GOD’S WORD IS
FOREVER
A Biblical Skit
for
Ft. Rucker, Alabama Protestant Youth of the Chapel (PYOC)
by
Jewell Ellen Smith
Nonprofit groups
may perform this play without payment, but if you plan to perform it, Jewell’s
children ask that you e-mail her older son David, at
DSmith1204@aol.com.
First performed
at the Ft. Rucker, Alabama, Chapel of the Flags in 1977. All Scripture
quotations are from the King James Version. Specific names and stage directions
refer to the site of the original staging; this may be changed as may be
appropriate for a new production. Pronunciations may be found in a Bible
dictionary or Bible with pronunciation markings, however pronunciation of many
of these names is uncertain or unknown. It may be best to simply decide on a
pronunciation and then stick with that pronunciation. “Jehoiakim” may be
pronounced “gee-HOY-a-kim.”
Click here to go to the Jewell
Ellen Smith Homepage
Theme: "The
grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for
ever." --Isaiah 40:8
Background Scripture: The book of
Jeremiah, especially chapter 36.
Time and Place:
Jerusalem, in the winter of 604 BC, when Jehoiakim was king of Judah, and
shortly before the nation fell to the Babylonians.
Method of
presentation: Three members of PYOC (The Protestant Youth of the Chapel) serve
as narrators. Part of the action is in pantomime, and there is a considerable
amount of reading. The result is that no one player has too many lines.
Outline of the play, with résumé of the
several scenes:
Prologue: Chapel
of Flags, where the Ft. Rucker PYOC Program Committee is meeting to plan a
spring program on the general theme of "The Bible as the Word of
God." The committee decides to dramatize chapter 36 of the book of
Jeremiah, which tells of how the writings of the prophet Jeremiah were burned
by the king and then re-written.
Scene 1: The
prison in Jerusalem, where Jeremiah dictates the "word of the LORD" to his
secretary, Baruch.
Scene 2:
"At the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house" (the temple in Jerusalem)
on a day of fasting. Here many people have gathered. Baruch reads to them what
Jeremiah has dictated to him. One of the king's princes overhears the prophecy
and rushes away to tell the other courtiers, because he realizes the
seriousness of the things Jeremiah has foretold and thinks the king should be
aware of it.
Scene 3: At the
king's palace, in the office of the King's scribe, Elishama. The noblemen there
become alarmed when Mi-chai-ah tells them of Jeremiah's prophecy and send the
king's secretary, Jehudi, to get Baruch; and they have Baruch read the prophecy
to them. They advise Baruch and Jeremiah to hide from the king! The courtiers
decide to go tell King Jehoiakim, but they leave the controversial scroll in
the scribe's office.
Scene 4: The
king's winter house, where King Jehoiakim is warming himself before an open
fire. The princes and courtiers report the reading of the word of the LORD by Jeremiah's
scribe to all the people. The king sends Jehudi to get the roll and orders
Jehudi to read it. As Jehudi reads, the king becomes furious and cuts the
scroll into strips and burns one piece after another--despite the pleas of the
princes. King Jehoiakim then orders the "taking" of both Jeremiah and
Baruch the scribe, "but the LORD hid them."
Scene 5: Same as
scene 1, Jeremiah's prison cell. Jeremiah and Baruch are ready to flee. They
grab up paper and ink so that they can write again "all the words of the
book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire ... besides ... many
like words."
Epilogue: Same
as prologue. The PYOC Program Committee decides that a skit based on the story
of Jeremiah and the burning of "the words of the LORD" would
indeed make a fine program. Such a presentation, they say, would show the truth
of the ancient words of Isaiah: "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth;
but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
Number of players: about 18 with lines
a group for the crowd scene
several players can take dual roles:
a number who have lines can appear in crowd scene
girls can play some male roles
The characters,
in the order of their appearance:
The PYOC Program
Committee: Louise, Amy, Bill (must have strong reading voice)
Jeremiah, the
prophet of God whose ministry spanned half a century, about 627 to 580BC (should be tall
and thin, has few lines)
The Jailer (can also
double as member of the crowd and as one of the king's strong-arm men)
Baruch,
Jeremiah's scribe and friend (must be able to read well)
A crowd of
people at the Temple Gate (all ages, all sizes)
Mi-chai-ah, a
prince, the son of Gem-a-ri-ah, a member of the king's court
Mi-chai-ah's
Wife (can double as a servant of the king)
Je-hu-di, the
king's secretary and attendant
E-li-sha-ma, the
scribe in the king's court
Other princes
and courtiers: Del-ai-ah, El-na-than, Gem-a-ri-ah, and Zed-e-ki'-ah
King Jehoiakim
First, Second, and Third Servants
The King's
strong-arm men: Je-rah' meel, Se-rai'-ah, and Shel-e-mi'-ah
Scenery and
props: No elaborate scenery is required.
