The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-09-01
THE CAPTIVITY
OF JUDAH q q
Sunday School Lesson for Sept. 3. 1905
Specially Prepared tor This Paper.
LESSON TEXT Chronicles ss:ii-n

LESSON TEXT Chronicles ss:li-zL
Memory verses 1921.
GOLDEN TEXT.-'Be sure your sin will
find you Out."-Num 1928.
TIME-In the eleventh year Of King
Zedekiah. B. c.. 5S6
PLACE-Jerusa EN-. Riblah. where Zede-
kiah was taken before Nebuchadnezzar. 200
miles north Of Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES-Para
accounts in Kings 24:lo-1j; 25:l-SO; Jer. -
IA, and still fuller account In Jer So Zede-
kah's oath 10 NebuchadneZzar Jer. 81 80;
Eek i7:11-2l. On the 70-years captivity
see Jer 25ll; 29:l0; Lev. 25:l-7; 26:S4, 50.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. IL. "Zedekis1. reigned IL years:
AS viceroy of Nebuchadnezzar. who
had stipulated that "he would surely
guard the country for him. and
neither make any political changes
nor favor the Egyptians"
V. II. Evil in the sight OF the
Lord" He failed to be loyal to
Jehovah or to support, as 1t was his
privilege to do, the temple-wOrship.
and the true prophets. "Humbled not
himself before jeremiah" While he
had frequently sought this prophets
advice, and asked an interest in his
prayers (see chapter 80, he had not
followed the prophets advice, nor
protected his person.
V. 10. "He also rebelled:" When
Zedekiah had been on the throne
about eight years, he Joined the neigh
foring city, Tyre, and, seeking aid
from Egypt, they rebelled against
Babylon, refused to pay tribute and
prepared themselves to defy its
power.
V. IA Moreover" etc.: The writer
is now about TO show what disease
caused the death of judah. ~ was
the same of which her sister Israel
died (See Kings 17:7-23). Priests
and people transgressed:" II was sad
indeed when priests, who should have
been the guides in righteousness, be-
came the companions of the people in
doing evil.
w. IS. God OF their fathers" Since
the time of Abraham, God had been
blessing their race, and trying to re-
veal Himself TO them. Sent
His messengers: The name mes
senger" commonly, but not always.
a
kings had been messengers for God.
He had also sent TO this race Moses,
Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and more re-
Gently Isaiah, jeremiah and Ezekiel.
V. 16. They Knocked the messen-
gers" Nearly every prophet had
been matreated by the people he
sought to help. Jeremiah had been
Knocked by a false prophet, Hananiah
(See Jer. 2S). "Despsed his words"
the prophets, or to walk in the ways
of righteousness which they pointed
out "Misused:" Better in Revised
Version, "Scoffed att" Verbal mock
cry not bodily harm, is here alluded
to- Bodily harm had, however been
inflicted upon the prophets in many
cases, and quite recently Urijah had
been slain Ger. 26:20-23).
" II. Therefore," Because of
what has just been stated. HE
brought Chaldees:" The
Chaldean. or Babylonian, army
came to besiege the city. Judah's
Jehovah was God of all peo-
pies. and ofttimes used one in chas-
Using another. 1t was a natural pun
shment for sin weakens any people,
and no nation could live long while
practicing such iniquities as were rife
in Judah. "Sle" no com
passion" etc: The Chaldeans, as
warriors were very cruel.
v IS. All the vessels
Cod" The sacred furniture and
dishes which had been left after the
previous saclling of the temple e
Chron. 36:10). A list of the vessels
COW taken is given in Kings
25:13-17.
v 49, Burnt the house of Cod
Thus they slowed their defiance of
Israel's God Brake down the WALL"
After many months of beating upon
the walls with battering-rams, a place
at the northern side gave way. and
the Chaldeans entered at midnight.
V. 20 Them that had escaped"
Those who had survived the siege and
such as had previously surrendered
themselves 10 the enemy. Carried
Babylon:" King Nebucha1-
nezzar first held a sort of court at
Riblah, some 200 miles north OF
Jerusalem. Here the leaders in re-
bellion were picked out and summar-
lily punished jeremiah, and probably
others, were permitted to return TO
the city, while the remainder includ-
ing the king were taken to Babylon.
V. 81. "To fulfill the word" ETC.:
See marginal references. jeremiah
had always held out this CLEAN of
hope: After the captivity, return.
Until the land sabbaths:"
Read Lev. 25:1-7; 1854. 50. BY that
law it was provided that the land
should lie idle every seventh year.
This law evidently had been disre-
garded by the people. who were uni
formly so careless concerning Gods
requirements. Now. through being so
largely depopulated. the land would
enjoy enforced rest for 20 years.
Practical Points.
" IL. One may. like Zedekiah. be a
king in name. yet a slave at heart.