A short little throwback story to the end of Judah's time.
Verse 1 takes us back to the time of Jehoiakim's reign as king of Judah. back to chapter 36. Apparently, Jeremiah spoke prophetic words to someone named Baruch. Then Baruch wrote the words down in a book as Jeremiah spoke them.
- The Lord speaks directly to Baruch by name.
- Baruch had lamented that the Lord added to his pain.
- Baruch complained that he was weary.
- In response to Baruch's laments, the Lord says, " Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land"
- Then the Lord asks Baruch if he is seeking great things for himself. He encourages Baruch to Not seek things for himself because it's all about to be destroyed. However, Baruch will get to keep his life as his reward.
This was the man that Jeremiah dictated a message and sent Baruch to read it to the people, the religious leaders in the Temple, and the the leadership of Israel in chapter 36. He and Jeremiah had to go hide because Jeremiah was already in trouble and now this guy had the words from the Lord.
And that's it. Seems odd to me. It seems like this short chapter belongs next to chapter 36 events. I wonder if the scrolls got out of order or if this guy was in the group going to Egypt so this came back up?
Mysterious.