Tag Archives: Obedience

Who Is Your Shepherd?

Posted on by under Article, Love of God

In life, we often find ourselves playing the game of “Follow the Leader.” When the leader is trustworthy and wise, this can be a comfort. However, if the leader is unreliable, following can quickly become a problem. Thankfully, as Christians, we have a perfect leader to follow—Jesus, our Good Shepherd. The Bible reminds us in Isaiah 53:6 that we all, like sheep, go astray. We are prone to wander and make mistakes without guidance. Psalm 23, perhaps the most beloved Psalm, is often read during times of loss, but its message is rich for everyday life. It reveals who our Shepherd is and describes three incredible blessings He offers His sheep.

I. The Good Shepherd Provides

Psalm 23:1-3 assures us, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” This means we will lack nothing essential. Jesus provides for our physical and spiritual needs, as echoed in Matthew 6:25-26, where He teaches not to worry because God cares for us.

  • Rest and Nourishment: The Shepherd leads His sheep to green pastures—places of abundance, not scarcity. He ensures we are well fed and have time to rest and be renewed.
  • Peace and Comfort: He leads us beside still waters. Sheep are afraid of rushing water, so the Shepherd provides calm, safe places for us to drink and be refreshed. With Him, we find peace and comfort.
  • Spiritual Wholeness: God supplies all we need to be spiritually complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:4; 2 Peter 1:3). He restores our souls, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with the Father through Jesus’ sacrifice.
  • Right Paths: The Good Shepherd leads us in paths of righteousness, guiding us in the right way, unlike bad shepherds who mislead their flocks (Ezekiel 34:1-6; John 10:1-2, 7-9). We cannot live unrighteously and expect to be on the right path.

II. The Good Shepherd Protects

Psalm 23:4-5 describes how the Shepherd’s presence removes our fear, even in the darkest valleys. The “valley of the shadow of death” is a place we would not choose to walk alone, but with the Shepherd, we have nothing to fear.

  • Comfort and Security: The Shepherd’s rod and staff are tools of protection, defending the sheep from danger (1 Samuel 17:34-36). God promises spiritual security, but we must stay close to Him.
  • Guidance and Leadership: In John 10:3-5, Jesus explains that the sheep recognize and follow the Shepherd’s voice, not the voice of a stranger. The sheepfold is a place of safety, and Jesus is the only true door to salvation and spiritual nourishment.
  • Knowing the Shepherd’s Voice: We must learn to discern the voice of Jesus through His word, so we are not misled by false teachings. The Good Shepherd does not promise an easy life, but He promises to lead and protect.
  • Ultimate Sacrifice: The Good Shepherd goes so far as to lay down His life for the sheep (John 10:11-15).

III. The Good Shepherd Preserves

Psalm 23:5-6 illustrates how the Shepherd preserves and blesses His sheep. He anoints their heads with oil to protect them from pests and disease, ensuring their health and well-being. This act is also a symbol of honor and care.

  • Abundant Blessings: The Psalmist says, “My cup runs over” (2 Corinthians 9:8-10). God not only meets our needs but provides in abundance.
  • Goodness and Mercy: By following Jesus, we experience God’s goodness. Without obedience, we face His severity (Romans 11:22). For those who obey, mercy triumphs over judgment, and salvation is our reward (John 10:14-15).
  • Eternal Security: The promise to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” points to our eternal reward in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Conclusion

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, provides, protects, and preserves His sheep. Yet, these blessings are not automatic. We must be attentive sheep—listening for His voice, discerning His word, and following Him closely. If we don’t listen, we miss out on His blessings. If we hear but don’t recognize or obey, we risk going astray, just as the demons recognize Jesus but do not submit to Him.

The Good Shepherd offers all we need for a spiritually full and abundant life. The question is: Who is your shepherd today? Are you following the Good Shepherd, or have you wandered away? The invitation is open—choose to follow Jesus and experience the blessings and security only He can provide.

