The Red Cloud chief., 1911-08-17
JEREMIAH CAST
INTO PRISON
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. 20, 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper
Specially Arranged for This Paper
LESSON TENT,-Jcrcmiah 81.

MEMORY VERSE. IS.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Rlesscd are ye
when men shall rcviie you. and pcrsecuts
you. and say all manner OF evil against
you falsely for my sake."-Matt. 5:ll.
TIME of this lesson was B G. 5SS-5s6.
Is years after our last lesson during the
last Siege OF Jerusalem by Nebuchadnez-
zar, from the 9th to the 1ith year OF Zeds-
kiahs reign.
PLACE.-Jerusalcm surrounded by the
bcsieging armies of the Chaideans. and
suffering from famine and pestilence DER.
SS:2).
jeremiah had prophesicd nearly 40 years
tsince G2D and was n prcmaturely old
man.
zcdekiah was the last king Of Judah.
Ncbuchadncxzar. 18th and 10Th year OF
his reign.
Jehoiakim reigned six years aftei
no had burned the roll Of Jeremiah's
prophecies, which. like the tabled
phoenix rose anew and fresh from
the ashes. He was slain In 597.
The first blow Of the threatened
doom of Judah had fallen during the
fourth year of his reign, the first toll.
Ing Of the bell OF Judgment which
should have summoned the very dead
In sin to awake. But they gave no
heed.
Jehoiachin, his son, asccnded the
throne. bad, weak boy, utterly unfit
to cope with the situation. His reign
lasted only three months. Upon Je.
hoiachin descended the full force OF
the divine vengeance incurred by
previous generations. He was scarcely
on the throne when the Chaldean
| forces, which had been ravaging Ju-
dea, were joined by Nebuchadnezzar
| himself. and closed around Jerusn-
lem. and Jehoiachin surrendered at
discretion. The arm Of Babylon raised
to strike his father fell on him. and
fulfilled the prophecy against Jehoia.
kim. 'He shall have none to sit upon
the throne of David" Jehoiachin was
kept a prisoner In Babylon for 81
years and was then released.
This was the second blow Of divine
judgment, the beginning of the second
captivity, when 10000 people were car.
riod captive to Babylon. Among them
were the kings wives and officers.
and 1000 that were strong and apt
for war. and 1000 craftsmen; and a
large part of the 5.4O0 vessels of gold
and silver from the Temple and pal.
aces. The policy Of Nebuchadnezzar
was to remove out Of the way all those
who might be able to organize a re.
volt when he and his army had de-
parted. Such men 1t would have been
dangerous to leave behind. It would
aII ha, hnan
sufficient to prevail on tho people to
repent and be saved.
Zedekiah. the brother OF Jehoiakin,
was placed upon the throne by Nebu
chadnezzar. n shadow king over q
desperate band Of men. During the
first nine years OF his reign the ma
tion, instead Of embracing the oppor.
tunity OF repentance. plunged more
deeply into folly. The dregs OF the
people. left behind in Jerusalem. laid
this fattering unction to their souls !:
1--WE have been spared by Jehovah,
therefore we Ne righteous In his
sight"
During a brief respite while Nebu.
chadnezzar left Jerusalem free while
he fought the Egyptians jeremiah
went forth out of Jerusalem to go into
the land of Benjamin. His home was
at Anathoth In BENJAMIN. three or
four miles north Of the city. It was
apparently to secure his share OF the
tithes and produce OF the Levitical
glebe of>the village. due to him as one
Of its priests. Knowing that the Chal
deans would return, It was imperative
that he should obtain the means OF
subsistence to take back into the city
so soon to be beleagured afresh. 9th
ers think 1t was to secure himself IL
the possession Of an inheritance
There was a natural rush to get ou'
OF the city after 80 long confine
ment. jeremiah went with the others
When jeremiah was in the gate o
Benjamin. the north gate Of the city
that by which any one would 90 Il
the country of BENJAMIN which ad
Joined Jerusalem. guard said: "Thol
fallest away to the Chaldeans; yo,
are trying to desert to the enemy
Then said jeremiah: False! A lie
I fall not a way to the Chaldeans.
He was arrested by the guard, ant
brought to the princes. the officials o
the government. who were wroth will
jeremiah. He had compared them 4
rotten figs. He was the strongest ant
most resolute opponent OF their wa
policy. But for him they would hav'
had It all their own way.
jeremiah was placed In dungeon
under the prison building. Jerusalem
was honey-combed with subterraneai
cisterns. vaulted or arched overhead
and cabins. vaults. the subterranean
arched spaces OF cistern. containing
water.
At last Zedekiah, the king. secretl,
took him out to inquire: rs there an
word from the Lord?" jeremiah re
piled: "There is." The word was
Thou shalt be delivered into the han
Of the king Of Babylon"