God’s Assurance According to His Word

Jeremiah 45:1-5 

1 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 3 'You said, "Woe is me now! For the LORD has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest."'

4 "Thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the LORD. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go."'"

The man Baruch was concerned for his welfare after helping Jeremiah and being the scribe who had brought the book of God’s word to the king of Judah and the people.  The message was unwelcome because it told them to surrender to Babylon and go into seventy years of captivity instead of a message to fight and see God protect them as they claimed deliverance in His name while living in opposition by their immortality and idolatry.  Jeremiah was used by God to give Baruch assurance of God’s protection and comfort.  The LORD gave him strength and hope in his grieving sorrow and restlessness in that position as he served God.  The message to him was that the LORD God is sovereign over all and His purposes will stand (Isaiah 46:10, 14:24, 47) against all circumstances and efforts of others.  He alone plants nations and plucks them up again in His time and for His providential purpose and divine discipline for accountability (Jeremiah 1:10, 11:17, 18:7-10).  The message to the scribe was also to be humble and not pursue greatness since we all face adversity and not the comfort to escape bad things in life as we walk with the Lord. When God calls and uses a man, he should not count himself special or seek rewards, but instead rejoice that he has been given life abundant in Christ for eternity.  Wherever we go in this life, humility should and must precede us.  Like Baruch though we also have the assurance of our souls being in good hands to preserve us in all circumstances (Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 39:18) because we put our trust in God alone.  In our patience we possess our souls as Luke 21:17-19 and Hebrews 10:35-36 remind us.  God values the lives of His servants.  He preserves the saints because we trust in Him and His word to us.  May we also find comfort in the midst of adverse circumstances by this example of God’s consolation (Hebrews 6:18-20) and watchcare for our souls.  He keeps us while those who reject Him around us refuse His word and attempt to dictate God’s will to make life easier for themselves.  May we suffer gracefully in this certain hope and consolation.  We have God’s assurances according to his word!