The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-08-25
JEREMIAH in
the DUNGEON
Sunday School Lesson for Aug n. 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

TIME.-During the year and one-half
siege which preceded the capture Of
Jerusalem B O. 5s6
PLACE.-Jerusalem
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES- -Jcr 81.
compare with Kings A.6-l6. $3.50. z
Chr0n. S6.9. 10 Accounts Of Zedeklah's re-
hellion and the siege OF Jerusalem. Jer
b2i-5, 2 Kings q. ~. PSI. 2.2Chron 35l7
See Jer. d.li-l6 for the story Of Jercmlah's
arrest and imprisonment Various com
munications between Zedekiah and Jere-
miah.-Jcr u:I.lf. N.3 10. 10. a. 3s li.l8
Compare VS. Ia OF the lesson with Jere-
miah's words in Jer q ia and with Jer a
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V !. Then" When the Chaldean
army had for a time withdrawn from
,he city OF Jerusalem. the prophet
jeremiah seized the opportunity to
leave the city on some business CON
nected with his patrimonial estate. He
was, however. arrested az a deserter,
and brought back and imprisoned. But
he was allowed the privilege OF the
courtyard. and there, TO all who would
listen. he continued delivering his mes
sages of warning. This aroused the
princes here named. who evidently
were officers holding positions near the
king Had spoken" spake, or had
been In the habit Of speaking
w. Thus saith the Lord" When
the princes tried to silence jeremiah.
they were shutting their ears. and the
afsa .f p -, Hfa Ia 4
ing. He that remaineth . shall
die" Some perished by the sword OF
the enemy. others from lack OF food.
and still others from diseases caused by
the hard conditions Of their life. That
goeth forth" Not as a traitor, but In
honorable surrender.
V. a. Let this man be put TO death"
Princes desired the death Of Jeremiah,
because that they could silence him I'm
no other way. "Weakeneth the hands,"
etc. From one point OF view the princes
had a good case against couraglng
the warriors. for he made them feel
that they were the prophet His words
undoubtedly had the effect Of dis
wasting their energy in the losing
cause. THAT remain in this city.
Already some had followed Jeremiah's
advice and escaped to the Chaldesns
(see v. 19). =
V. 5. "Zedekiah the king said" etc
This was a most unkind speech. show.
ing that the man. whom one calls "a
phantom king. was a mere puppet
IN the hands Of his couriers Like
PLATE. OF a later day. he could not find
courage TO do what he knew to be Just
and right.
V. 0. Cast him into the dungeon"
They were too superstltlous 10 kill
him. Cowardice and cruelty were
combined in their casting him into
he dungeon. TO perish from its foul
gases or die by slow starvation. The
dungeon was probably a cistern. quite
similar to the one into which Joseph
was cast by his brothers See Gen.
37:2D. Many a house in Jerusalem
had subterranean cistern in which
water was collected. The one here
alluded to was in charge Of one NAL
chiah." and being in the court Of the
orlson. had quite probably been used
before as a dungeon for receiving
prisoners. mo water. but mire:" The
water in this cisteTn had dried out,
leaving a great collection Of mud at
rs bottom. Ps. 60 reads as if il might
nave been written by jeremiah OF this
occasion.
v 7. "Ebed-melech the Ethiopian
The negro eunuch, probably was the
keeper Of the kings harem
VS.. went forth ont Of the kings
house" Left apartments Of the women
over which he had charge. His manner
of speaking 10 the king indicates that
the eunuch went in great haste. He was
Indeed running TO save the prophets
life for II he were not rescued speedily.
he must perish.
V.9. "These men have done evil The
princes had acted unjustly in persecut-
ing the truest patriot in the city; they
had acted cruelty and cowardly. as Is
shown above Like 10 die for hunger
The prophet would soon perish for lack
Of food. for no one had been directed to
iced hin
v 10. The king is as easily enlisted
In the effort TO save jeremiah as he had
been in the effort to get rid Of him. He
was wont during all this time TO coun-
sci privately with jeremiah.
V. II. House Of the king under the
treasury" The eunuch knew Of GER
tain room in the palace. under the store
chamber. where old clothes and possibly
other discarded things were thrown.
V12.-"Put now under thine
lrmholes." But for this wise provision
the ropes under Jeremiah's arms would
have sorely hurt and probably would
have injured him.
v f3. Remained in the court Of the
prison" Just where he had been be-
fore the new persecution by the princes.
Here. the prOphet was given udlly Ia
tions such as were furnished the soldiers
(chapter 37:2D.
Practical Points.
VI. He who would be spokesman for
God will often have messages TO deliver
which are not pleasant for wicked men
10 hear --Ezek. 3.il
VS.. II is kind not cruel, 10 plainly
warn people Of coming disaster, that per-
chance they may flee therefrom. Eek.
3:17.
Va silencing the alarm bell does not
put out the FIRE. but leaves more victims
for the flames Eek 1878.
V. g. He who is loyal 10 God need
not be surprised at persecution from
the hands Of those who cast out Jesus.
John 1920.