SEEK NOT GREAT THINGS FOR YOURSELF
Key verse: 5
NIV
A Message to Baruch
45 When Baruch(A) son of Neriah(B) wrote on a scroll(C) the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim(D) 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(E) to me! The Lord has added sorrow(F) to my pain;(G) I am worn out with groaning(H) and find no rest.’(I) 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(J) what I have planted,(K) throughout the earth.(L) 5 Should you then seek great(M) things for yourself? Do not seek them.(N) For I will bring disaster(O) on all people,(P) declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape(Q) with your life.’”(R)
Cross references
- Jeremiah 45:1 : S Jer 32:12
- Jeremiah 45:1 : Jer 51:59
- Jeremiah 45:1 : S Ex 17:14; S Ps 40:7
- Jeremiah 45:1 : S 2Ch 36:5
- Jeremiah 45:3 : S Isa 24:16; 1Co 9:16
- Jeremiah 45:3 : S Ps 119:28; Mk 14:34; Ro 9:2
- Jeremiah 45:3 : S Job 6:10
- Jeremiah 45:3 : S Job 23:2; Ps 69:3
- Jeremiah 45:3 : S Jos 1:13; Mt 11:28; Heb 4:3
- Jeremiah 45:4 : S Jer 42:10
- Jeremiah 45:4 : S Jer 11:17
- Jeremiah 45:4 : S Dt 28:63; S 30:9; Isa 5:5-7; Jer 18:7-10
- Jeremiah 45:5 : Ps 131:1
- Jeremiah 45:5 : Mt 6:25-27, 33
- Jeremiah 45:5 : Jer 11:11; 40:2
- Jeremiah 45:5 : S Jer 2:35
- Jeremiah 45:5 : S Ps 68:20; S Jer 44:28
- Jeremiah 45:5 : S Jer 21:9
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Message to Baruch
45 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to (A)Baruch the son of Neriah, (B)when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, (C)in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 3 You said, (D)‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. (E)I am weary with my groaning, (F)and I find no rest.’ 4 Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord: (G)Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. 5 And (H)do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, (I)I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you (J)your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”
Read full chapterCross references
- Jeremiah 45:1 : See ch. 32:12
- Jeremiah 45:1 : See ch. 36:4, 18
- Jeremiah 45:1 : ch. 36:1
- Jeremiah 45:3 : [ch. 36:26]
- Jeremiah 45:3 : Ps. 6:6
- Jeremiah 45:3 : Lam. 1:3; 5:5
- Jeremiah 45:4 : ch. 31:28; [Isa. 5:5]
- Jeremiah 45:5 : [Ps. 131:1, 2; Rom. 12:16]
- Jeremiah 45:5 : [ch. 25:26, 29]
- Jeremiah 45:5 : ch. 21:9; 39:18
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Baruch's sorrow (1-3)
Baruch was Jeremiah's co-worker. He shared in the ministry of the word by writing on a scroll the words of the Lord dictated by Jeremiah. It was hard, but very important work. The king burned one scroll, so he had to do the whole thing over again. When Baruch saw the negative response of the people to God's word, he was very sorry and he became tired.
2. Seek not great things for yourself (4-5)
Jeremiah gave God's message to Baruch. His problem was that he expected some reward--at least some recognition or honor for his hard work. But God's message for a rebellious people was one of impending disaster and judgment. It was painful for God to punish his people so severely, for he had loved them so much. How could God's servant seek something for himself at such a time? God would spare his life. That was sufficient grace.
Prayer: Lord, help me to serve you faithfully and seek not great things for myself.
One Word: Seek God's glory
