The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-09-01
THE CAPTIVITY
OF JUDAH 8 &

Specially Prepareiior THIS Pager

IlME.-In the eleventh year Of King
zedekiah, B. c.. f8
PLACE E-Jcrusaiem. R!biah where Zede-
kiah was taken before Ncbuchadnczzar, 30
miles north Of Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Parallel
accounts in Kings 2i.ls-20. El-s0. Jer 50:
II. and stu fuller account in Jor 81 Zods-
kah's oath 20 Nobuchadnczzar, Jcr. 81 go.
Ezck. ult-I on the 70-years captivity
BEE Jer Gii. $40. Lev. &i-7; 26.2f. b.
Comment and Suggestive Thought
V. H. "Zedekiah. reigned II years."
As ylceroy OF Nebuchadnozzar, who
had stipulated that "he would surely
guard the country for him. and
neither make any political changes
nor favor the Egyptians"
" IL. Evil IN the sight OF tho
Lord" lie failed to be loyal to
Jehovah or to support, as It 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 bis
prayers (see chapter 37), he had not
followed the prophets advice, nor
protected his person
Y. 13 "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 10 defy It's
power.
V. IA. Moreover etc: The writer
Is now about 10 show what disease
caused the death OF Judah Il was
the same OF which her sister Israel
died (see Kings l7:I23). 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
V. i5 God Of their fathers" Since
the time of Abraham, God had been
blessing their race. and trying to re-
veal Himself 30 them. Sent
His messengers" The name mes
sengor" commonly, but not always.
refers to a prophet Some Of Judahs
kings had been messengers for God
He had also sent 10 this race, Moses,
Samuel, Elijah. Elisha. and more re-
Gently Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
V. 16. They mocked the messen-
gers" Nearly every prophet had
been maltreated by the people he
sought 20 help Jeremiah had been
nocked by a false prophet Hananiah
(See Jer. 2s). "Despised his words"
Refused 10 heed the warning given by
he prophets. OF TO walk In the ways
n righteousness which they pointed
put "Mlsusod." Better IN Revised
Version, "scofled att" Verbal mock
,ry. not bodily harm. IS here alluded
%. Bodily harm had, however, been
Inflicted upon the prophets IN many
'ases. and quite recently Urliah had
)een slain (Jer 26.2023).
V. IT, Therefore," Because OF
What has just been stated "He
brought Cbaldees;" The
,haldean, or Babylonian. army
anne 10 beslege the city. Judah's
Jehovah was God OF all peo-
lies. and ofttlmes used one IN chas-
ising another. II was a natural pun
shment. for sin weakens any people.
md no nation could live long while
such iniquities as we're rife
n Judah. "Slew no com
iasslon," etc: The Chaldeans, as
warriors. were very cruel. 8'
V. rs. "All the vessels
iod." The sacred furniture and
fishes which had been left after the
previous sacklng OF the temple q
,hron. s6.10). A list Of the vessels
low taken IS given in 2 Kings
.5:i31z
V. 10. Burnt the house OF Cod"
thus they slowed their defiance Of
sraels God. Brake down the WALL"
After many months OF beating upon
he walls with batterlngrams, a place
t tho northern side gave way. and
he Chaldeans entered at midnight
v 90 Then that had escaped "
those who had survived the siege and
uch as had previously surrendered
themselves 10 the enemy. Carried
Babylon" King Nebuohad-
ezzar first held a sort Of court at
siblah. some 200 miles north Of
erusalem. Here the leaders In re-
ellion were picked ont and summar-
" punished. jeremiah, and probably
theirs. were permitted TO return 10
he city. while the remainder, includ-
NJ the king, were taken 20 Babyfon
V. q. ITO fulhl tho word" etc.
lee marginal references. jeremiah
ad always held out this CLEAN Of
ope: After the captivity return.
Until the land sabbaths:"
lead Lev 25:17; 26:3f. 35. by that
lw IL was provided that the land
hould lie idle every seventh year
his law evidently had been disre
arded by the people. who we're uni
ormly so careless concerning Gods
Now, through being so
lrgely depopulared. the land would
njoy enforced rest for 10 years.
Practical Points.
V. II. One may, Ike Zedekiah. be a
ing IN name. yet a slave at heart.
V. u. God counts as done unto Him.
ELF any iniQuity done His ambassa-
ors or His brethren Matt. 25;45.
V. II. God uses even the evil traits
D man for working out His purposes
Z good.-Ps 76.10.
V. IS. Let MS lay mp our treasures
here they can never be stolen. Matt.
20.
V. 20. The calamities which sin
rings here are but tokens Of the eter-
al separation and woe to DO realized
eTeafter.-Jas. lis.