Create in Me a Clean Heart

Posted on by under Article, Repentance

In life, we often wish for a “do-over” – a chance to correct our mistakes and start anew. Whether it’s a questionable call in a game or a misstep in our personal lives, the desire to erase our errors and begin again is universal. This sentiment is vividly captured in the story of David, who sought a “do-over” after his grievous sin with Bathsheba. David’s journey from sin to repentance is a powerful reminder that our worst moments do not have to define us. Instead, with genuine repentance and a change of heart, we can seek forgiveness and renewal.

Appeal

David’s plea for mercy is expressed in Psalm 51:1-2. He begs for compassion, acknowledging that he has no claim to the favor he seeks. His appeal is not based on his own goodness but on God’s steadfast love and tender mercies. David’s hope to restore his covenant relationship with God is a testament to his faith in God’s unending love. Romans 12:1 reminds us that God’s tender mercies are available to us as well, but we must not conform to this world. Like David, we must seek to be free from sin’s pollution, asking God to blot out, wash, and cleanse us thoroughly.

Confession

In Psalm 51:3-5, David’s confession is heartfelt and sincere. He acknowledges his sin, recognizing that his attempts to hide it have failed. His sin is ever before him, and he understands that he has sinned not just against Uriah and Bathsheba, but against God. David’s acknowledgment of his sin is a crucial step in his repentance. He does not make excuses or shift blame; instead, he owns his actions and expresses true sorrow. This godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance, as David seeks to be free from the guilt and punishment of his transgressions.

Restoration

David’s desire for restoration is evident in Psalm 51:6-9. He understands that sin separates him from God and longs to be restored to his position as one of God’s children. David’s plea to be purged with hyssop, washed, and cleansed reflects his deep desire for purity. He seeks complete cleansing, knowing that only God can make him whiter than snow. David’s request to blot out his iniquities and restore joy and gladness highlights his yearning for a renewed relationship with God.

Inward Renewal

Psalm 51:10-12 reveals David’s understanding that only God can give him a clean heart and a fresh start. While David must repent of his sins, it is only God who can create in him a clean heart and renew his spirit. David’s plea not to be cast away from God’s presence or lose the Holy Spirit reflects his fear of losing the special relationship he once had with God. He seeks to be restored to the joy of salvation, desiring to be as innocent as he was before his sin.

Humble Worship

David’s forgiveness serves as a lesson to others, as seen in Psalm 51:13-17. He recognizes that worship and sacrifices are empty and worthless if one is not living right with God. David’s desire to get back in line with God and offer acceptable worship reflects his understanding that true worship comes from a humble and contrite heart. He knows that God does not desire sacrifices that represent failure but seeks a heart that is fully devoted to Him.

Acceptable Sacrifices

In Psalm 51:18-19, David acknowledges that once we are back in fellowship with God, our sacrifices become productive and pleasing to Him. He emphasizes the importance of doing good and offering sacrifices in spirit and truth. David’s journey from sin to repentance and restoration serves as a powerful reminder that we too can have a “do-over.” By owning our mistakes, confessing our sins, and seeking God’s forgiveness, we can be restored to a right relationship with Him.

None of us are perfect, and we all fall victim to sin. The key is how we respond to our failures. Like David, we must take responsibility for our actions, confess our sins to the Lord, and appeal to Him for forgiveness and cleansing. Only God can create in us a clean heart and restore us to a right relationship with Him. True repentance involves a change of mind and heart, and it starts with us. By looking inward and seeking God’s forgiveness, we can experience the joy of being restored to His fold and having His Spirit with us. Then, when we are restored to Him, our worship and sacrifices will be pleasing to God, and we will enjoy the joy of heaven.

Be Ye Doers of the Word

Posted on by under Article, Christian Living

The book of James often mirrors the Sermon on the Mount and offers much in the way of practical applications and Christian living. James 1:22-25, in particular, challenges believers to achieve a faith that goes beyond just hearing.  It is faith marked by action. This section begins with a call to action: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). The difference between hearing and doing is vital. James says that hearing the word without applying it can lead to self-deception. Simply nodding along to sermons or reading Scripture without having it affect our lives creates a false sense of security. One may feel they are in league with God but be mistaken.

