A Word of Care for Baruch
A short private word for Baruch, worn out from writing and finding no rest. He is not told his sorrow is small. He is told our Father is uprooting what he planted, so Baruch should not seek great things; his life is what he keeps.
45 1The word Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch son of Neriah when he wrote these words on a scroll at Jeremiah's dictation, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2This is what our Father of Israel says to you, Baruch:
3You said, 'I'm miserable! For our Father added sorrow to my pain; I'm worn out from groaning and find no rest.'
4Say to him: This is what our Father says: What I built I am tearing down, what I planted I am uprooting—across the whole land. 5And you—do you seek great things for yourself? Don't. I am bringing disaster on all flesh, declares our Father, but wherever you go I will give you your life as plunder. a a v5 "Your life as plunder" was a battlefield saying: in the coming ruin Baruch would escape with nothing but his life—and that itself was the gift our Father promised to keep.
