Because of the sins of Judah, the prophet Jeremiah continually warned the nation God would send the Babylonian Empire to punish them and take most of them into captivity. This in fact did happen, and Jeremiah was left in Judah with certain members of the royal family that he was to escort to the new land where Judah’s royalty would be replanted. For his efforts Jeremiah was constantly persecuted by the King of Judah and by those who despised him for the messages he brought from God.
Throughout these events Jeremiah was not alone. He had a very loyal friend and scribe in the man called Baruch. Baruch was not a commoner. He was known by the royalty of Judah in that he was the grandson of the governor of Jerusalem and a nephew to a high official in King Zedekiah’s court. He was well-educated and probably wrote most of the book of Jeremiah by quoting word for word the prophecies given to Jeremiah and relating events as they occurred. For his loyalty to Jeremiah Baruch also suffered personal hardship and was shunned by the people who ruled the country.
Chapter 45 of Jeremiah is a short chapter that focuses on Baruch. It takes place in Egypt. God had warned the few people left in Judah by Nebuchadnezzar not to leave Judah and seek protection in Egypt. Jeremiah’s prophecy stated specifically that Nebuchadnezzar would come to Egypt and defeat the Egyptian empire, and those who fled to Egypt would be punished for seeking Egypt’s protection (Jeremiah 43). This did not apply to the young members of the royal family who were given to Jeremiah for the replanting of the throne in Ireland. Jeremiah, Baruch, and this group of royals were forced to go to Egypt with those who disobeyed God’s instructions to stay in Israel, but God was with them. Therefore, they were not subject to this prophesied punishment. Baruch later accompanied Jeremiah and certain members of the royal family to Ireland where ancient Irish history records their arrival.
His involvement as scribe to Jeremiah did not keep Baruch from desiring personal prosperity and well being however. The events Jeremiah prophesied about unfolded over a period of years. And even though Baruch was privy to God’s intentions, he did not live his life without desire for prosperity and fulfillment of goals. Chapter 45 recounts Baruch’s complaints that he was not experiencing the fulfilling life he had desired for himself in spite of the evils surrounding him. To him his service to God and Jeremiah was costing him dearly. His complaints can seem to us to be somewhat comprehensible. Much like us today he was living in a time of national turmoil and moral and cultural decline, which undoubtedly had negative impact on every personal interest he had. We can have the same sinking feelings Baruch had about our goals and personal lives in light of what is taking place in our nation at this time.
Official corruption, moral collapse, and worldwide economic depression can make the future seem impossible. As part of God’s church we are swimming upstream against the decline of our society. It is not easy to live our lives in witness against what is going on all around us. Like Baruch, our resistance to the downward spiral can separate us from those with whom we would naturally involve ourselves. Our personal goals are being constantly thwarted, and our efforts to prosper are being drained by the sins of society. God has not yet, however, separated his people from those who are caught up in the evils of this world; and just as the Israelites in Egypt suffered from many of the first plagues, we also feel the impact of God’s punishing hand on this world today. That is why we can, if not careful, empathize with Baruch and his grief. Let’s read the five scriptures that make up the 45th chapter of Jeremiah, and see what God’s response was to Baruch’s plaintive cries:
Jeremiah 45
1 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
2 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch;
3 Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.
4 Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
5 And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prize in all places whither thou goest.
God gave Baruch protection and saved his life. Later, Baruch’s life, as it was spent traveling across new lands to plant the royalty of Judea in Ireland, proved to be more exciting than anything he probably could have imagined for himself. He witnessed great events in history and the development of God’s plan. He experienced being an instrument in God’s hand as he assisted Jeremiah in his great commission. No human inspired achievement could compare to his experiences. He is written into the Bible as an example both for inspiration and encouragement to all those who have ever sacrificed their personal lives with all that means to serve God.
In a few short weeks we will be celebrating the Feast of Trumpets, which is the opening day of the Fall Feasts. These Feasts force us to focus on our lives as lived in the context of the Kingdom of God. It is very important that we now take considerable time in our prayers to ask God’s blessing on those Feasts, specifically asking him for the inspiration we need to continue in faithfulness to Him through the difficult time ahead. We need spiritual rejuvenation and strengthened impetus to rededicate our lives to the calling we have received. Like Baruch we may be forced to give up all that we have in this life, abandoning it all; but God does promise us protection and a life far more fulfilling than anything we could achieve in this sin laden world. We need to be prepared to walk away.
At this time I believe it is also important that you take time to look closely at the reports of what sin is bringing on this world. The evils are becoming so great one can hardly do anything else besides cry to God, begging him to bring his Kingdom. While these things are difficult to read about, it is important we understand, — to what ever degree we can bear — why this world is about to meet its maker in a most horrific way. Pray continually you will be found worthy to escape, as Baruch did, what is about to break out upon this fetid world.