Jeremiah Chapter 45
Jeremiah 45
Great Things and Not Seeking Them
Jeremiah 45:1, The Setting of the Word
Jeremiah 45:1, “The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,”
Jeremiah 45 is a short chapter, but it is deeply personal. The word is not addressed to kings, princes, nations, false prophets, or the remnant in Egypt. It is addressed to Baruch the son of Neriah, Jeremiah’s faithful scribe and companion.
Baruch had written Jeremiah’s words in a book “at the mouth of Jeremiah.” This connects directly with Jeremiah 36, where Baruch wrote the scroll of Jeremiah’s prophecies and read it publicly. That scroll was later cut and burned by Jehoiakim.
Jeremiah 36:4, “Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.”
Jeremiah 36:23, “And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.”
This word to Baruch comes in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, much earlier than the events of Jeremiah 40 through 44. Jeremiah’s book is not arranged in strict chronological order. This chapter functions like a flashback, showing what God said to Baruch during the crisis surrounding the written scroll.
Baruch was not a minor figure. He stood with Jeremiah, wrote the word, carried the message, faced danger, and later was taken with Jeremiah into Egypt against his will.
Jeremiah 43:6, “Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.”
This chapter reminds us that faithful servants also need personal correction, encouragement, and perspective from God. Baruch had served well, but his heart was troubled.
Jeremiah 45:2-3, Baruch’s Grief and Sorrow
Jeremiah 45:2-3, “Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch; Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.”
The LORD speaks directly to Baruch. He identifies Himself as “the LORD, the God of Israel.” Even when Judah is collapsing and judgment is approaching, God remains the covenant God of His people.
God then quotes Baruch’s own words, “Woe is me now!” Baruch is overwhelmed. He feels that the LORD has added grief to his sorrow. He has sighed until he is faint. He finds no rest.
This is honest anguish. Baruch had carried the burden of Jeremiah’s ministry. He had written prophecies of judgment. He had watched the nation harden itself. He had seen the king burn the scroll. He knew his own life was in danger.
Jeremiah 36:26, “But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.”
Baruch’s sorrow was not imaginary. He had suffered for faithfulness. He had tied his future to Jeremiah’s unpopular ministry. That meant danger, opposition, disappointment, and loss.
Yet there is also a spiritual problem in Baruch’s lament. His words center heavily on himself. “Woe is me.” “My sorrow.” “I fainted.” “My sighing.” “I find no rest.” Baruch is exhausted, but he is also becoming inward focused. His personal disappointment is beginning to dominate his view of God’s work.
God does not ignore Baruch’s pain. He speaks to him. But God also corrects him. The Lord loves His weary servants enough to comfort them and to confront them.
Jeremiah 45:4, The LORD Speaks of His Power and Judgment
Jeremiah 45:4, “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, even this whole land.”
God answers Baruch by giving him perspective. The LORD says that what He built, He will break down. What He planted, He will pluck up. This refers to the whole land.
This language reaches back to Jeremiah’s calling.
Jeremiah 1:10, “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.”
Judah was not being destroyed because Babylon was stronger than God. Judah was being broken down because God Himself was judging what He had built. Judah was being plucked up because God Himself was uprooting what He had planted.
This puts Baruch’s sorrow into proper scale. Baruch is grieving over his own suffering, and that suffering is real. But God is showing him that the whole land is under judgment. Baruch’s personal disappointment must be understood inside the much larger work of God.
The LORD is not careless with what He built and planted. He is not indifferent. He is judging His own covenant people because of generations of rebellion, idolatry, false worship, injustice, and refusal to hear His prophets.
Baruch needed to see that this was not the time to build a personal dream of advancement. It was a time of collapse, judgment, and survival by mercy. God was not merely disrupting Baruch’s plans. God was shaking the whole land.
Jeremiah 45:5, The Promise of God’s Care
Jeremiah 45:5, “And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.”