To simulate the prison, place back bars
(constructed of heavy cardboard, or light wood) across the exit door on the
left side of the chapel, as one faces the altar. Fix this so that the cell door
can be opened. For this scene there should be a small table and stool, a rather
large ink pot, numerous rolls of paper, and a pen bigger than normal size so
that the audience can see it.
For scene two,
use the pulpit area of the chapel as the gate of the Jerusalem temple. Simply
have a crowd to ease in through the side doors, just before the end of scene
one. Some can sit on the steps.
For scenes three
and four, use the corner of the chapel opposite of where the prison scene has
been set up. Place two folding screens between the area (left) which is the
office of the king's scribe and the "winter house," where the king
lolls in a big chair with a fire in front of him. For the fire, use electric
burning logs. Borrow a large oriental-type wicker chair for the king. Or, any
high backed chair covered over with bright tapestry will be all right. In the
scribe's office, use only a table and one or two chairs.
Costumes: The
king should be garbed in finery, but the other costumes can be simple. Have
Jeremiah wear the white, close fitting robe of a priest of that day. Let Baruch
wear a dark, long robe. The courtiers should have garments to indicate that
they are a bit more prosperous than the common people assembled at the Temple
Gate. All Biblical players should wear head coverings. The PYOC Committee
should be in modern street dress.
SCRIPT
Prologue
Louise and Amy, PYOC
members, are sitting on the front pew in the Chapel of Flags, talking as they
wait for Bill, the chairman of the PYOC Program Committee. The three are to
decide on a appropriate program for PYOC to present at the chapel, in the early
spring. It is less than an hour before time for Sunday evening services. The
girls are impatient, a bit worried over their responsibility.
LOUISE: How I
ever got on this PYOC Program Committee I'll never know! I never planned a
program in my life!
AMY: Me neither!
Frankly, I don't know how to start. Thank goodness, Bill is the chairman.
LOUISE: Where is
Bill? He said to meet him here so we could decide on what the program will
be--before evening services--and it's almost that time now!
AMY: I saw his
car parked over at the R. E. Center; so he must be over there. There's a bunch
of PYOC kids already there. Sally and Roger and Ethel, and I don't know who all
else.
Editor’s note:
“R. E.” stands for “Religious Education.”
LOUISE: Bill's
probably talking to Sally! Or, rather Sally's talking to Bill! Boy, would she
ever like to be his girlfriend! And so would I! Frankly! giggles
Bill comes
rushing down the left aisle, papers, books & Bible in hand.
AMY: Ah, here he is! Bill, we've been
waiting for you!
BILL: out
of breath Sorry I'm late, Ladies! I've been in the library,
trying to find some material we could use for our special program about the
Bible.
LOUISE: I hope you found something!
BILL: I did! I
found a lot of stuff! Especially about Jeremiah and the part of the Old
Testament that he wrote.
AMY: Is the
theme of our program supposed to be about how the Bible was written?
LOUISE: I
thought the main idea was to be how the Bible has been preserved for centuries
and centuries. And the only thing I can think of along that line is a verse one
of my Sunday School teachers had me to memorize when I was just a child, I
remember she made me stand up before the whole class and recite it! "The
grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for
ever."
BILL: Our PYOC director
said we could do any kind of program on the Bible that we like. And I've got a
great idea on what we can do! That is, I think it's great, and I hope you two
will go along with it!
LOUISE: Bill, you're so smart! You know
we'll like whatever you've planned!
AMY: Yeah! Tell us what it is--but I
hope it doesn't mean a lot of work!
