Jeremiah 36: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Jeremiah 36 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

In the fourth year of Jehoiakim, Jeremiah receives God's instruction to write all His words against Israel and Judah on a scroll (vv. 1-3). Jeremiah calls Baruch, who writes down these words as commanded (vv.

Key verse

“Take a scroll of a book, and write in it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day.”
Jeremiah 36:2 (WEB)

Outline

Jeremiah 36:1–3 Jeremiah Receives God's Instruction
Jeremiah 36:4–8 Baruch Writes the Scroll
Jeremiah 36:9–13 The Scroll is Read to Leaders
Jeremiah 36:14–20 Princes Seek to Know More
Jeremiah 36:21–26 Jehoiakim's Reaction
Jeremiah 36:27–32 God's Command to Rewrite

Discussion questions

In v4, who is instructed to write down the words of Yahweh?
What act does Jehoiakim perform in v23 when he hears the scroll read?
In v29, what specific threat does Yahweh make regarding Jehoiakim's actions?
In v30, how does Yahweh's declaration about Jehoiakim's descendants create tension?
When have you felt compelled to speak truth when faced with opposition, as Baruch did?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Jeremiah 36: Jeremiah 26, 2 Kings 22, Jeremiah 22.

Before next time: read Jeremiah 37.