Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-02-26
JEREMIAH PROSECUTED
LESSON TX, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERi-S, FEE. 20.

ID. NJ. stearns.
II. And it came to 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 1-3. But the end was
now near; the city is b%esieged, and God is
about to give "The dearly beloved of His
soul' into the hand of her enemies CHAP
ter xii, y. There is, however, a little re-
spite, for Pharaoh's army comes forth out
of Egypt, and the Chaldeans depart from
Jerusalem Oversees 8, l0).
IL. 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 /, y. 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 a captain of the ward took Jere-
miah, the prophet, saying, Thou fallest
away to the Chaldeans." hi the right
eous should be falsely accused, prosecuted
and even slain by the unrighteous seems a
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, | 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-
ly?" The admonition to all in similar
circumstance is oun in Heb. xii, 1-3.
IA. "Then said jeremiah, 1t is false, but
he hearkened not to him; so Irijah took
jeremiah and brought him to the princess"
II 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, 1.-The
Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord" Dob i, 81.
Is. Wherefore the princes were wroth
with jeremiah and smote him, and put
him in prison." Jesus forewarned His
apostles hat thus would they be treated
and worse, but that they must not be Of
Tended (Math. x, %; John xvi, l, 2; Acts v,
Is, 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 nave tribulation ten
days, but they must be faithful even
though slain for Him CRev. ii, 10y.
16. "When Jeremiah was entered into
the dungeon and had remained there man
days" Blessed is the man that endureth
trial (Jas. i, 12). We cannot endure what
does not continue, and yet that is just
what we are apt to wonder at, that a trial
should continue instead of being quickly
removed in answer to prayer. Consider
Paul's prayer ana testimony in III Cor. xii,
$40. and remember the same grace is
yours.
II. "Then Zedekfah, 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 Lord?" 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.
Is. 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 lone the works
of Jehovah, and that was Just what Jesus
did, and for that they crucified Him. The
way of God being contrary to mans way
provokes the evil that is in man and stirs
up his wicked heart. THE carnal or natur-
al 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.
90. Therefore, hear now, | pray thee, o
my Lord the King, cause me not to return to
the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest | die
there" While we are not to fear death,
but rejoice "to die to gain" and "to depart
is to be with Christ" phil. i, 81, 23), yet
we are not to throw away our lives I'M
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. i, 20).
81. ''Then Zedekiah, the king, command
ed that they should commit jeremiah into
the court of the prison and that they
bHOuLQ klNC mn b"iiS a piece VI Dltdd.
Thus jeremiah remained in the court of
the prison" Although after this he was
for a short time in a most filthy dungeon,
from which he was delivered by Ebed-
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 X~xxviii, 12, IL, 2S).
There the captain of the guard of the Baby
lonian army found him, and by command
of the king did well by him. See chapters
xxx, II, IL; XII, 4, 5. So God kept his
promise to jeremiah chapter /, 49, and
delivered him, though many a time they
sought his lie. So will He keep his word
always, and we may unwaveringly trust
Him and rely upon Him. See, also. His
promises to Ebed-Melech in chapter xxx,
1918, and remember that the same God
makes equally great promises to all who
put their trust in Him. In reference to
Daniel it is written, 80 Daniel was taken
up out of the den, and no manner
of hurt was found upon him, because he
believed in his God" For the same reason
his three friends walked I'm the midst nj