BILL: It won't
be much work! It will be a skit on how the word of the LORD came to
Jeremiah while he was in prison, and how he had his scribe Baruch write it all
down, and how King Jehoiakim burned up the whole thing! It's all right here in
the 36th chapter of Jeremiah.
LOUISE: Where could we stage such a
skit?
BILL: Right here in the chapel!
AMY: I don't see how!
BILL: Well, as I
mentioned, Jeremiah was in prison. So, we can put the prison cell right over
here in this corner. motions to left corner of chapel I tell you what.
Let's read the first part of Jeremiah 36 and you can see what I'm talking
about.
Bill begins
reading. Lights are dimmed. Spotlight picks up prison scene, showing Jeremiah
kneeling down, praying and weeping. When Bill's voice fades out, the Jailer,
Baruch and Jeremiah begin talking.
BILL: reading
"And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah
king of Judah that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD saying,
"‘Take thee
a roll of a book and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee
against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I
spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
"‘It may be
that the house of Judah will hear the evil which I purpose to do unto them;
that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their
iniquity and their sin.’
"Then
Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Ne-ri-ah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of
Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon the roll of a book..."
Scene 1
As the Jailer
and Baruch come down the aisle, the Jailer is talking.
JAILER: Baruch,
the truth of the matter is I think King Jehoiakim has forgotten that the
venerable old prophet, Jeremiah, is locked up. So, as far as I'm concerned, you
can stay as long as you like and write ‘till the sun goes down--if you want to.
Opens cell door.
Jeremiah stands up, wipes his eyes.
Just look at Jeremiah! Weeping again! I
call him the weeping prophet. Leaves door open, key in lock. I'll be
around, if you need anything. Jailer leaves
JEREMIAH: Ah,
Baruch, I'm glad you could come!
BARUCH: Jeremiah,
my friend, why do you weep so early in the morning?
JEREMIAH:
"Mine heart within me is broken ... because of the LORD, and because of
the words of his holiness."
BARUCH: Do you
have something special that you want me to write down?
JEREMIAH: Yes, yes!
The words of the LORD, which have come to me again. They are not words to bring joy.
Rather sorrow. But they must be written. And they must be read to all the
people.
BARUCH: as he
brings out table and stool We'll have more room if I move this table and
stool, and the jailer won't care. As I came through the city, I heard that a
day of fasting has been proclaimed for Jerusalem and all of Judah.
JEREMIAH: That
means King Jehoiakim is worried about the approach of the Babylonian army, and
well he should be! Jehovah will use the Babylonians to destroy this land!
BARUCH: Many
people will be coming to the temple for the day of fasting. It is too bad you
cannot go to the temple and speak to them the words of the LORD.
JEREMIAH: For a
long time the king has forbidden me to go into the temple. And as you see, I am
shut up. You must go, and read the words of the LORD. You shall read them in the ears
of all Judah that come out of their cities, and to all the inhabitants of
Jerusalem.
"It may be
they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from
his evil ways; for great is the anger and fury that the LORD hath pronounced
against this people." Now write this:
"Out of the
north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land." Thus
saith the LORD. "And I will utter my judgments against them, for all their
wickedness..."
Jeremiah strides
back and forth as he dictates to Baruch. The spotlight leaves the prison scene,
goes back to Bill, Amy and Louise. They continue talking.
LOUISE: Bill,
what happens next?
BILL: The second
scene will be Baruch reading to all the people gathered at the gate of the
temple on the day of fasting.
AMY: We could
use the altar area for the temple scene!
Spotlight turns
to Altar area, where a crowd has gathered. On left stage in forefront is
Mi-chai-ah, a prince, and his wife.
BILL: Right,
Amy! Let me read y'all what happened at the temple--that is, if I can find the
right verse.--Ah, here it is, the 10th verse.
Begins reading
"Then read Baruch from the book the
words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD... the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house, in the
ears of all the people..."
Scene 2
Baruch enters
immediately, from right stage, holding up Jeremiah's scroll
BARUCH: talking
Hear now the words of the LORD. This word came unto Jeremiah the Prophet, from the LORD, and I did
write from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him,
upon this roll of a book.
Begins reading: Thus saith the LORD: "Out of
the north evil shall break forth... The king of Babylon shall certainly come
and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast.
"...Thus
saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit upon the
throne of David. And his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat,
and in the night to the frost.
