In these studies in the second half of the book of Jeremiah,  we will see God’s word coming through Jeremiah and being rejected again and again. We will see the difficulties of Jeremiah but also the way he is saved through it all. Jeremiah is God’s reporter on the spot, in the midst of one of the most tumultuous periods in Israel’s history.

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

To Baruch

Jer 45:1-5

When Baruch son of Neriah wrote on a scroll the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch: ² “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: ³ You said, ‘Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.’ ⁴ But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. ⁵ Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’”

A. Find Out

1. What had Baruch been doing? v.1
2. What had been his complaint? v.3
3. What did the Lord say He was doing? v.4
4. What did He say Baruch shouldn’t do? v.5
5. But what did He promise Baruch? v.5

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Baruch had been feeling the way he had?
2. Why did the Lord say he shouldn’t waste his time dreaming of great things for himself?
3. What comfort could he take though?

C. Comment:

Here is a short insert referring back some years to a time when God had given a word to Baruch. Baruch had obviously been feeling sorry for himself, as many of us are prone to do from time to time. Perhaps he was aware that as he took down Jeremiah’s words, he would be associated with them and would receive the same rejection  and opposition Jeremiah received.  It ISN’T easy in such situations!

The Lord, knowing he feels like this, brings him a word through Jeremiah.  It is as if the Lord says, “Look Baruch, I know you wish for peace, acceptance and prosperity, but the land just isn’t going to have that!   I’m in the process of getting ready to destroy  the land, so don’t wish for what is impossible.  Trouble is coming to the land, but as you are my man, your life will be spared.”

How often do we hope for what is unrealistic?  It is said, “The grass is always greener on the other side”, which means we are not content with what we have.  The reality is that often it isn’t “greener” on the other side, we just think it is from where we are now.  We actually need to face the present, realistically, and receive God’s grace for it.

D. Application:

1. Do we live with God’s grace as things are or do we constantly yearn for what is unrealistic because we can’t cope and haven’t received God’s grace?
2. Rest in His love and grace today.