Willmar tribune., 1898-12-07

years old at that time. ~ His office
was that of both priest and prophet
(5) He never married. (6) His pub
lie life continued from the thirteenth
year of Josiah (B. C. 627) till some time
after the destruction of Jerusalem (B.
G. 5S6), or more than forty years. (7)
His character. Jeremiah was naturally
of a shy and timid disposition, shrink
ing from public life, sensitive to a most
painful degree, and desponding. The
great work he had to do was contrary
to his natural disposition, but it was
done better on this very account. At
the same time, as often occurs, he was
the bravest of the brave. Timid in re-
solve, he was unflinching in execution;
fearless when he had to face the whole
world. He stood almost alone.
II. The Circumstances of the Early
Part of Jehoia1im's Reign.-O The
Egyptians under Pharaoh Necho
marched through Palestine up to the
Euphrates to attack and conquer AS
syria, B. C. COOS. (2) Josiah joined the
Assyrians, and attacked the Egyptians.
He was defeated and slain, and the
Egyptians tried to make themselves
masters of Syria and Palestine. (3) His
third son Jehoahaz was made king but
Pharaoh Necho took him prisoner,
after a three months reign, and carried
him away captive in chains. (4) Jehoi-
akin, an older brother, was made king.
(5) He neglected the people, and built
a magnificent palace (Jer. 20: 1879 to
hold his mere "shadow of royalty"
among a poor and oppressed people,
(6) Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was
conquered and destroyed in 606-5 by
"the brave and brilliant Nebuchadnez-
zar of Babylon" (7) Then Egypt was
defeated by the Babylonians and driven
home (S) "Then, in the fourth year
of Jehoialim, (6o5-4), the young Baby
lonian conqueror swept down upon
Syria and Palestine. Jehoiakim was
thrown into fetters, to be carried to
Babylon, but Nebuchadnezzar restored
carried away with him some captives,
among whom were Daniel. Hananiah,
Azariah and Mishael, destined there
after for such memorable fortunes
Dan. 1867. This was the small begin
ming of the Great Captivity.
III. Jeremiah's Prophecies Read
Before the People.-One December
day in the court of the temple (Jer.
36:1-15). Jeremiah had been prophesy-
ing for % years. at various times,
in many ways, persuading the people
to repent and return to God. But his
efforts had failed of accomplishing
their purpose. Now, as last resort,
he is commanded by God to write out
the substance of all these addresses in
one roll or book, in order that the
whole mass concentrated in one
mighty blow upon the conscience of
king and people might move them to
return and be forgiven. Jeremia h
himself could not read the book. be-
cause he was ''shut up," not impris-
oned (v. 19), but "restrained;" prob
ably forbidden by the king to preach
in public to the people, so that he
would have been arrested had he made
the attempt. Baruch therefore took
the roll, and from a balcony over the
gate read it to the vast assembled null
titudes.
~. Jeremiah's Book Destroyed by
the King.-Vs. 1926. 21. $50 the king
sent Jehudi to fetch the roll:'' So
that he might have possession of it,
and might learn the contents from the
roll itself, and not through second
hand reports.
%. "When Jehudi had read three or
four leaves:" Rather columns of the
writing across the roll. "He:" the
king, apparently in anger snatching
the roll from Jehudi, "cut it with the
penknife,'' used for sharpening the
reeds used as pens, and which hung at
the scribe's girdle, "and cast it into
the fire."
2e. ''The king commanded
to take Jeremiah the proph-
ct; but the Lord hid them" We do
not know how, but he is not heard of
for several years.
V. But the Word of God Was Not
Destroyed.-Vs. 27-32. The Outward
Form Restored. %. "Take thee again
another roll," etc.: In this was writ
ten all His former words. and many
more like words were added ". 32).
81. 81 will bring. all the evil
that I have pronounced against them"
Destroying the book or numbering
the prophet, would not prevent the full
fllment of Gods word.
PRACTICAL sueeEsr1oNs.
Men try to destroy Gods word in
this day by rejecting the Bible as the
Word of God, hating it, ridiculing it,
perverting it, denying it.. .~.
Sometimes we cut some of the leaves
Of the Bible by reading only portions,
by false interpretations, and by deny
Ing or softening its warnings and re-
proofs. s:s = .. ..jz #.. .... s7s ss5
All efforts TO destroy the Bible are
In vain. :...s ... s.. s=.s.
The more the truth is opposed, the
more rapidly it Il spread abroad.