, word by word, and the scribe wrote it all down for the prophet. Then, in obedience to Jeremiah’s instructions Baruch took this written message and read it to the people in the house of the Lord. This required courage, and Baruch was faithful in carrying out the commission which had been given to him, even though it did bring him into disrepute together with Jeremiah.

JEREMIAH 36:17-24—The “princes” learned that Baruch had read an important message to the people, so they sent for the scribe and asked him to read the contents of the roll to them. He still did not waver, but obeyed. The princes were afraid. To a degree they hesitated between two opinions. Their first thought was to spare Baruch and Jeremiah, advising the scribe that he and the prophet should hide.

They also felt their duty to the king and reported the fact that they possessed this roll. They may have thought that the king would not be especially interested in hearing its contents and that the incident would pass by without further excitement. But the king asked to have the roll brought and read to him. Jehudi, the reader, calmly threw the pages of the roll upon an open fire as soon as they were read, and neither the king nor the princes gave any evidence of repenting or of giving heed to the warning. “They were not afraid,” the account states, “neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.”

JEREMIAH 36:32—When Jeremiah learned that the original roll had been burned and its message scorned, he promptly dictated the message to Baruch again and even added “many like words.” Over and over again the enemies of truth have supposed they could hinder its promulgation by destroying the rolls or books containing it. Bibles have been burned by the thousands, but the Word of God has reappeared in numbers greater than before. During the Dark Ages the Bible was banned by those who should have been its sponsors, but it has lived through all of these attacks.

Thus far in the outworking of God’s plan, the Word of the Lord has been given only for the enlightenment, the guidance, and the encouragement of God’s own servants, those who have been laboring in his vineyard. The whole nation of Israel were his professed people, and should have heeded his Word, but they seldom did. Because they did not, they finally were cast off, and the invitation to become co-workers with the Lord was extended to the Gentiles.

So when David wrote, as in our Golden Text, that the Lord’s Word is a light unto our path he did not mean that the whole world is now enlightened. The, time for the world’s enlightenment is still future. The books of divine revelation will be opened for all people during the thousand-year judgment day. (Rev. 20:12,13) Now it is our privilege to rejoice in the truth of his Word, in advance of the world.

QUESTIONS:

Who was Baruch, and what was his special work?

Has the truth ever been popular with the ungodly of the world?

When will the books of divine revelation be opened for the enlightenment of the world in general?

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