In verses 23-24, James uses a well-worn metaphor: hearing the word without doing it is like looking in a mirror, walking away, and forgetting what has just been seen. The mirror symbolizes God’s word, the perfect Law of Liberty, which exposes our spiritual condition. If we fail to act upon this, what results is a lack of spiritual growth.  A mirror doesn’t change us; it only shows us what needs attention.

By contrast, the one who looks into the “perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25). This “law of liberty” is the word of God, to which we must adhere.  Thus, we need to do by applying God’s holy word to our daily lives.  It ought to be the driving force behind who we are and what we choose to do.  If we want to grow closer to Christ, don’t just hear what the Lord has to say, do it!

Once We Are Saved, Are We Always Saved?

Posted on by under Article, Doctrine

            There are a significant number of people in the religious world today who believe that once we are saved from our sins, that we will always be saved.  In other words, once we are saved, we can never be lost again.  Within Calvinism, this doctrine is known as the perseverance of the saints.  To bolster their belief, several passages of scripture are used to ‘prove’ their case.  One such passage reads, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).  Does this passage really teach that once we are saved, we are always saved and can never fall away?

            These two verses of scripture are in a larger context where Paul is explaining to the brethren in Rome that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.  God is always going to love us.  We need not think that any tribulation or persecution that we might suffer is evidence that God has stopped loving us (Romans 8:35-37).  None of these things can separate us from God.  Even our great adversary, the Devil, cannot separate us from God, though he will certainly accuse us and try to condemn us.  If we belong to the Lord, then we have Jesus to intercede for us with the Father (Romans 8:31-34).  So, there is no external force that can separate the believer from God.

            But does this mean that we are always saved no matter what?  While no external force can keep us from God, we can.  No one else can pluck us out of the hand of God (John 10:29), but we can lose our salvation if we give it up.  Notice in Hebrews 2:1 that we need to give heed to what Jesus has said so we will not drift away.  Drift away from where?  We cannot drift away from a place we have never been.  The book is written to Hebrew Christians who have been saved.  Why warn them about drifting away if that is an impossibility?  One might say they were never really saved since they have drifted away, but Hebrews 6:4-6 shows someone who has definitely been saved who then falls away.  Peter also speaks of those who were saved who then went back into the world and were lost (2 Peter 2:20-22).  Paul says, “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). Again, why the warning if we cannot fall from grace?

            The Bible has many examples of those who had lost their salvation.  Judas, who was handpicked by Jesus to be an Apostle fell.  Demas fell, having loved this present world (2 Tim. 4:10).  Alexander and Hymeneus suffered shipwreck regarding their faith (1 Tim. 1:19-20).  You cannot suffer shipwreck if you were never on the boat!  Even Paul, an inspired Apostle, could lose his salvation (1 Cor. 9:27). 

While no one else can take it from us, it is important for us to remain faithful, so that we will not lose our salvation.  For, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?” (Heb. 2:3).  We will not escape the wrath of God that is to come if we neglect, or count as worthless, the great salvation that God has given to those who obey Him.

All Things That Pertain to Life and Godliness

Posted on by under Article, Christian Living

            Have you ever spent Christmas Eve feverishly trying to assemble that last gift?  Perhaps you waited until the last moment thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal or difficult.  It only required some assembly, after all.  Then you notice that the instructions are not clearly written, and the diagrams are small and ambiguous as to which side of the frame the screws are supposed to be inserted.  Don’t you wish that you had all that pertains to how to put this thing together?

            God’s instructions for us are not like that.  They are neither unclear, nor ambiguous.  Peter tells us that God, through His magnificent ability and divine power, “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3 NKJV).  He has given us all the things that we need in order to know how to live a godly life.  He has left nothing to chance.  He has given us no reason to wonder what it is that He wants.  Through God’s written word, the Bible, mankind can have all the information and instruction necessary to live a life that pleases the Lord.  We can read and understand what God wants us to know (Ephesians 3:3-5).  We can understand the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17).  We can have the knowledge of Him and His will so that, “you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). 

