Had this counsel been heeded through the centuries that followed, how different would have been Israel's history! Only as a reverence for God's Holy Word was cherished in the hearts of the people, could they hope to fulfill the divine 466 purpose. It was regard for the law of God that gave Israel strength during the reign of David and the earlier years of Solomon's rule; it was through faith in the living word that reformation was wrought in the days of Elijah and of Josiah. And it was to these same Scriptures of truth, Israel's richest heritage, that Jeremiah appealed in his efforts toward reform. Wherever he ministered he met the people with the earnest plea, "Hear ye the words of this covenant," words which would bring them a full understanding of God's purpose to extend to all nations a knowledge of saving truth. Jeremiah 11:12.

Israels historie ville have formet sig ganske anderledes, hvis dette råd var blevet fulgt i tiden efter bosættelsen i Kanaan. Folket kunne kun håbe på at gøre Guds vilje, hvis de nærede ærbødighed for Guds hellige ord. Israels styrke under David og den første del af Salomos regering kunne føres tilbage til deres ærbødighed for Guds lov. Det var også troen på det levende ord, der var drivkraften i den reformation, som fandt sted på Elias og Josias tid. Jeremias henviste også til disse sandhedsfyldte skrifter Israels rigeste arv da han kæmpede for en reform. Hvor han end arbejdede, rettede han denne alvorlige appel til folket: "Hør denne pagts ord." Disse ord ville gøre det fuldstændig klart for dem, at det var Guds vilje, at alle folk skulle lære den frelsende sandhed at kende. Jer. 11,2.