Jeremiah 44:24-30; ; Jeremiah 45:1-5
Jeremiah has recalled some of the abominable sins of the people. He has taken note of the outrageous response of this company of rebels. Now he draws his conclusions. They are terrifying! With the exception of a very small number, this people will perish in Egypt from the disasters which await them (and against which "the queen of heaven" will certainly not be able to protect them). That is final.
However, in this time of general ruin, it is comforting to note that "the Lord knoweth them that are his" (2 Timothy 2:19). An entire short chapter is devoted to Baruch. The LORD has a personal word for him which both shows him where he is going wrong and consoles him. This man has been – along with Jeremiah, whom he has never left – the object of slander and public accusation (Jeremiah 43:3). However, what mattered was what God thought about him (2 Timothy 2:15). Baruch, who came from a noble family, had perhaps hoped to play a part, such as taking over the leadership of a humiliated and restored people. However, he had become disheartened (v. 3; Proverbs 24:10). But the LORD urges him: "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not" (v. 5). In our case too, the Lord does not expect great things . . . apart from one thing which is very great in His eyes: faithfulness (cf. Revelation 3:8).