Monday: Destroying the Message: Part 1
Daily Lesson for Monday 9th of November 2026
Read Jeremiah 36:20-26. What was going on in the court, and how did the leaders respond to the prophetic warning?
Jeremiah was God’s prophetic voice to the nation of Judah during a time of impending doom. For many years, God through Jeremiah had been warning Judah of His displeasure with them and that Babylon would conquer them and take them captive into exile (Jeremiah 6:8-19, Jeremiah 26:1-24). The Lord was seeking to save them, but they had to obey.
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
Judah’s sins were many, open, and unchanging. Idolatry, child sacrifice, adultery, and tyranny were the norm during Jeremiah’s time, yet the prophet’s warnings and appeals were not heeded. As Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry neared its end, God’s appeals to His wayward children grew more intense, yet His efforts always remained redemptive. In Jeremiah 32:1-44, for instance, God tells Jeremiah to buy a piece of land and hold on to the deed, “ ‘for thus says the Lord of hosts . . . : “Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land” ’ ” (Jeremiah 32:15, NKJV).
It was love that moved God to have Jeremiah write a kind of final appeal for repentance and reformation. Jehoiakim’s response to this message was one of disdain for God, His message, and His messenger.
Read Jeremiah 36:27-31. How did God respond to Jehoiakim’s act of defiance?
Sometimes there is a tendency to believe that if we dismiss or destroy God’s messages or His messengers, the message itself will vanish. Our unwillingness to heed God’s prophetic Word does not erase the message God has for us. Our disdain only intensifies the harm that will befall us and our families because of our willful ignorance or rebellion. Jeremiah’s prophecy about King Jehoiakim’s end holds a grave warning for every human being (Jeremiah 36:30-31): we ignore God’s warnings to us at our own peril, for we will reap the consequences of our sin and evil.
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What does it tell us about God’s loving character that He persisted in trying to reach His people despite their defiance? |
Recently, I went to a medical appointment with Carmel and we parked the car in a 2-hour parking zone. Our appointments lasted longer than expected because the doctor decided to a procedure on me immediately to save me another visit. Consequently, the visit lasted more than 2 hours. We got back to the car and started to drive home. On the way out of the car park I noticed a small piece of paper flapping under the windscreen wiper. Now I could have just ignored it. It was just beginning to rain and if the windscreen wipers turned on the piece of paper would have just disappeared and I would never have known what was on the paper. Fortunately, my brain kicked in because I knew that ultimately they would catch hp with me. So, I stopped and retrieved the parking ticket and found that I had a fine for $190.
I often hear stories of people who ignore parking and traffic infringements and ultimately to the extent they end up in court. The traffic infringement system in Australia has a way of dealing with people who ignore infringement notices. And they typically end up having to pay the fines, loose their licence demerit points and pay the court costs as well. I know of people who have also ignored medical messages to the extent they have lost their lives.
Prophets were often ignored. Their messages were inconvenient and uncomfortable. But like my parking fine, they don’t go away. Paul has strong advice for those who think they can ignore messages from God:
(PS: I managed to get off paying the parking fine, but that is a whole new story.)
There is one thing that we will never get if we ignore God’s warnings which is comfort. We can get comfort and patience by studying His Word (Romans 15:4). As I’ve been studying the Word it has inspired me to hope and pray for revival not just for my local area, but around the world. I pray, especially in those areas where our truths have not penetrated yet, for more missionaries. I also pray for religious liberty so we can finish the work.
No one, no authority or no force can destroy God’s message like what king Jehoiakim wanted to do. The Scripture is absolutely clearly that the heaven and the earth will pass away but the Word of God will remail forever (Matthew 24:35). In fact, the Scripture gives a very stern warning that whoever adds or removes something to or from it, his/her name will be removed from the book of life (Revelation 22:18-19). Yes, God is love, merciful and compassionate, but like the case of king Jehoiakim, God reaches a point of no return. The Word of God can never be destroyed because the source is eternal. The Bible cannot be destroyed physically but the truth cannot be erased. Nobody can tamper with the character of God. God cannot be silenced.
Perhaps one key lesson I am learning from king Jehoiakim’s episode is that divine patience is not infinite in the face of persistent rebellion. Constant and wilful rejection of known truth will ultimately provoke the wrath of God. We might not burn the Bible like what this wicked king did but we are likely to be doing some of the following:
a) We might be ignoring portions of the Bible that confronts our bad behaviours.
b) We might be twisting some texts for personal gain.
c) We might be selectively obeying convenient teachings.
d) We are substituting divine authority with our human opinions.
e) We are neglecting the Word of God because we are joked with cares of this life.
