Jer 36:22-24 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. 23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

Baruch was a scribe and friend of Jeremiah. Baruch produced a scroll of the words that Jeremiah had received of the Lord. As the words of the scroll were being read to King Jehoiakim, the king would pause the reading to cut off those leaves and toss them into the fire. He patiently and purposefully continued listening, cutting, and burning until the scroll was completely burned in the fire. He showed his disdain for Jeremiah and for God. Jeremiah and Baruch produced another copy that included even more words from God. 

Over the centuries, emperors, kings, and church officials have tried to get rid of ‘unauthorized’ copies of the Bible, but the more they burned the more were produced. 

Today, many ‘bible scholars’ are saying that this part or that part of the Bible are not inspired. They cut out portions of the Bible with their pen knife. They say that the first eleven chapters of Genesis are myth. They cut out dozens of verses from the New Testament. They argue against the stated authorship of several of the New Testament Books. They argue against the book of Daniel. They argue against miracles, etc. The show disdain for God and His Word. They see everything through a paradigm of unbelief. 

Almost two hundred years ago, Louis Gassen wrote, “One submits only by halves to an authority which he has had it in his power to decline, and which he has once held to be doubtful. One worships but imperfectly what he has first degraded.”

• 1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
• Psa 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Exalt God and His Word. Read and study it with a yielded heart. Thank Him for preserving it for us. 

Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry