The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-17
Sunday School Lesson for December 18.
The Captivity of Judah.
Jer. LII, In.
BY J. e. GILBERT, D. D., L. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

some sixty miles north. This was the
headquarters of the king, while his
generals were conducting campaigns
in various parts of western ASIA. II
was famous as strategic point. haV-
ing been mentioned by Moses in fixing
tn" boundaries of Israels possessions
(Num. XXXiv. ~. There judgment was
pronounced. Verse -. 1t seems that
the royal household had clung togeth-
er after the army had fled, and that
they were all made prisoners and
shared the kings fortunes. A fearful
retributiOn was administered. The sons
of Xedekah were brought forth and
slain i'm their fathers presence. the
purpose being to cut off and DESTROY
the regal line leaving no aspirant for
the throne. AfterWard in like manner
the princes of Judah were slain. This
meant the utter extinction of the Jew
ish monarchy. Thus all was gone
country people. army, sons, princes.
The king alone lived. (Nerse 1O).
pRISONER.-A worse fate awaited
Zedekiah. His eyes were put out so
that in total blindness he must spend
| the remainder of his days. This in
Capacitated him for any service. 1t
| was one Of the severest penalties in
| hicted by Conquerors when they de-
sired not only to strip a prisoner of
| power. but to declare him to be utterly
worthless to the world and to make
| him a burden to himself. Moreover,
in this Ezekicls' prediction was full
filled dEzek. xii, 1@. Afterward Ne
| buchadnezzar bound zedekiah in
chains, not So much because he was
a dangerous character, but because it
was proposed to humble him. Then he
was transported across the country to
| Babylon and there shut up in prison,
| and confined until the day of his death.
| lin all the annals of war; ancient or
| modern, no such severity was ever
meted upon a subjugated king. If it
| seem to US to have been marked by
| undue cruelty We must remember that
it was after eleven years Of clemency
| during which time Zedckiah had been
| unfaithful to his oath of office and re-
creant to his trust
CONCLUSION.-The captivity of the
chosen people and their deportation
into foreign countries was a severe
method of Divine chastiscment for sin
|
| cipline. The displeasure of God had
| been long delayed and was slowly
I visited. The northern kingdom was
| first Overthrown tB. G. 72D, giving
| time for the remnant to learn wisdom
But Judah soon followed in wicked
ness, yet God was patient. NebuCh-
| adnezzar came first in COG, again in
500, and did not complete the con-
quest until jSS. In all that time had
Jcrcmiah's counscls been accepted the
national calamity might have beer
aVcrted. The lOng-sulierinE of Jehovah
| only resulted in the presumption and
Obduracy of the people CEccl. viii, ID
The lessons of the quarter are chiefly
! valuable politically. Many men fai
| To take account of the element O
Righteousness in promoting the wei
fare of a state. They depend upon
armies and naVies, aud forget tha
"thcre is a just God who presides Over
| the dcStinies of nations" ana tha'
they stand or fall according as the!
serve His righteous purpose.