Eld Chew Chong Kiat

Seeking Great Things for yourself? (Jer 45:1-5)

Introduction

Baruch was a close companion of the Prophet Jeremiah who served during the time towards the end of the kingdom of Judah. The people of Judah were deep in Baal worship and were very disobedient to the Word of God. God chastised them through the Babylonians.

Baruch suffered a lot together with Jeremiah who fearlessly preached against the sins of the people and the false prophets and was eventually cast into prison to shut him up. Then Baruch served as a secretary to Jeremiah who dictated the Word of God to him.

King Jehoiakim hated the words of the prophecy of Jeremiah, which spoke of impending judgement on Judah, and sought to destroy them. But God preserved them.

However, Baruch was greatly disturbed after he learnt of the great judgment that was to come on the land of Judah, from the prophecy given to Jeremiah. God read his heart and recorded his reaction in Jer 45:3, “Thou didst say, woe is me now!”

Baruch had cried in distress, “What will become of me? There is no future for me when this land is destroyed!” He was very grieved and sorrowful and he fainted in his sighing and found no rest to his soul. (Jer 45:3)

Reason for His Grief and Unrest

The answer is found in God’s rebuke in Jer 45:5, “Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not.” God saw Baruch’s wrong motive in his service. He had started out well as an assistant to Jeremiah, unlike many in Judah who rejected God and chose to serve idols. He worshiped the living God and believed the Word of God and stood with Jeremiah because he knew that Jeremiah spoke the Word of God.

However, by standing with Jeremiah, he had put himself in danger and many troubles. This he quietly endured believing that they would end soon. But through the prophecy given to Jeremiah he realised that there would be no future and no relief for him except more trouble, sorrow and grief. This broke his spirit.

Expect to Suffer

It is always a joy and a privilege to serve God, but not everyone is prepared for the suffering that service entails. Christ confirmed in His words, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (Joh 15:18-20) We must not therefore think it strange to suffer when we serve God righteously, or we will end up in despair like Baruch. We cannot be greater than our Lord Jesus Christ who was hated although He is perfect.

God said, “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.” (Jer 45:4) God confirmed that He would demolish Jerusalem and the nation, although He was the One who built it. The whole land and not just Jerusalem would be destroyed. This was the same prophecy that God had revealed to Jeremiah which Baruch dictated.

Seek Not Great Things for Thyself

God then said to Baruch, “Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not”. (v5a) Baruch had hoped that his faithful service before the kings may advance him to some office, or he might be rewarded with some wealth or at least to live in peace and honour in the land. His hope was not much different from the disciples who followed the Lord Jesus and hoped for the restoration of the kingdom of God in their lifetime (Act 1:6).

God further added to confirm his prophecies concerning Judah, “for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh”. (v5b) Many inhabitants of Judea, would either die by the sword or by famine, or by pestilence, or be carried captive, or be in some distress or another: This was the sad prospect. Did you Baruch expect to be rich and honoured when your nation would be destroyed? Did you expect to be exalted when all would be brought low, or be full when the nation became impoverished?

Our Reasonable Service

God saw Baruch’s ambitious feelings and severely reproved him for his self-indulgence. God has the same expectation for each of us as we serve Him. We are not to squander away our lives to seek great things for ourselves. We are saved to serve, we are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and we belong to Him. We serve Him only because it is the reasonable and righteous thing to do. We deserve nothing in return for our service, and must not expect promotion, honour or prosperity. Christ our Saviour manifested His love in His death on our behalf to pay the penalty for our sins. Such love should constrain us to repay the debt we owe by devoting ourselves to keep His commandments and to serve Him. Christ Himself as the Lord of lords and King of kings came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give His life a ransom for us. (Mt 20:28) Are we greater than He?

Baruch was a good man, but he had his infirmity as a young believer. He was like a fresh recruit who is easily discouraged by difficulties. When he began to serve God, he was full of energy and zeal, but when faced with adversity, he fainted. His strength was small and faith was weak, for he was a babe in Christ who cried when hurt and frightened. God as a compassionate Father rebuked him.

Baruch should have rejoiced that he was counted worthy to suffer for God and with Jeremiah the prophet, but, instead he was vexed and cast down. He doubted the wisdom and love of God. That is an offence to God.

Likewise, God takes notice of our fretting and discontent and is displeased with them. We may learn from God’s rebuke of Baruch.

God had prophesied of the world that we live in: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, … the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2Pe 3:11-12) Everything in this world will be burnt up. What ambition do you have? “Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not!” It is folly to seek great things for ourselves here! Seek rather the things that are eternal that endures to everlasting life.

Precious Promise of Preservation

Notice lastly that God gave Baruch a promise, “but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest”. (Jer 45:5c) Although many would lose their lives, God assured Baruch that although his life would be in danger, he would be preserved; he would be taken away from Judea into other lands, after the destruction of Judea.

This was an encouragement to him, that though he should not be great, yet he would be safe. God also made such a promise to His children.

Isa 43:1“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.”

Fear not and fret not, God will preserve our soul even if our body is destroyed in the service of God. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God. The body they may kill, but God will not suffer our soul to be lost. And we shall enter into eternal glory where we will remain forever and ever. While we have life here, let us glorify Him and labour for Him. If we suffer, be thankful and rejoice. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2Co 4:17)

Amen.