Passaic City record., 1892-03-05
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MARCH 9.
Lesson Text: 'srhe Downfall of Ju-
dab" jeremiah xxx, Ito
Golden Ten6:. atthew xiii,
SO - cUmmentory.

Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchad-
nezzar, king of Babylon. and all his army
chapter ILL., and in III Kings XIV. we have this
same story of the downfall and captivity Of
Judah. When the Holy Spirit causes the
same record to be written three different
times He certainly asks our special atten-
ton to it, and must have some great
reason for doing so. The ten tribes had
been in captivity over 100 years, and for
that perio1, as well as for the more than
zoo additional years since the death Of
Solomon, God had been bearing with them,
pleading with them and warning them
that unless they turned to Him sincerely
this Judgment would come upon them Hos.
H., Ills; Joel j., 81; Amos Ill, l, 2, and
the precaptivity prophets every where). See
also Lev. XVI, 27-5o, and consider wnag
prophets taught the people to laugh at and
despise it.
2. ssIn the eleventh year of Zekiah, in the
fourth month, the ninth day Of the month,
fhe city was broken up" During part OF
three years, or an actual period of eighteen
months, including the short interval of last
weeks lesson. did the siege continue and
then the city fell. as God had said. He may
lovingly and patiently show His long suffer-
ing, but His Spirit win not always strive.
8. .And all the princes of the king of
Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate"
The enemy sits in the gate OF the holy city
what a contrast to the blessing OF Judah,
Thine hand shall be in the neck Of thine
enemies" and the promise to Abraham,
''Thy seed shall possess the gate of his ene-
mies' lGen. Xix, g.; xii, ~. 1t was
promised to Israel that one should chase a
thousand, and two put ten thousand to
fight, and that no man should stand before
them lDeut. xxxii., 80; Josh. l.. 15), but un-
belief and turning away from God brings
all this trouble upon them.
4. when ZedeKiah, the king OF Judah, saw
them and all the men of war, then they fled,
and went forth out Of the city by night"
All this was seen in vision by the prophet
Ezekiel at Babylon, and was shown to the
people of Israel, who were there in an object
lesson by the prophet. tEzek. xii, 1-15)
s. But the Chaldeans army pursued
after them, and overlook Iedekiah in the
plains of Jericho and brought him to Neb
uchadnezzar.n It being the purpose of God
that Zedekiah should be taken, it was there
fore impossible for him to escape. Perfectly
safe even amidst the greatest dangers are
all whom God promises to protect, but there
is no hiding place and no safety for any who
rebel against Him. They may be sure that
their sin will find them out. Mum. xxxii.,
23)
t. 'Then the king of Babylon slew the
sons of Zedeiiah in Riblah before his eyes;
also the king of Babylon slew all the mobiles
of Judah.n If the children follow the sins
of their father and walk in his ways they
will suffer punishment with their father;
but who can describe the feelings of father
compelledto witness the sufferings of his
children because of sins into which he led
them? Let ungodly parents consider this
ere it be too late.
z. Moreover, he put out Zedekiah's eyes
and bound him with chains, to carry him to
Babylon" Thus was Jer. xxxii., 4, and
Eek. xii. Is, literally fulfilled, although at
first sight it might seem difficult for them to
have literal fulf1Ilment. Zedekiah went to
Babylon. he saw the king of Babylon, but he
never saw Babylon. 1t is always perfectly
safe to take God at His word, and take Him
to mean just what He says. As soon as we
begin to give His word some other meaning
than that conveyed by the plain grammati--
cal sense of the words. we are in danger OF
perverting it (xxiIi., 36,.
s. "And the Chaldeans burned the kings
house, and the houses of the people, with fire.
and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.
Thus the Lord swallowed up the habitations
of Jacob, and cast down the beauty of Israel;
thus He did what He had devised, and full
filled His word commanded in the days OF
old Liam. H., /, 2, ~. Although it was ap-
parently the hand of the king of Babylon,
It was really the hand of the Lord upon His
rebellious people. Nehemiah, speaking OF
the testimony of the Spirit of God in the
prophets against Israel, says that God gave
them into the enemy's hands because they
would not hear (Neh. tx, 30.
8. Then Nebuzar adam, the captain OF
the guard carried away captive into Bah.
ylon the remnant of the people," Some had
been taken to Babylon for their good, such
as Daniel, Ezekiel and Others, but these for
their hurt. to be reproach and proverb,
. taunt and q curse in all places (Jer. xiv.
5-l0l. The same event may prove to some
blessing and to others curse. "All things
work together for good to them that Iowa
Godn lRom. viii, %, 99).
10. But Nabuzar-adan, the captain OF
the guard, left of the poor of the people,
which had nothing, in the land OF Judah,
and gave them vineyards and fields at the
same time" Or, as in the margin, I'm that
day." It is evident. then, that there
may be time when it is blessed to have
nothing" Weare reminded OF Zeph. ILL.,,
II, 81 viii also leave in the midst of thee an
afflicted and poor people, and they shall
trust in the name OF the Lord" Also.
luke vi. 20. blessed be ye poor, for yours
is the kingdom of God" Though we may
not have this worlds goods, if we have Jesus
we are rich for time and eternity, and are
heirs with Him; and when the unbelievers
are cast out we shall inherit all. Even the
captain OF the guard lsschief executioner'-
see margin), cruel to many, can only bring
us blessing May Jesus be all to US. then We
will be well content to wait and suffer with
Him this little while. proving ourselves pill
grims and strangers here. Like Abraham
we will contentedly sojourn in the land OF
promise, owning not q foot of it except per-
haps burial place, while we look for the
city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker is God. Or, like Moses, having
respect unto the recompense Of the reward,
we will esteem the reproach of Christ great
er riches than the treasures in Egypt Heb.
xi., g. 10, 70; Acts viii, 81. There is such
thing as laying up treasure in heaven whether
we have much or little here, and there is such
thing as fieing rich here and awfuily poor in
wi; xf-o ri 00