            Of course, many choose to ignore the instructions.  Sometimes our pride gets in the way.  I know how to put this thing together.  Hours later, we begin to look for where we laid those instructions.  When all else fails, consult the instructions.  However, it would be better to start with the instructions so that we can arrive at the desired end.  Our desired end ought to be heaven.  Our desired end ought to be having a relationship with our Lord and Savior.  We can say, “I don’t need the instructions, I know what I am doing,” but that path will not lead us to know God as He wants to be known.  He has given us all things for living a godly life in His inspired words.  Let us look to those basic instructions before leaving earth so that we will get to be where we want to go.

Dedicated to the Lord: The Nazarite Vow

Posted on by under Article, Christian Living

Introduction

As we reflect on Veterans Day, we honor those dedicated to their country. This moment invites us to consider a deeper question: Are you dedicated to the Lord? The biblical Nazarite was a powerful example of such dedication. While Jesus was called a Nazarene because of Nazareth (see Matthew 2:23), the Nazarite vow was something entirely different—a voluntary commitment to God, marked by extraordinary devotion. As we seek to grow closer to Christ, let us explore what the Nazarite vow entailed and challenge ourselves to examine our own dedication.

The Nazarite Vow

The Nazarite vow, described in Numbers 6:1-8, was open to both men and women. It was a special, difficult vow—an act of consecration between an individual and God, not a family or tribe. Unlike other Old Testament laws found in Leviticus or Exodus, this vow focused on personal commitment. The Hebrew word nazir means “dedicate,” and appears about ten times in the context regarding a separation or dedication. The vow was a way for an individual to set themselves apart for God for a specific period, giving what was most precious—their “self”—to the Lord.

Three-Fold Stipulations

  1. Abstain from wine and strong drink: This went beyond what was required even of priests.
  2. No razor shall pass over the head: During the vow, the individual would not cut their hair.
  3. Avoid contact with the dead: Even accidental defilement required the person to shave their head and begin the vow anew (see Numbers 6:9-12). This underscores the seriousness of the commitment.

Completion of the vow involved several offerings—a male lamb, an ewe lamb, a ram, a basket of cakes, and the shaving of the dedicated hair, which was burned on the altar. Afterward, the Nazarite was welcomed back into fellowship and could once again partake of the grapevine.

Notable Nazarites

Only three individuals are thought to have been Nazarites from birth:

  • Samson (Judges 13:2-5)
  • John the Baptist (Luke 1:15)
  • Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11)

Historical sources like Josephus and Eusebius note that Nazarite vows were popular in the first century AD, and that figures such as John the Baptist and James (the brother of Jesus) were Nazarites. Even Paul is believed to have taken a Nazarite vow (Acts 18:18; 21:23), sometimes helping others complete theirs due to the expense involved.

How Dedicated Are We?

While Christians are not under the law of Moses and there is no direct equivalent to the Nazarite vow in the New Testament, believers are still called to be dedicated to the Lord—set apart and made holy. The term “saints” means “holy ones,” those who have been set apart (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 Peter 2:9; Galatians 2:20). This dedication is about going beyond a regular relationship with God, giving ourselves to Him fully, and living for Christ.

The Nazarite vow was voluntary, not commanded (Numbers 6:2), much like fasting in the New Testament (Matthew 6:16-18). Both are ways to show dedication to God that go above and beyond what is required. Every week, we have opportunities to demonstrate our dedication.

Conclusion

The Nazarite vow was a difficult, extra step of dedication to the Lord, requiring the individual to remain undefiled. In a sense, becoming a Christian is a similar vow—a commitment to remain set apart and holy (1 John 2:15-17). As we reflect, let’s ask ourselves: Does our dedication need to be ramped up? The invitation is open to deepen our commitment and grow closer to Him.

The Lord and Me, We Have a Deal

Posted on by under Article, Doctrine
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

            Perhaps you have tried to share the gospel with someone or encouraged them to come to the worship service of the church, only to have them quote the title above as if they are separate from God’s requirements.  Don’t get me wrong, we can have a covenant relationship with the Lord, but that relationship can only be had according to His stipulations and requirements.  Let’s explore . . .

