15, 16. (a) What sustained Jeremiah” (b) What problem did Baruch encounter? (c) Jehovah’s warning to Baruch is of what encouragement to us today? (Rev. 2:3)

¹⁵ The way was hard for Jeremiah. But his confidence in Jehovah and his loyalty to his commission carried him through. He was able also to encourage his faithful companion, the scribe Baruch, when that one became downcast. After Jeremiah had been prophesying some 20 or 30 years, Baruch declared:

“Woe, now, to me, for Jehovah has added grief to my pain! I have grown weary because of my sighing, and no resting-place have I found.”

But Jehovah conveyed to him through Jeremiah these words:

“‘Look! What I have built up I am tearing down, and what I have planted I am uprooting, even all the land itself. But as for you, you keep seeking great things for yourself. Do not keep on seeking. For here I am bringing in a calamity upon all flesh,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘and I will give you your soul as a spoil in all the places to which you may go.’” (Jer. 45:1-5)

Yes, this faithful servant of God had grown weary with the passage of time. But Jehovah assured Baruch that His due time for ‘tearing down and uprooting,’ His time for bringing tribulation on faithless Jerusalem and Judah was at hand. Though there might be seeming delay, that “calamity” was certain!

¹⁶ Jehovah warned Baruch not to return to the worldly, materialistic ways of the Judeans, seeking his own personal advancement. No, his place was to keep serving faithfully beside Jehovah’s prophet.

21. (a) How do modern-day servants of Jehovah compare with those of Jeremiah’s time? (b) In what ways do they show endurance? (Rev. 14:12)

²¹ It is a joy to note that there are still on earth today persons of the same caliber as Jeremiah, Baruch, the Rechabites and Ebed-melech. The report of the worldwide activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses for their service year of 1977 proves this to be so. True, there may have been some who, becoming tired like Baruch, have turned aside to selfish interests for a time, but these should remember that Baruch, though tested, stayed right there with God’s prophet. Yes, it is worth enduring, with the prospect of everlasting life in view following the “great tribulation.” And may lovers of righteousness of the disposition of the sons of Jonadab and Ebed-melech continue to be found. Great will be the reward to all who diligently exercise faith in Jehovah’s promises, and who endure to the end!