"And I will
punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity: and I will bring
upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah,
all the evil that I have promised ... because they would not hearken unto me
..." Baruch's voice trails off.
MI-CHAI-AH: to
his wife This is an alarming prophecy! It will have to he
reported to King Jehoiakim!
MICHAIAH'S WIFE:
The Babylonians coming to destroy us? The king to die? It's unbelievable!
MICHAIAH: My
dear wife, it's best that you return to our home immediately! I'll go and tell
the other nobles and courtiers and see what they think about reporting this
thing to the king!
WIFE: Where will
you find the nobles and princes this time of the afternoon? Will they still be
at the king's palace?
MICHAIAH: My
father and most of the others will be in the office of E-li'-sha-ma, the
scribe--at a meeting called by the king's secretary, Je-hu-di. Jehudi will know
whether or not it's best to tell the king what Jeremiah has prophesied! Jehudi
knows the king and all his moods! He may think it best that this thing read to
the people not reach the ears of King Jehoiakim!
Bill reads again
from the Bible, as spotlight follows Mi-chai-ah from the temple gate scene to
the office of E-li-sha’-ma.
Scene 3
Je-hu-di the
scribe and the nobles are gathered in the scribe's office. E-li-sha’-ma is
seated, with papers in his hand. Jehudi is bent over, looking at the papers. The
four courtiers--Del-ai-ah, El-na'-than, Gem-a-ri-ah, and Ze-de-ki-ah--are
watching the scribe and Je-hu-di intently. When Mi-chai-ah enters, all turn
around to listen to him.
BILL: reading
"Then Michaiah went down into the king's house, into the scribe's
chambers; and, lo, all the princes sat there, even E-li-sha-ma, Zed-e-ki-ah,
and all the princes.
enter Michaiah
"Then Michaiah declared unto them
all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the
people."
MICHAIAH: I tell
you, sirs, the prophecy of Jeremiah which Baruch read at the temple gate is
most alarming! If it comes true, we are all doomed! Especially the king!
DELAIAH: I hate
to think what the king may do when he hears that Jeremiah has prophesied that
the king will die!
ELNATHAN: It's
impossible to keep something like this from the king! Somebody will tell him!
GEMARIAH: It is
best that we tell him. Would you not agree, Jehudi?
JEHUDI: I agree
with you. The king must be told, the sooner, the better.
ZEDEKIAH: Before
we tell King Jehoiakim, we must know exactly what Jeremiah the weeping
prophet is saying this time. For years Jeremiah has warned of the wrath of the LORD. But so far as
I know this is the first time he has said that the king of Babylon will destroy
this land and that King Jehoiakim will die!
GEMARIAH:
Jehudi, go and bring Baruch here. And we will require him to read the prophecy
to us. Then, we can tell the king.
JEHUDI:
Gemariah, your words are wise. starts out the door I'll be right back.
Spotlight
follows Jehudi. He overtakes Baruch as he is returning from the temple to
Jeremiah's cell. As he gestures to Baruch in pantomime and they turn to go back
to where the courtiers are waiting, Bill reads two more verses from Jeremiah
36. Baruch and princes pantomime the action Bill reads.
BILL: reading
"So Baruch the son of Neriah took in his hand, and came unto them.
"And they
said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So, Baruch read it in
their ears.
"Now it
came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and
other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these
words."
GEMARIAH: My
friends, we have heard Baruch read the words of the LORD as they came to Jeremiah.
Dire things are
foretold here in this scroll: the destruction of the land, dishonor and death
of the king, and evil upon the men of Judah--all because we have not hearkened
to the LORD.
This frightens me!
DELAIAH: You are
not alone, Gemariah! It strikes terror in my heart also!
ELNATHAN: It is
alarming! To think that the King of Babylon will come and utterly destroy both
man and beast! What shall we do?
JEHUDI: All of
us will go to the king's winter house, where even now he sits warming himself.
And we will tell the king. But let me caution that we use the utmost diplomacy.
You know the king!
MICHAIAH: Should
we not let Baruch come and read it to him?
ALL NOBLES: not
in chorus, but all at the same time Oh, no, no! That would never do! I
think not! That would be the wrong thing to do!