            In the Old Testament covenant that God made with the nation of Israel, God gave all of the stipulations and requirements to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  Moses then relayed the information to the children of Israel.  “So Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the LORD has said we will do’” (Exodus 24:3 emphasis added).   Notice the ‘all’ that they said they would do.  The covenant was not negotiable.  The Lord set the stipulations and the people could either accept it or refuse it.  They couldn’t say that they had a special or different deal with the Lord.  Part of those stipulations were that they had to keep three specific feast days to the Lord (Exodus 23:14).  They couldn’t just decide to roll those three into one day for convenience.  The covenant was unilateral and non-negotiable.

            In the New Testament there is a new covenant.  Jeremiah prophesied that this new covenant was coming (Jer. 31:31-34).  The new covenant is the agreement that we can have with the Lord today, however, this deal is also based upon the commandments and stipulations of the Lord.  We can either accept the deal or deny it.  We do not get to negotiate our own deal individually.  Jesus basically says that if we follow Him, we can have the remission of our sins and live with Him forever (Mark 16:16; Mat. 28:19-20; Acts 2:38).  Notice especially in the Matthew passage that in order to be a disciple of Christ that one must be baptized and taught to observe all things that Jesus has commanded.

   Both the Hebrew and Greek words that are used for covenant in the Bible mean a contract or agreement of some kind.  So, we can have an agreement with God.  That agreement or covenant relationship can only be had, however, if we will accept all that God has told us to do.  God’s salvation is not a buffet where we get to pick and choose.  We must do all that He commands us to do!

Can We Die Apart from How We Live?

Posted on by under Article, Christian Living

            There is a country song by one of Knoxville’s more famous sons titled “Everybody Wants to go to Heaven,” which expresses the attitude that we can live however we want now and still go to heaven in the end.  In the song, the lyrics suggest that we can have the women and whiskey and all the worldly pleasures we want, as long as we put some extra money in the collection plate on Sunday.  Is that how God operates?

            The thought is nothing new.  Around 1400 BC, there was a prophet of God named Balaam who basically wanted to do the same thing.  Balaam was eager to go with the men that the king of Moab sent to him in order that he might come and curse the children of Israel, who had exited Egypt 40 years prior and were now encamped on the plain hear Moab (Num. 22-24; 2 Pet. 2:15).  You may remember that God did not want Balaam to go and even placed the Angel of the Lord in his way.  Balaam wanted to go and be ‘honored’ by the king of Moab, but he still wanted to die the death of the righteous (Num. 23:10).  Can we live wickedly and still die the death of the righteous?

            How we live matters!  We cannot live like the devil and die like an angel.  God says that we are to strive for holiness in how we live (1 Pet. 1:13-16).  Indeed, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Eph. 4:1).  We cannot live in disobedience and think that we can somehow buy our way into heaven.  It didn’t work for Balaam, who died with those who caused Israel to stumble by his counsel (Num. 31:8, 16), and it will not work for us.  If we want to die the death of the righteous, we must live in obedience to God!

Why Was God Pleased to Injure Christ?

Posted on by under Love of God

nails     During this time of the year when many people are thinking about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, many might read from Isaiah 53, which predicts the Christ’s ordeal on the cross. Have you ever read that account, however, and wondered about just what it says? In verse 4 we read that Christ was, “Smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4, NKJV). Later it declares, “And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). “He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken” (Isaiah 53:8). On and on we read within Isaiah’s prophecy about how Jesus was going to be mistreated by mankind. But then we read the statement, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10, emphasis added). Just how could this bloody sacrifice of His one and only unique Son be pleasing to God?

     There are many events recorded in the Bible, with which God was not pleased. He was not pleased with the idolatry of the Israelites. Whether at the base of Mount Sinai during their exodus from Egypt, in the high places during the time of the divided kingdom, or in the temple during the reign of Manasseh, God was not pleased with idolatry. There were times when the Israelites did not offer their best in sacrifice to God, but instead brought the lame and sick as a sacrifice (Malachi 1:8; 3:8-9). In this God was not pleased, because their heart was not in what they were doing, and they were not showing God the proper respect. “Therefore, when He [Jesus] came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure’” (Hebrews 10:5-6). Here Jesus is saying to the Father that the Father did not desire or have pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices.

