The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-08-03

and my salvation; whom shall fear7"-
Psa. N:1
TIME-Josiah was slain in battle B. C.
COS, in the 31st year Of his reign.
Jehoiakim his son began to reign the
same year and reigned eleven years, B. G.
COS to 58.
PLACE-Jerusalem and Judah.
JEREMIAH began to prophesy B. G.
626 In the 18th year of Josiah. soon after
Josiah began his first reforms; and he
prophesied 40 years, to B. G. $780, the year
that the Temple was destroyed and Jeru-
salem burned to the ground.
We turn now from the career and
character Of a good boy who became
a good king, to a bad young man who
became bad king; while the same
prophet who aided the first for 18
years tried now to stem the tide of
evil favored by the other during the
IL years of his reign.
Thirteen years Of labors to make his
people serve and obey God have
passed since Josiah entered upon his
great reform The Pharaoh Necho of
Egypt marched along the seacoast of
Palestine northward to meet the
armies of Assyria Foolishly and need.
lessly espousing the Assyrian cause,
Josiah met him at Megiddo on the
plain of Esdraelon, was defeated and
killed. Professor Kent calls this dis.
aster unquestionably the most tragic
event in Hebrew history. The reform
party at once placed upon the throne
Josiahs third son, Jehoahaz, % years
old, evidently because he resembled
his father, but as soon as the victor.
ious Necho returned from the Euphra
tes he reversed the arrangement, car
ried Jehoahaz in chains to Egypt after
a reign of only three months, and left
on the throne his elder brother, Ella
kim, 25 years old, rightly judging him
to be of character more suited to
his purpose. In token OF vassalage
Eliakim changed his name Tin form
but not in signiflcance) to Jehoial1im
Jehovah raiseth up" He proved to
be tyrant, of whom jeremiah speaks
always In condemnation. His mag
nificent palace, built by forced labor
his murder of the prophet Uriah and
his persecution of jeremiah show his
character.
jeremiah was a native of Anathoth,
a little villaeg three and one-hali
miles northwest from Jerusalem. His
father was Hilkiah, priest (not the
high priest who was Josiah's add. He
was Of a retiring, exquisitely sensitive
nature, and yet had a spiritual courage
that triumphed over all weakness, ant
compelled his body to the most diff
ficult and dangerous duties. He never
failed. He was the butt OF ridicule
and scorn He was put in the stocks
He was publicly whipped. He was
misrepresented as an enemy. He was
imprisoned several times. But he kept
right on.
In the beginning Of Jehoiakim's
reign (B. c. 60S) jeremiah makes an
earnest appeal TO the leaders and the
people, almost like an inaugural ad
dress, or the annual sermon preached
In Boston on the Inauguration OF the
governor of the state. The prophet
stands In the court of the temple. The
people not only of the city but OF the
surrounding country are flocking into
the court to join in the worship. The
reform was halting The kingdom was
impoverished by the heavy fine OF lOu
talents of silver and one of gold
($220,000) which Necho had imposed
Jerusalem was acquitted by the
princes. They realized that he had
been the spokesman of God. Ther
some of the elders, the leading people
instanced the case of the good KING
Hezekiah. He did not slay the prophet
Micah, who boldly threatened the de
struction OF Jerusalem-that its site
would become a plowed field, and the
temple heap of ruins, unless they re
pented. Hezekiah did not kill Micah
but on the contrary he led his people
to repentance, and the Lord averted
the danger.
The verses following tell us of an
other prophet who fled from danger
to Egypt was followed by the ennis
saries of Jehoiakim, brought back ane
executed. This story is meant to show
how serious Jeremiah's danger was
and perhaps TO contrast Jeremiah'f
faith and courage with the timidity oi
Uriah, who yet did not escape his
enemies, but found a sad end.
It is the strong adverse wind thai
makes the kite fly high toward heav
en-, provided that it is held fast by
its cord. Without the string the ad
verse winds would simply blow 1t to
It's fall and ruin. A heart fixed II
God and duty-held fast to them by
strong faith-can rise to the highest
usefulness, can overcome every
temptation.
Revival work and decision days
wisely used. are the most effective re
Inducements of the common powers
that move to the choice OF the bettel
life. One of the strongest influences
against choosing the right lies in the
gang spirit, the power of popular
leader and band Of associates.
Every child, like the young king O
this lesson, is born into a world where
many good influences and many baC