36:16-19
Baruch duly read out the scroll. The officials then decided that they had to report all these words to the king. They also wanted to know how Baruch had come about these words. Were they indeed dictated by Jeremiah? And, of course, they were. The officials were rather concerned about the nature of the words, realising that they put the whole kingdom in trouble, and that its whole direction of travel was contrary to the way of the Lord. It seems as if they had some sympathy for Jeremiah and Baruch as they advised them to go and hide.
36:20-26
So the officials set the scroll aside and went and reported its contents to the king. The king sent for the scroll itself, and had it read out to him. The king showed utter contempt for the word of God, having a few columns of the scroll burnt in the first every so often. He was rejecting every word of God. Three of the officials urged the king not to do such a thing, but the king was not for taking advice. Instead the king ordered the arrest of Jeremiah and Baruch. However, God knew what was happening and had hidden them. When rulers show utter contempt for the Lord they should watch out, for judgement will soon arrive.
36:27-32
God knew full well what the king had done. Indeed, he knew what the king would do. So God told Jeremiah to write another scroll, an exact replica of the first. Jehoiakim was refusing to accept the judgement of the Lord. He was king, but he was king under God. His first responsibility was to God, and he was utterly rejecting this responsibility. Moreover, the king’s actions would do nothing to stop the word of the Lord coming true. So Baruch was given another scroll, and wrote all the words that had been on the scroll burned up by Jehoiakim, along with a few extra words as well.
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