JEHUDI: to
Baruch Baruch, go quickly and get Jeremiah and hide! Let no man know
where you hide! There will be no measuring the king's wrath when he hears this.
ELISHAMA:
Perhaps the scroll should be left here. It will be safe here.
BARUCH: Very
well. I will leave it with you. hands scroll to Elishama and when things
are such that it is possible, I shall come for it.
Baruch hurries
out, right stage, and courtiers prepare to go to king's quarters. Spotlight
shifts to king. Bill reads another verse.
Scene 4
King Jehoiakim
sits in a large chair, with blankets wrapped about himself. There is an open
fire in front of him. Three women servants are scurrying around, trying to make
the king comfortable--with wine and more blankets. King Jehoiakim is in a foul
mood and is complaining about the cold.
BILL: as
spotlight picks up scene 4 Now I can visualize scene four, that is, what
happened when King Jehoiakim was told of the prophecy, right over in this
corner. The verse that tells about old Jehoiakim begins "Now the king sat
in the winter house in the ninth month; and there was a fire on the hearth
burning before him..." voice trails off
KING J: What a
wretched cold day! Put more wood on the fire! And bring me some more wine! hands
goblet to one of servants What's a man supposed to do to keep warm on a
winter day like this!
1ST
SERVANT: Let me wrap this blanket about your feet, King Jehoiakim.
KING: No! No!
I'm cold as a frozen frog! But I don't want my feet covered up, like some old
woman!
2ND
SERVANT: Here's your wine, sir.
KING: after a
big gulp of wine Where's Jehudi?
3RD
SERVANT: He has gone to the scribe's office, remember?
KING: Go get
him! What's a secretary for if he's always going off to the scribe's office!
Tell Jehudi I said to come here, right now!
3RD
SERVANT: Yes, sir! Starts to hurry out; but meets Jehudi and the delegation
of courtiers. She hurries back to the king.
Here is Jehudi
coming now! And many of the princes with him.
KING: growling
Ah-h-h! Wonder what this is all about! You servants be gone! Servants have no business
in the king's room when matters of state are discussed. Servants leave
quickly. Jehoiakim turns toward Jehudi and courtiers. Now, now,
what could be bringing all of my princes in to see me at one time? I know! You
are cold! And you want to warm yourselves by my fire! Well, gather round!
ELNATHAN: No,
no, King Jehoiakim. It is a day to draw nigh to a fire; but we have come about
a matter far more serious than the cold winds that sweep through the streets of
Jerusalem today and chill the very marrow in our bones. We have word of an evil
wind that is coming!
KING: Don't
speak in riddles about the wind! Get to the point! What is it?
GEMARIAH: The
prophet Jeremiah has made a prophecy which came to him as the word of the LORD. And he caused
this prophecy to be read at the temple gate. Many people heard it and we
consider it a serious matter.
KING: That's
nothing to lose sleep over! Old Jeremiah has been talking about the word of the
LORD ever since I
can remember--even when my father Josiah was king of Judah. Nobody pays any
attention to that old weeping prophet's lamentations!
GEMARIAH: This
time, though, King Jehoiakim, the people listened! For the prophecy was such
that it struck terror into all our hearts. Baruch, the scribe employed by
Jeremiah, has read the prophetic scroll to us, and we thought you should know
about it.
KING: Where is
this prophecy?
JEHUDI: We left
the scroll in the office of Elishama, your scribe.
KING: Go get it! Jehudi hurries away
to get the scroll. The king keeps talking.
Such is the life of the king of Judah! I
have enough to worry me without something like this dire thing old Jeremiah has
foretold--whatever it is. It is true that the Babylonians are a threat, but the
thing I'm interested in--as all of you well know--is my plan to build another
palace! One even larger than this one. waves his arm You should just see
the plans I'm drawing up!
JEHUDI: returns
with the scroll, starts to hand it to the king Here is the Jeremiah scroll.
KING: Don't hand
it to me! Read it to me!
JEHUDI: Very
well, sir. The whole thing?
KING: You read
me part of it, I'll see how it sounds, and then I'll tell you how much more to
read.
JEHUDI: reading
"The word of the LORD which came unto Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son
of Josiah king of Judah--"
KING: interrupting
Never mind the preliminaries! Everybody knows this is the fourth year of my
reign! And, that I am the son of Josiah! Get to the thing this foolish prophet
has foretold!