     So what are we to make of this? God did not have pleasure or desire for burnt offerings and sacrifices, which He commanded, but it pleased the Lord to bruise Christ. Even though God commanded the children of Israel to make burnt offerings and sacrifices, He did not take pleasure in them. Their sacrifices represented failure on their part to keep His law. They were required because of the sins of the people. They were necessary because mankind will always fall short. God takes no pleasure in man’s sin. This is why God through the prophet Samuel says, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). God would rather that man obey Him than to make the best animal sacrifice he could offer. God also did not have pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices because they could not get the job done. Just before stating that God has no desire for nor pleasure in those offerings, the Hebrew account tells us plainly, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Those animal sacrifices could not take sin away and could not make those who offered them perfect with regards to the conscience (Hebrews 9:9; 10:1-3). There was still a remembrance of those sins, and so year after year the High Priest would enter the Most Holy Place with the blood of the sacrifice (Hebrews 9:7). God was not pleased because the reconciliation between God and man was not complete.

     By contrast then, God was pleased with the sacrifice of Christ. Because of what Jesus did for mankind by dying on the cross as our perfect offering, there is a cleansing of the conscience and the sins of man are remembered no more (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:12). The sacrifice of Jesus was perfect and complete. There no longer remains a need for another sacrifice, because Jesus offered Himself for us once for all (Hebrews 9:11-15). Because of the redemptive work of Christ, man and God are reconciled to one another (Ephesians 2:16). In this the Lord is pleased. This is how God can say that He was pleased to bruise Jesus for our transgressions. It is not that He was pleased by Christ having to endure the cross and the pain and the shame. But God was pleased in the result in that mankind has a path back to the Father. Will you follow God’s Path to Salvation? Will you take the only way that we can go to find eternal life (John 14:6)? God has done His part by offering His one and only unique Son for our behalf (John 3:16). In this He was pleased. Will you do your part to accept His sacrifice and apply the blood to cover your sins through simple obedience to the Gospel? If you want to be pleasing to God, you will.

Cutting of the Scroll

Posted on by under Christian Living

Jehoiakim_Burns_the_Word_of_God_(Bible_Card)     Near the end of the kingdom of Judah, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Jeremiah and he was told to put all the accusations against Israel in Judah into a scroll. The hope of the Lord was that the people in Judah would hear about all the wrong things that were done, which offended God, and that they would repent before it was too late. The scroll was dictated by Jeremiah and written by the hand of Baruch, who was a scribe. After being read in the temple, the scroll was taken to king Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah (Jeremiah 36:1-4, 16).

     To say the least, Jehoiakim did not appreciate the things that were written on the scroll. He did not like that God was criticizing his practices, nor did he like that God was telling him through Jeremiah that the Babylonians were going to invade and conquer Judah if they did not repent. Jehoiakim made a choice to ignore and disbelieve the prophecies of Jeremiah. In objection to the scroll, the king cut it up and threw it into the fire (Jeremiah 36:23).

     It is interesting to wonder how many times in the many years since this event that others have tried to cut out the parts of God’s word that they did not want to hear, and metaphorically cast God’s word into the fire. Many have a tendency to approach religion as if it were a buffet table. They take what they like, but ignore or cut out those parts of scripture that do not agree with their lifestyle.

     In the case of Jehoiakim, he was not successful in ignoring God. God commanded Jeremiah to write another scroll, so God’s word was not to be defeated or destroyed. Additionally, Jehoiakim’s son lost the path to the throne, and Jehoiakim’s body found no rest after death by not receiving a proper burial (Jeremiah 36:27-30). For a king, this is a grievous insult. Let us think for a moment about what our fate will be if we attempt to do the same as Jehoiakim. We cannot ignore God’s will if we want to lay hold of eternal life. If we want rest after our physical death, we must adhere to the entirety of God’s law for us (Matthew 7:21ff). To cut away the parts of the scroll we don’t personally like is to cut away our own soul.