The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-08-03

same year and regned eleven years. b. c.
COS 10 597
PLACE-Jerusalem and Judah.
JEREMIAH began TO prophesy B c.
626 In the 18th year OF Josiah soon after
josiah began his first reforms. and he
prophesied 10 years, to b. c. $50. the year
that the Temple was destroyed and Jeru-
saiem burned to the ground.
We turn now from the career and
character Of good boy who became
a good king, TO bad young man who
became a 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 espouslng 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
Josiah's 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 10 Egypt after
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
Ellakim changed his name Tin form.
but not in significance) to Jehoiakim.
Jehovah raiseth up" He proved to
be tyrant, Of whom Jeremiah speaks
always in condemnation. His mag
nifcent palace. built by forced labor.
his murder of the prophet Uriah and
his persecution Of Jeremiah show his
character.
Jeremiah was native Of Anathoth.
a little yillaeg three and one-halt
miles northwest from jerusalem His
father was Hilkiah, a priest mot the
high priest who was Josiah's sidl. He
was OF retiring, exQuisitely sensitive
nature, and yet had a spiritual courage
that trlumphed over all weakness, and
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. lie was
imprisoned several times But he kept
right on.
lie was like an elm tree, whose
branches yield to every breeze, but
which no storm, not even one that up
heaves rocks from theii beds, can
cause to move one hairs breadth from
its place in the ground. Il is no won
der that he was sometimes discour-
aged, disappointed, almost despalring.
He has been called the weeping
prophet" because he lived In such dark
and evil times, but the only wonder is
that he ever had such glorious CLEANS
of hope, and that his prophetic eye
ever pierced through the darkness OF
the night tempest and saw the silver
lining beyond and the rays Of the
coming dawn. He was "meliorist"
rather than an optimist He saw the
evil, but he was ever working TO make
It better Like a doctor In hospital
he looked at disease from the curative
standpoint.
In the beginning OF Jehoiakim's
reign (B. c. 6OS) jeremiah makes an
earnest appeal 10 the leaders and the
people, alDlost like an inaugural ad-
dress, or the annual serr ION 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 ciy but OF the
country are hooking into
the court to Join in the Worship The
reform was halting The kingdom was
by the heavy fine of 100
talents OF silver and one of gold
(s220, 000) which Necho 0f Egypt had
imposed. 1t was fittinI time for an
earnest appeal to repentance.
Jerusalem was acquitted by the
princes. They realized that he had
been the spokesman of God Then
some OF the elders, the leading people,
the case of the good king
Hezeklah. He did not slay the prophet
Micah who boldly threatened the de-
OF Jerusalem-that It's site
would become a plowed field. and the
empe heap OF ruins, unless they re-
,ented. Hezeklah did not kill Micah.
,ut on the contrary he led his people
o repentance, and the Lord averted
he danger.
The verses following tell us OF an
,ther prophet who fed from Danger
o Egypt, was followed by the ennis
aries OF Jehoiaklm. brought back and
xecuted. This story is meant to show
low serious Jeremiah's danger was
nd perhaps to contrast Jeremiah's
aith and courage with the tlmidity OF
Jriah, who yet did not escape his
but found sad end.
1t is the strong adver,e wind that
makes the kite fly high toward heav-
n, provided that 1t is held fast by
IS cord. Without the string the ad-
erse winds would simply blow It to
Is fall and ruin. A heart fixed in
lod and duty-held fast to them by a