JEHUDI: reading
"Out of the north evil shall break forth ... a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth
in fury ..."
KING: impatiently
That doesn't mean a thing! Hand me that leaf! Jehudi hands over a page. The
king wads up the paper, throws it into the fire. Now, read some more!
JEHUDI: reading
"The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall
cause to cease from thence men and beast--"
KING: Give me
that! As he grabs the page, he also takes his knife and slits the page in
two before he throws it into the fire. So the king of Babylon is going to
destroy the land! Well, I can destroy this prophecy! Read on!
GEMARIAH: But,
king Jehoiachim, perhaps it would be best not to burn this scroll!
KING: I know
what I'm doing! Read, Jehudi!
JEHUDI: after
some hesitation Now, King Jehoiakim, please remember that this
was written at the hand of the prophet of God. None of us had a thing to do
with it.
KING: Read the
scroll, Jehudi!
JEHUDI: reading
"Thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit upon the
throne of David..."
KING: grabbing
the paper from Jehudi No heir? No heir to sit upon
this throne? We'll see! Cuts paper and throws it into fire. Keep
reading, Jehudi!
JEHUDI: so
fearful that he begins to stutter "And-- and th-- and the kin-- and the
King's dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to
the frost!"
KING rising
to his feet in rage So! I'm going to die like a donkey, am I?
Grabs whole
scroll from Jehudi, whacks at it with his knife, and then shoves it on the
fire.
We'll see who is
going to die and have his dead body cast out in the day to the heat, and in the
night to the frost!
I'll have the
heads of Jeremiah and his Baruch! Jehudi, call my special guards!
JEHUDI: Yes,
sir. You mean the three who-- The three who always--
KING: The three you
call my "hatchet men"--Je-rah-meel, Se'-rai-ah, and Shel-e-mi'-ah!
That's who I'm talking about and you know it! They're right outside the door,
and you know that, too! They guard me day and night!
Jehudi walks to
door, beckons to persons outside, and Jerahmeel, Seraiah and Shelemiah come in
and stand before the king.
KING: You three
are to take the prophet Jeremiah and the scribe Baruch! Do you understand what
I mean?
JERAHMEEL,
SERAIAH, & SHELEMIAH: in unison We understand!
As the three
start to leave. Jehudi draws Shel-e-mi-ah aside and whispers to him. The king
pokes at the fire, so intent on destroying the prophecy scroll that he does not
notice Jehudi's action. The spotlight shifts back to Jeremiah's prison cell.
Scene 5
The prison door
is open. Baruch is helping Jeremiah put on his cloak. Jeremiah has his arms
full of rolls of paper.
BARUCH: We must
hurry! The very last words Jehudi, the king's secretary, said to me was
"Go quickly and get Jeremiah and hide! Let no man know where you
hide!"
Jeremiah: The LORD will hide us! Bring the ink pot!
BARUCH: The ink?
Grabs ink. The two run up the aisle and out, as Jeremiah makes his
final declaration.
JEREMIAH: Yes!
We will write again all the former words of the LORD! And more, also!
The king's three
strong-arm men arrive at the prison cell seconds after Baruch and Jeremiah have
gone.
JERAHMEEL: We're
too late! They're both gone!
SERAIAH: They
won't be hard to find. Come on, we'll have 'em before daylight!
SHELEMIAH: Let’s
not bother! Jehudi said not to pain ourselves with trying to find Jeremiah the
prophet, or Baruch the scribe.
JERAHMEEL: King
Jehoiakim will be furious!
SHELEMIAH: He
won't be furious if he doesn't know about it! Right?
SERAIAH &
JERAHMEEL: Right!
As the three
guards laugh among themselves, the spotlight leaves them, goes back to Louise,
Amy and Bill.
Epilogue
BILL: Well, what
do you girls think? Would such a skit make a good PYOC program?
LOUISE: Oh, yes!
A wonderful program! It would prove that that Bible verse I had to memorize years
ago is literally true!
"The grass
withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand
forever."
AMY: What would
be a good title for our skit?
BILL: Let’s make
the title "God's Word Is Forever."
AMY and LOUISE:
Perfect! God's Word is forever! And ever!
The End