The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-08-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
essen VlII.-Third Quarter, For
Aug. 20, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

rext of the Lesson, Jer xxxvii. 4-2l.
Memory Verse. Is Golden Text.
Matt. v, 11-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. N. Stearns.
| We have not yet reached the end OF
the sorrows of jeremiah. and these OF
| today's lesson seem to have been some
of the greatest. but all were because
of the truth and the God of truth Qsa-
lxv, 16, whose witness he was. 1t has
been long time since he ceased to
complain of his sufferings for the |
truths sake, but he still awaits the |
/ full glory Of the kingdom which by the
spirit he foresaw and predicted Many |
Others have come and gone. and the |
kingdom is not yet. and the sufferings
continue for the faithful, but 1.-The Lord
God of recompenses shall surely re-
quite" fJer Ii. So, and ''r suTerlngs
are not worthy to be compared with
the glory that shall be revealed Rom
viii, Is: I Pet Nv. 49,.
IT seems easy to say it. but 1t Is true
that suffering for the truths sake IS a
great privilege and will bring us great
glory in His kingdom phil i, %; Ii
Cor. iv. II. 49,. After Jehoiakim's mis-
cradle death and seemingly no burial
or as good as none der. xxXvl. 3O',
his son. Jeconiah. reigned three
months. which was about the same
as no reign at all. and was then car
! rled captive to Babylon. where he was
ii prisoner tkirty-six years. The BOOKS
of II Kings and of jeremiah end with
the record of his deliverance from
} prison after that long period His
fathers brother, Zedekiah. was then
made king. and he reigned eleven
wears, but neither he nor his serv-
ants nor. the people of the land
would hearken to the words of the
5 Lord (verse 2. although they professed
to want jeremiah to pray for them
e fyerse 3, and more than once Iede-
: kiah consulted him (verse II: xxSviii.
a, The last twenty-five years before
the captivity. the time of these four
!, kings. was n time of increasing evil
!. and specially trying time for Il faith
q ful witness like Jeremiah but no one is
II ever Ouu luS SiftNS wa -
}, sustain under the trial q Cor. X. 49,
: The Lords answer to the king who
sent his messengers to inquire of Jere
miah Is found in verses to 10 of
our lesson with the admonition Thus
saith the Lord. deceive not yourselves
(verse o.. When the Lord Jesus fore
y told In His Olivet discourse the trou
bles that would come in the approach
ing years and also at the end of this
" age. He said. Take heed that no man
~ deceive YOU Matt xiv. A., He also
n added that the wonders and signs of
false Christs and false prophets at the
No end of this age WILL If possible. de-
ceive the very elect (verse 24,. From
10 the day on which the devil deceived
~ Eve he has been diligently working
~ On that line. perhaps never more So
~ chan now. but the time draws near
=, ~ when be shall be imprisoned and de
" ceive the nations no more for thon
Nl sand years (Rev. Xxx. 1-3, One cannot
10 but tremble for the mnltitudes who ARE
% deceiving and being deceived in 'Iip%'
w days. but it must end soon. The pray
w err Of Peter In Pet =. 10. II, is just
W right for ali the faithful witnesses suf
~ fering for the truth.
We cannot wonder that Jeremiah
90 longed to separate himself from all thu
at unbelieving ones about him and ge
ed away somewhere alone with God (vers'
IL l2,. and TO be arrested and falsely &C
d, cused and smitten and imprisoned ant
Is. like to die In filthy cell Oversees T.
49, 20, was hard indeed for poor hu
manity Even John the Baptist SEEM
to have grown discouraged under hi
., Imprisonment and seeming neglect II,
Ia. Him whom be had pointed out as tn
lie. Lamb of God (Matt. ii. 4's Oh. how
lit great is our need Of patience and al
nd unwavering faith in God that will no
to be offended under any circumstance
'hs (JOhn xvi 1-3: Rev. xiii 10: xiv. -
q Heb. <. IS. 81,
~ After many days-how long the,
- must have seemed-the king sent flo
III. Jeremiah and inquired. rs there an
lr- word from the Lord?" Verse III Their
"a was no new word but just the forme
all one concerning the captivity in Bal
ylon. jeremiah took occasion to as
- 4o why he had been imprisoned and t
,er ask that he might not be sent bac
o6 to where he had been. so he was ief
, 5 for time In the court of the prise
as verses l8-21b--just Il breathing spac
ere his prosecutors would again see
!. his life. but 1t would be helpful With
it lasted. Note the daily piece G
bread Of verse 81. and let us learn til
= lesson Of daily bread and dali
r strength. the matter of the day in hi
~ day (chapter Iii. "a. margin. .Iehoi;
aul chin had no doubt an abundant SUI
ho, ply from the kings table. Poor Ter,
ead miah had piece of bread.
TOT The next chapter tells how Il:
al. princes. with the kings consent ca:
%. ts' jeremiah into dungeon. where /
hos sank in the mire and would have die
nal Of hunger If he had not been rescue
the by an Ethiopian named Ebedme.ac
lly, who. with some other men and /
a., means of ropes and some old rags
put under his arms that the rope
en- might not hurt him. drew him up fro
~ the dungeon. and again he is permi
ted to remain in the court of the pri
;. on and was there on the day that tt
city was taken Chapter xxxviii. H. 2S
. The sequel to the story Of .Jeremia
and how he was given perfect freedo
on. to 90 where he pleased after Terus
os- lem was taken. but. choosing to rerla