God asks the searching question, “seekest thou great things for thyself?” Apparently Baruch had hoped for more than suffering, obscurity, danger, and disappointment. He may have expected honor, position, success, recognition, or a more secure future. He was educated, capable, and connected. Instead, loyalty to Jeremiah brought him danger.
God’s answer is direct, “seek them not.” This does not condemn all ambition. It condemns self seeking ambition in a time when God’s purposes require humility, endurance, and faithfulness.
Baruch was not to seek great things “for thyself.” That phrase is the key. God’s servants may seek great things for God’s glory, God’s kingdom, God’s truth, and God’s people. But they must not be ruled by the desire to make themselves great.
The LORD explains why, “I will bring evil upon all flesh.” The whole order Baruch may have hoped to rise within was under judgment. Prestige in a collapsing world is a poor treasure. Human greatness is fragile when God is bringing judgment.
This principle is taught throughout Scripture.
Luke 14:11, “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
God does not leave Baruch only with correction. He gives him a promise, “but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.” This means Baruch will escape with his life as a man who comes out of battle with life as his spoil. He may not receive greatness, comfort, or earthly advancement, but God will preserve him.
This promise would matter greatly. Baruch would live through the danger of Jehoiakim’s wrath. He would live through the fall of Jerusalem. He would live through the chaos after Gedaliah’s murder. He would be taken to Egypt with Jeremiah. Wherever he went, God’s promise went with him.
God did not promise Baruch ease. He promised preservation. God did not promise Baruch greatness. He promised life. And in the context of judgment on all flesh, life itself was mercy.
Doctrinal and Practical Notes
Jeremiah 45 teaches that faithful servants can become weary, sorrowful, and discouraged. Baruch was loyal, but he still fainted in sighing and found no rest.
Jeremiah 45 teaches that God hears the private grief of His servants. Baruch’s lament was known to the LORD.
Jeremiah 45 teaches that sorrow can become self centered. Baruch’s pain was real, but God exposed the danger of seeking great things for himself.
Jeremiah 45 teaches that God’s work is larger than our personal expectations. Baruch had to see his suffering in light of God’s judgment on the whole land.
Jeremiah 45 teaches that self seeking ambition is out of place in a collapsing world. God tells Baruch not to seek great things for himself.
Jeremiah 45 teaches that there is a difference between ambition for God’s glory and ambition for personal greatness. The first is holy. The second must be denied.
Jeremiah 45 teaches that preservation may be a greater mercy than promotion. Baruch wanted more, but God promised him life.
Jeremiah 45 teaches that God’s promises travel with His servants. Baruch’s life would be given to him “in all places” wherever he went.
Jeremiah 45 teaches that the LORD corrects and comforts at the same time. He rebukes Baruch’s self seeking, but also assures him of personal care.
Jeremiah 45 teaches that hidden faithfulness matters. Baruch did not become a king, prince, or famous public ruler, but his faithful service helped preserve the written word of God.
Summary
Jeremiah 45 records a personal word from the LORD to Baruch the son of Neriah, Jeremiah’s faithful scribe. The setting is the fourth year of Jehoiakim, when Baruch had written Jeremiah’s words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah.
Baruch had become overwhelmed. He said, “Woe is me now!” He felt the LORD had added grief to his sorrow. He was faint from sighing and found no rest. His sorrow was understandable because his association with Jeremiah brought danger, opposition, and suffering. Yet his lament also revealed a self focused grief.
The LORD answers by giving Baruch perspective. God says that what He built He will break down, and what He planted He will pluck up, even the whole land. Baruch’s personal disappointment must be understood in light of God’s larger judgment on Judah.
Then God asks, “seekest thou great things for thyself?” and commands, “seek them not.” This was not the time for self advancement or personal greatness. God was bringing evil upon all flesh. Yet the LORD gives Baruch a promise of preservation, “thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.” Baruch may not receive the great things he once desired, but God will preserve his life wherever he goes.
