Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-25
JEREMIAH PROSECUTED.
LESSON TX, FIRST CHARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL sERlE9, FEB. 20.

ID. NJ. Stearns.
II. "And it came 10 pass, that when the
army of the Chaldeans was broken up
from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's
army" We are now in the reign of Zede
kiah son Of Josiah, the last of the kings of
Judah. He like the three who preceded
him, would not listen to the words Of Je-
hovah, although at times he seemed in.
clined to do differently, as we shall see and
even asked the prophet to pray for him and
for the people, verses i-3 But the end was
now near; the city IL besieged, and God is
about to give "'rhe dearly beloved of His
soul" into the hand of her enemies Chap
ter xii, y. There is, however little re
spite, for Pharaoh's army comes forth out
of Egypt, and the Chaldeans depart from
Jerusalem oversees 8, 10).
10. "Then jeremiah went forth out of
Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin
to separate himself thence in the midst Of
the people," The Revised Version says etc
receive his portion there" Anathoth, in
the land of Benjamin, was his home CHAP
ter !, H. He had been a faithful witness
for God in the holy city, and his testimony
had been rejected 1t was most natural
that he should desire to take advantage Of
this lull in the siege to retire if possible
to the quiet of his own town.
10. "And when he was in the gate of
Benjamin n captain of the ward took Jere-
miah, the prophet, saying, Thou fallest
away to the Chaldeans." That the right,
eous should be falsely accused, prosecuted
and even slain by the unrighteous seems
strange thing to many. 1t troubled David
and Asaph and even jeremiah himself
See the experiences of the first two in
Ps. xxxvii and lxxiii. In Jer. xii, 1 we find
the prophet talking with God after this fash
ion, 81 know, o Lord, that thou art right |
eous, but why do the wicked prosper and
why are they happy that deal treacherous
lyW The admonitlon to all in similar
circumstances is found in Heb. xii, l-3.
a. Then said jeremiah, 1t is false, but |
he hearkened not to him; so Irijah took |
jeremiah and brought him to the princess"
If the prophet saw only Irijah he would |
naturally be greatly provoked, but if he
saw the hand of God he would be quiet |
When Job lost his family and his property |
through the malice of Satan he said, "The |
Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; |
blessed be the name Of the Lord" Dob !, % |
10. Wherefore the princes were wroth |
with jeremiah aud smote him, and put |
MIN III pIlSOu jesus lOFbWdEnGu his |
apostles that thus would they be treated |
and worse, but that they must not be Of
Tended (Math. X, 20; John xvi, 1, 2; Acts V,
1s, 40 xvi, 23). And from the glory He
sent word to one Of the churches that the
devil would cast some of them into prison,
and that they would have tribuation ten
days, but they must be faithful even
though slain for Him (Rev. ill., 1O).
In oh f,t
the dungeon and had remained there many
days" Blessed Is the man that endureth
trial GAS. i, 49, We cannot endure what
does not continue, and yet that is just
what we are apt to wonder at, that trial
should continue instead of being quickly
removed in answer to prayer Consider
Paul's prayer and testimony in II Cor xii,
$40, and remember the same grace is
yours.
II, 'Then zedekiah, the king, sent and
took him out, and the king asked him Sc
cretly in his house and said, Is there any
word from the Lord2" This was one of
those secret interviews which the king had
with the prophet, apparently willing to do
right, but really afraid of his own people.
49, Moreover, Jeremiah said unto King
Zedekiah, What have | offended against
thee" In somewhat similar form, Paul
the prisoner, appealed to Festus (Acts
XIV, ~. Both jeremiah and Paul had
only spoken the words and done the works
of Jehovah, and that Was just what Jesus
did, and for that they CruCilied Him. The
way of God being contrary to mans way
provokes the evil that is in man and stirs
up his wicked heart. 1.-THE carnal or natur.
nj mind Is enmity against God"
10. where are now your prophets which
prophesied unto you, saying, The king of
Babylon shall not come against you, nor
against this land" There were false
prophets who taught the people that the
king of Babylon would not COME against
the city, and that what he had already
taken he would restore In two years Chap
ter xviii, 20, but they were lying proph-
cts, and their words were vain words
30. therefore, hear now, pray thee, o
my Lord the King, cause me not toreturn to
the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest l die
there" While we are not to fear death,
but rejoice "to die to gain" and ito depart
is to be with Christ" phil. /, 81, 23), yet
we are not to throw away our lives un-
necessarily, but take all possible care of
our mortal bodies, which are temples of
the Holy Ghost, aiming only to glorify
God in life or death phil. j. 20)
81. "Thcn Zedekiah the king, command.
cd that they should commit jeremiah into
the court of the prison and that they
should give him daily piece of bread
Thus jeremiah remained in the court of
the prison" Although after this he was
for short time in a most filthy dungeon,
from which he was delivered by Ehed-
Melech, the Ethiopian, with ropes and rot
ten rags, yet the court of the prison was
his lodging and there he was when the
city was taken chapter XNXviii, IL, Ia, PSI.
There the captain of the guard of the Baby.
lonan army found him, and by command {
Of the king did well by him. See chapters
xxx, II, II; Xl, 4, 3. So God kept his
promise to jeremiah Chapter /, 49, aud {
delivered him, though many time they
sought his life. So will lie keep his word
always, and we may unwavcringly trust
Him and rely upon Him. See, also, His
promises TO Ebed MeeCh in chapter XXXiX,
1913, and remember that the same God
makes equally great promises TO all who
put their trust in Him. In reference to {
Daniel 1t is written, 80 Daniel was taken ,
up out of the den, and no manner I
of hurt was found upon him, because he I
believed in his God" For the same reason
his three friends walked in the midst OF
the fire unhurt Dan, W. %; iii, 25l Rely
Ing upon the same God, Paul could say, II
know whom / have believed, and am per
suaded that He is able to keep that which
have committed unto Him against that I
day" 81 was delivered ont of the mouth t
Of the lion; and the Lord shall deliver me I
from every evil work and will preserve mo .
unto the heavenly kingdom" Oh Tim. i, Il; {
w, II, 49, All who go forth in the name /
Of the Lord, at His command, to do His I
a ~