The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-08-25
.JfREMIAH in
the DUNGEON
Sunday School Lesson Tor Aug. ~. 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON IEAI.-Jeretniah So'i-AS' "io'A'~
DRY Verses $40
GOLDEN TEXT-"Blessed are they
which are prosecuted for righteousness
sake; for theirs is the kingdom OF Heaven
Matt $40
TIME.-Durng the year and one-half
siege which preceded the capture OF
Jerusalem b G. $50.
PLACE.-Jerusalem
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Jer 81,
compare with Kings 24:S-l6; 25:N-~;
Chron. 1913 10. Accounts Of Zedekiahs re-
belion and the siege OF Jerusalem, Jer.
52I-5; Kings "a 20; ISL. 2; Chron. MI
See Jer. 37:ll-16Sor the story Of Jeremiah's
arrest and imprisonment. Various COM
muncations between Zedekiah and Jere-
miah.-Jer. A:1:i4; 1913 10. 49, 81; So 4:lS
Compare VS. IA Of the lesson with Jere-
miahs words in Jer Fl :1-l4 and with Jer. "a.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. /. Then" When the Chaldean
army had for a time withdrawn from
the 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 as deserter,
and brought back and imprisoned. But
he was allowed the privilege OF the
courtyard, and there, TO all who would
listen be 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.
V. 2 Thus saith the Lord" When
the princes tried to silence jeremiah,
they were shutting their ears, and the
ears of the people, to Gods kindly warn
ing. He that remaineth.. shall
die" Some persisted 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 traitor but in
honorable surrender.
V. 4. Let this man be put to DEATH"
Princes desired the death of Jeremiah,
because that they could silence him in
no other way. "Weakeneth the hands"
etc. From one point of view the princes
had a good case against couraging
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 Chaldeans
(See v. 19).
" 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
IS ~ \
plate, of later day. he could not find
courage TO do what he knew to be just
and right.
V. 6. Cast him into the dungeon"
They were too superstitious to kill
him. Cowardice and cruelty were
combined in their casting him into
the 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.
1924. Many a house in Jerusalem
had a 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
prison, had quite probably been used
before as a dungeon for receiving
prisoners mo water, but mire:" The
water in this cistern had dried out,
leaving a great collection of mud at
it's bottom. Ps. 60 reads as If it might
have been written by jeremiah Of this
occasion.
V. 7. "Ebed-melech the Ethiopian"
The negro eunuch. probably was the
keeper of the kings harem.
V. g. Went forth out of the kings
house" Left apartments of the women
over which he had charge. His manner
of speaking to the king indicates that
the eunuch went in great haste. He was
indeed running to save the prophets
life. for if 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 TO die for hunger"
The prophet would soon perish for lack
of food. for no one had been directed to
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,
" II. House of the king under the
treasury" The eunuch knew of a GER
tain room in the palace. under the store
chamber, where old clothes and possibly
other discarded things were thrown
V. 12.-"Put now under thine
armholes." But for this wise provision
the ropes under Jeremiah's arms would
have sorely hurt and probably would
have injured him.
V. 49, 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 daily ra-
tons such as were furnished the soldiers
(chapter 37:2D.
Practical Points.
V. 1. He who would be spokesman for
God will often have messages to deliver
which are not pleasant for wicked men