Scribe -The Enduring Power Of God’s Truth

Jeremiah 36:12  Then he went down into the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.”

In the days of old, within the walls of Jerusalem, there lived a scribe named Elishama. Though mentioned but once in the scriptures, his role was of great importance. Elishama served the king, a position of both honor and burden, for he bore the weight of words that could uplift or condemn.

The tale unfolds in the days of King Jehoiakim, a time when prophecies were etched in scrolls and the word of the LORD was a treasure to behold. Elishama, the scribe, was entrusted with the sacred duty of safeguarding these scrolls in his chamber, a repository of divine wisdom and royal decrees.

One day, a scroll penned by the prophet Jeremiah, dictated by the LORD, found its way into Elishama’s care. The words inscribed were of warning and woe, a divine message to the king and his people. The princes, upon hearing Jeremiah’s prophecies, feared for their future and placed the scroll in Elishama’s chamber before relaying its contents to the king2.

King Jehoiakim, seated comfortably in his winter house, called for the scroll. Elishama’s chamber was opened, and the scroll was brought forth, its fate hanging in the balance. As the words were read aloud, the king, with a scribe’s knife, tore the scroll piece by piece, casting it into the fire until it was consumed entirely1.

Elishama witnessed the destruction of the LORD’s message, a testament to the king’s defiance. Yet, the role of a scribe was not to interfere but to preserve the words given to him, whether they be heeded or spurned. His silent witness spoke volumes of the reverence due to the words of the LORD, even when kings and princes would turn away.

The overall lesson to us of this story is the enduring power of truth. Though the scroll was burned, the words of the LORD could not be silenced. They rose from the ashes through the prophet Jeremiah, who penned them once more, a testament to the unquenchable spirit of divine revelation.

 Questions to Ponder:

• How do we, as witnesses to the truth, uphold our duty in the face of opposition?
• Are we like Elishama, safeguarding the words given to us, or do we falter when challenged?

“Dear Heavenly Father, Grant us the strength of Elishama, to be steadfast guardians of Your truth. May we honor the roles You have placed us in, as witnesses to Your word. Help us to stand firm, even when the world around us crumbles. May Your truth always be our compass and guiding light, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”