Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST ~.

FOR AUGUST ~.
Subject: Jeremiah in the Dungeon, Jcr.
xxxviii., 1-13-Golden Text. Matt. W,
1O-Memory Verses, 8-1O-Comnen-
tary on the Days Lesson.
I. Jeremiah's enemies Tvs. Ia. 1.
''Then." After the events referred to
in chapter 81, where Jeremiah was de-
livered from the dungeon. "Shepha-
tiah," etc. Some of Jeremiahs enemies
who We're seeking his life. "All the
people," They had free access to him
in the court of the prison. Q Life for
q prey" A proverbial expression. TO
make ones escape with life like a valu-
able spoil or prey that one carries off;
the narrOwness of the escape, and the
Joy felt Mt 1t A2e included in the idea.
He shall carry off his life as his gain,
saved by his going over to the Chal-
deans. Had jeremiah not had divine
commission he might justly have been
accused of treason, but having one
which made the result of the siege GER
tain he acted humanely as interpreter
Of Gods Will under the thcocracy In
advising surrender. 8. "Surely be
given" This was testimony that he
constantly bore; he had the authority
of God for 1t. He knew it was true
and he never wavered or equvocatcd.
4. "The princes said" Their reasons
were plain enough but the proof was
wanting. "Seeketh >. the hurt" An
unjust insinuation, for no man had
done more for this people than had
jeremiah. His preaching was calcu-
lated to arouse them to sense Of their
sins and cause them to turn to God.
One of the commoneSt ways OF iniurng
others is to misunderstood and misn-
terpret their motives, as Jeremahs
motives were maligned because it was
possible for him to have done what he
did with bad motives When there are
two possible motives for the conduct
of another, 1t is not only more char
liable, but probably more truthful
Judgment to imputc the better motives.
Judge not that We be not Judged
should be written in capital letters,
yea, in flaming letters, before us all.
II. jeremiah in the dungeon Tvs. 8,
@. 5. king is not he" Zcdckiah was
weak king. He had conviction that
Jeremiah was prophet Of the Lord,
and yet he dared not oppose his states
men, but yielded to their Will without
n question. An innocent man was thus
sacrificed to their malice. These
princes We're wroth with jeremiah
(chapter 81: 80; "he had compared
them to rotten figs" (chaptcr "a But
for him they would have had affairs
all their own way, they were anxious
to be rid OF him.
9. "Then took they jeremiah" Jerc-
mah was the butt of ridicule and
scorn. He was put IN the stocks. was
publicly whipped, was misrcprcsented
as an enemy, was imprisoned several
times, but he kept right on. "The dun
geon." Literally "the cistcrn.' 1t was
not a subterranean prison as that in
Jonathan's house (chaptcr 81: 15i. hut
a pit or cistern. which had been full of
water, but was cmptied of it during
the siege so that only mirc remained.
Such empty cisters were often used rs
prisons Zach Q: IL; the depth forbade
hope of escape. Sunk In the mire.
They evidently expected that he would
die in that place.
III. Jeremiah's friend Tvs. 10. Z.
"Ebedmelech.' The servant of the
ROYAL harem, and so had private ac-
cess to the king. Already even ut TINS
early time, God wished to show what
good reason there was for calling the
Genties to salvation. An Ethiopian
stranger saves the prophet whom ms
own countrymen, the Jews. tried 10
destroy. SO the GentileS believed III
Christ whom the Jews crucitled, ana
Ethiopians were among the earliest
converts acts .: 10; s: 27-39. sitting
in the gate" The gates of cities were
the places where justice was admin
istered. g event forth The servant
went immediately to the king. There
was no time to lose, for If he delayed
the prophet might perish. what
bold, courageous act this was. 1t ought
to put many of us to shame.
O. "These men," etc. He must have
been in the kings confidence or lie
would not have dared raise his voice
against the action of the princes. The
Lord can raise up friends for His peo-
pie where they nre least expected. NO
more bread" That is, no more bread
left of the public store in the city
(chapter 81: 2D; or, all but no bread
left anywhere. This shows to what
straits the city was reduced.
". jeremiah rescued Tvs. 1918. 10.
"King commanded" Iedekiah's better
nature was stirred. Thirty men, Not
merely to draw up jeremiah, but to
guard Ebed-melech if the princes
should oppose him. The king was de-
termined that he should be rescued by
force IL necessary. Ebedmelech was
rewarded for his faith, love and cour-
age, exhibited at time when he inl2ht
we'll fear the wrath of the princes.
lib. Ebed -melech took the men as
the king had commanded and rescued
Jeremiah. He let down into the PIT
some torn clothes and worn out gar
ments and instructed jeremiah to roll
them around the ropes and place them
under his armplts, so rs not TO suller
injury from the ropes when he was
drawn up. Although jeremiah was
thus rescued from terrible death, he
was not set at liberty, but remained in
the court of the prison. He was still
in prison when the armies OF Babylon
took Jerusalem. He was found IN
chains and carried with other captives
on the way to Babylon, but was re-
leased at Ramah, six miles from Jeru-
salem. Thus ended the prison life OF
the prophet How long he was III
prison 1t is difficult to determine. prob
ably for years. The Lamentations
which he wrote after the destruction OF
Jerusalem must have been his frequent
meditation while in confinement.