The National tribune., 1885-12-31
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by Study OF the Inter-
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed for
IAN 10. lar. s: 2N-92: 9;1-f6.

"hh. AVE- oci's o -V---. %
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above
We now have a lesson in the prophecy of
jeremiah. He was born at Anathoth, near
Jerusalem, 6i2 B. c., and lived for Sc years. He
began his prophetic work when Ia years old,
was a prophet 40 years, and died a martyr two
years afterward in Egypt. The Kings of Judah
contemporary were Josiah, Shallum, Jehoahaz,
Jehoiakim, Jechoniah, and Zedekiah. The
name of his father was Hilkish, who was a
priest, and, hence, jeremiah was of the tribe of
Levi and descendant of Aaron. He wrote
two books of the Bible, the prophecy of Jere-
miah and the book of Lamentations.
The prophecies of Jeremiah refer to the evils
destined to come upon the Kingdom of Judah
on account of their great sins. We are assured
that the people outdid even the inhabitants of
the Kingdom of Israel in idolatry and wicked
ness of all kinds. JudahiteS did not profit by
the fate of Israelites. The latter had been
carried off captives to Assyria Ill years before.
We would think this a lesson to Judah never
TO be forgotten. jeremiah sees the fate in store
for his Nation. He knows it must soon follow
in the steps of the Israelitish Kingdom.
Through prophetic eyes he beholds Nebuchad-
nezzer on his way to Jerusalem. Indeed, the
captivity of Judah took place 32 years after our
lesson viz, 5S9 B. G. (See XII, 25:1-
The people have become so set in evil, the
prophet believes, there is no prospect of re-
form. So the book of jeremiah differs from
that of Isaiah. The latter prophet saw hopes
for amendment and worked for it, the former
assumes the doom of the Judahites fixed, de-
plOres it, explains its reason, and positively
predicts it. There is no spirit of hOpefulness,
but a sort of wall all through the book of Jere-
miah. The author has been styled the weep
ing prophet"
The writer imagines his fellow-citizens in the
very midst of war and siege. Their fate Is in
evitable. Many a time they could have saved
themselves, but such opportunities were not
improved. He utters proverb applicable as a
general principle in thousand ways" The
harvest is past, the Summer is ended. and we
are not saved" jeremiah is sdistressed-hurt,
because his people, dear to him as a daughter,
are in such plight. He was so confounded by
establishment at the inveteracy of Judah's sins
and their consequences that his face paled,
became dark, ghastly. 14:2; Joel 2:6;
Nah, 2 10J He imagines the wickedness to
be a fearful disease, and then locks about for a
physician, and wonders if there be any remedy.
The land of Gilead lay east of the Jordan and
was SO noted for various balsams and medicinal
herbs that many physicians resorted thlther
for drugs. Yes indeed, there were balm and
doctor in Gilead. Why then be sick? 1t was
Judah was set on sin, and, even when diseased
in wickedness, would not seek physician and
medicine. (Vs. 20-2 22.) jeremiah wished he
could impress the people with a sense of his
deep concern, in hope they might realize their
own condition. ". H. He foresaw through
what slaughters they would pass. He wished
he was not forced to witness their distress.
He preferred a rude place in the far off wilder
ness to the luxury and comfort of the city, if
thus he could escape consciousness of the mis-
cry of his fellow-citizens.
Verses 3 to 9, inclusive were spoken by God.
They set forth the wickedness of the people
and the consequent punishment. The lips are
as a bow in shape and the tongue as an arrow.
Lies fly from their lips like arrows speeding
from a bow. (Vs. 8, 81 Their feet help them
in spreading slanders. (V. A. They wont
speak truth. (V. A. They have sent their
tongues to school to study scandal. ". 81
Their tongues become tired in lying and their
| feet weared in carrying about slanders. Vs.
| Not recognizing Gods authority, they grow IN
evil. (Vs. 3, 49, Their neighbors are unsafe
| and need to be constantly on guard. ". A.
| They deceive and supplant and falsify and can
not be trusted. You can name the place where
they live, Deceit" ". g. They reside
| some on "Scandal St." others up ISLANDER
Lane" others down Hypocrisy Avenue
! Try to lead them from their errors, and they
refuse ". g. to reform. They are treacherous
| Pretending to be friends, they assassinate
| (V. s. Heroes for falsity, they run no risks
for truth. ". 81 They prefer Baalim to God
| (V. 4.)
| Something must be done. 1t will not do to
permit people to be growing in audacity OF
| sin. The way to remove dross from metals is
to melt them. Cast Judah into a furnace
| (V.7.) Let heathen rage against them. Let
the fires of war and persecution be kindled
! about them. Permitted of God on account OF
! ba of bo paop1a fbasa roav hn Sf lad yyic
itations from the Lord. (V.9.)
! Verse 10 is an exclamation of Jeremiah when
! he realizes the vengeance soon to descend ol
Judah. He sees the terraced mountains OF
| hillsides once landscapes rich with cultivation
| desolated. He beholds the pastures (the mean.
| ing of the Hebrew rendered 'habtations u
really is pastures) of the wilderness (the mean
ing of the original is not wilderness in the sense
of a barren spot, but land untitled, unsown, and
so adapted to grazing) trampled down, neglected
| not irrigated, and so unsightly and useless
| He weeps, walls, laments. Cattle and fowl
| would staIve, and so flee.
| Verses IL to = inclusive set forth Gods de-
| examinations as to the wicked Kingdom oi
Judah. The buildings of the capital were to be
thrown down. The debris would be seen in
heaps. Jackals would occupy the ruins while
| the human inhabitants would be slain or would
| escape. ". IL The wise man, jeremiah
prophesied of the wreck and ruin. ". II.
! Judah was rich land, flowing with milk and
| honey, glowing in golden harvests, with hill
| sides luxuriant in fodder and covered with
| sleek cattle. Things shall change. For bread
! the people shall have tears (Ps., SO:5) and
afiilction 4 XII, 22:27) and wormwood. (Y. Is
| %: 15) Same as hemlock. (Amos, 8: 12). Fol
drink they shall have gall. ". 10, 8: IA Lam.
81 19; Amos, 6:12.) God had threatened just
such consequences to the people if they sinned
| Deu., 30: 49, They loved their native land
with an ardent patriotism but they were to be
driven from it and scattered among the heather
nations, whose very contact they loathed This
soon took place in the BabylOnish captivity
| Nor shall their troubles end by flight. The
literal sword would pierce them, prosecutions
would enter their souls, trials awaited them
| everywhere. They were to become despised
people, the butt of ridicule, without friends ts
! protect them from even unjust treatment
| ". 49,
How full this paragraph is of useful lessons
| to US!
l. Seize on the present. Do not allow oppor
tunities to pass. Many a man reviews his life
and exclaims, The harvest is past" the chance
is lost! ". 20.)
| 9. We should feel for wrOngdoers, be sad Il
evil prosper, be hurt if the church be harmed
| (Vs. 81, 1, 2, 10; 4:19, S:19.) Christ wep1
over Jerusalem. The good always are in sor
row if evil prevails.
3. None need suffer religiOusly. We have
| Christ as our physician-his sufferings and
death as our balm. (V. 22.)
a. Try to escape wicked associations (V. g
| Better be alone than with the vicious; better
fhny