As the “people of the Book”, let us carefully reflect on the following:
1)Rejecting or neglecting the Word of God does not take away accountability. The wicked king thought that by burning the scroll, his accountability went away with smoke!
2) When king Josiah heard God’s Word, he tore his clothes in repentance (2 Kings 22:11), but when Jehoiakim heard God’s Word, he tore the scroll in defiance. Let us remember to treat the Word of with reverence. We cannot ridicule the Word of without provoking the wrath of God.
3) God is extraordinarily patient. That patience will never run for eternality for unrepentant sinner. God’s grace is no “cheap” and cannot be taken for granted.
4) God’s purposes can never be stopped buy human disobedience. God is sovereign.
“ And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book” (Revelation 22:18 – 19, NLT).
Jeremiah’s ministry as the weeping prophet points to the fact that the greatest danger facing God’s people is not merely rejecting His message openly, but destroying its influence through outward religion and inward rebellion. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀. Although they appeared to embrace the reforms of King Josiah, their hearts remained unchanged. This reveals how easily God’s message can be destroyed when people hear the truth but refuse to practise it, embrace religious activities but reject genuine transformation, or allow worldly influences to silence the voice of God. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 lamented, “𝗠𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹𝘀; 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀, 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿” (𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮𝗵 2:13). 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀,𝗼𝗽𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘀.
Through Jeremiah’s graphic illustrations, God exposes the emptiness of a life disconnected from its Creator. The message is destroyed whenever we allow temporary pleasures, selfish ambitions and the attractions of this world to take precedence over eternal realities. Yet the greatest tragedy is not simply losing sight of God’s message, but refusing to respond when He calls us back. Scripture warns, “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). Jesus further asks, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Jeremiah’s message therefore challenges us to examine whether we are preserving God’s truth in our hearts or allowing the world to destroy its influence in our lives. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗼𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗔𝘀 𝗘𝗰𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀 12:13 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝘀, “𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗻.”
God is amazing. He keeps rescuing me again and again. Hopefully, I can help Him rescue other people too!
Maurice, 190$ is an enormous amount for exceeding the parking time. Glad you got away with it. Once it cost me in Germany 1000€ for exceeding speed limits- since then, I learned my lesson well not to ignore the speed specifications.
May God help us never to ignore His warning signs and His plain truth.
King Jehoiakim showed open defiance for the word of God.
However, hidden defiance is just as displeasing to God.
Hidden defiance shows up in us having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof.
May God grant us His grace so that we can be true followers of Christ and not overtly or covertly sinners!!!
Ignoring God’s messengers and the “Warning” as well is optional and at a free will but the Consequences of your defiance are assured.
No matter your defiance, God’s willingness to reconcile with a wronged individual is free and available ,”Roman 5:20 ,But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more”
God is ever ready to reconcile with us however bad or great U think U have wronged against Him. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Even God has a limit to his patience. Yes, his forebearance is part of his love. While God is perfect love, he is also perfectly just. The consequences of ignoring his messages of warning through the prophets is a revelation of his justice.
If people don’t want to repent then they better be prepared to suffer the consequences of their disobedience.
our unwillingness to hear Gods message and the messenger,does not diminish the power it carries, instead it causes more harm to our lives ,the more we rebel Gods message,the more we get close to facing the wrath of God, Romans 6:23 for the wages of sin is death,but the gift of God is eternal life in christ jesus our Lord. Despite our rebel,God gives us many chances through warnings,sending His messengers to deliver His messages,an act of love that truly signifies that while we were still sinners,Christ died for us read through Gallatians 6:7-8
Jehoiakim was showing contempt, open defiance. The officials of the court had conviction, but no courage. Jeremiah and Baruch were faithful despite danger. So when God convicts me, do I respond by cutting away what I don’t want to hear? Or have fear but no action? or faithful obedience regardless of cost? Every sermon, bible study, appeal is either softening us or hardening us. There is no neutral response to the word. No sitting on the fence. Satan owns the fence.
God responded by replacing the word and expanding it. He gave a penalty for defiance. The nations judgement stands firm. God’s word stands firm. What happened to the first scroll is what happened to Jesus. rejected, killed, and then raised to great power.