It’s once again the time of year where due to the axial tilt, also known as obliquity of the earth, our seasons have changed, including here where I live. We’re aware that the seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis away or toward the sun as it travels through its year-long path around the sun.

We all learn this early on in our lives, but sometimes seem to forget when once again “winter” has arrived! So with less sunlight as well as other factors, temperatures change.

So this past Monday we had some pretty chilly temperatures here in lower Alabama on the Gulf Coast, with lower temperatures continuing through this week. And why the weather report? Well it actually fits in with the cold season associated with the month Kislev we were discussing last Friday evening in my weekly letter.

This month brings to light some other thoughts. It’s important for you and me to consider the theme of a “call to repentance and turning toward God associated with the events recorded as taking place at this time of year”. We’re of course told to repent daily and often in seeking a relationship with God and Him living in us.

In history, after the call to repentance by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon were stirred to proceed with the work of rebuilding the temple. Ezra encouraged the male leaders to sincerely repent of their wrong marriages and practices they had entered into. The Temple in Jerusalem was cleansed and rededicated and the people were led to turn back to the true God.

There are so many lessons we can glean from these passages. Similarly in Jeremiah 36 we understand that in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (v.1) a fast was proclaimed “in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah” “to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem.” (v.9) It’s not initially clear as to who proclaimed the fast and why.

God had given a message to Jeremiah and then he had his secretary Baruch write the words on a scroll. Because Jeremiah was still imprisoned or confined, Baruch was told to read the words of the scroll in the Lord’s house. Baruch read the words of the scroll to the assembled people on the 9th month of the year (v.9) at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house (v.10). “When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the Lord from the book, he then went down to the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber; and there all the princes were sitting-Elishama the scribe . . . Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes” and Michaiah recited what Baruch had read (Jer 36:11-13)

Baruch was summoned by Jehudi the son of Nethaniah to read from the scroll in the presence of the princes and leaders. (v.14-15) They responded with a sense of fear and apprehension, then told Baruch that he needed to read the words to the king. The Lord had told Jeremiah the reason for announcing this message. “It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.” (v.3)

The princes asked of Baruch how he had written the words of the scroll. After hearing this, they then told Baruch that both he and Jeremiah had better hide. (v.17-19) Then Jehudi and others hid the scroll and went to the king to tell him about the words of the scroll. Then king Jehoiakim told Jehudi to get the scroll and read it in the king’s presence. (v.20-21) It was very likely later in the 9th month because a fire was burning to provide warmth at the king’s winter house. (v.22)

Here was the opportunity for the king to sincerely take to heart the words of warning from the Lord and for him and the princes to lead the people to repent of their idolatry and rebellion against God and His commandments.

What do you suppose was the response of king Jehoiakim and his servants? We’ll discuss that further next Friday evening…and as I close this letter, as I do every Friday, as we enter His Sabbath…reflect on this evening’s letter with me, will you?

And again, may God continue to richly bless you. Our prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Please do pray for us as well.