The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-08-17

Zedekiah. the 9th day OF the 9Th month.
PLACE.-Jerusaiem Also the surround
Ing country. Nebuchadnezxar was at Hb-
lah IN Klamath In northern Syria. The
captives were taken 10 Babylonia.
The Route OF the captives was not az
rectly east through the desert. but NORTH
ward through Syria TO the Euphrates.
thence southeast down the river 10
Babylonia.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. In Judah and
Egypt Ezekiel on the river Chebar. ''rhs
grand canal" southeast Of the city Of
Babylon. Daniel In Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar was great gen.
eral In COS. in his first seige OF Jeru.
salem, and became sole emperor u. G.
Goa. He made Babylon glorious dur.
ing his reign Of ~ years. lie was In
his 18th year when he began this
siege.
Jerusalem was at this time n city
Of 10000 inhabitants. Against the
huge engines OF Aslatic warfare tho
besieged citizens constructed counter
engines; and the struggle was worthy
OF the occasion--a combat or duel not
only Of courage. but of skill and intel
ligence. between Babylon and Jeru-
salem. Houses were demolished, that
new walls might be built OF their ma
teriais. inside each spot weakened by
the batteringrams
The ramparts were vigorously de-
Tended by archers and singers. equal
In bravery to those OF the Chaldeans.
The rams were caught. when possible.
by doubled chains or ropes TO weaken
their blows. or, n II might be, to cap
size them. Lighted torches and fire.
brands were thrown on their roofs
and on those OF the catapults. TO set
them on fire. The gates OF the town
we're zealousiy defended against the
efforts Of the semy to burst them
open or to burn them.
At last the q was no food for the
people. and famine prevailed.
The houses were full OF the sick and
wounded: bloody fights between con-
tending parties. as TO surrendering or
holding out. crowded the streets with
night and day filled the air. A breach
was made In the city. nj midnight.
The princes Of the king OF babylon
came in. tho generals and high on
ciais. Nebuchnczxar himself was nj
Riblah In Klamath and the Chaldeans
burned the kings house. and the hous-
es OF the people. with fire. and brake
down the walls of Jerusalem.
The king OF the Chaldees slew their
young men with the sword In the
house OF their sanctuary. and had no
compassion upon young man or maid
en-. old mar. or him that stopped for
age: he gave them all into his hand.
And they burnt the house OF God.
They slew the sons OF zedekiah be-
fore his eyes. so that the last things
his eyes ever saw, perpetual men,
ory. were the agonies of his sons. and
Of his frie ads. all the mobiles OF judah.
They put out Zedekiah's eyes. He
would have no more opportunities OF
conspiring against his rulers.
God spoke by the tongue of Ezekiel
one Of the most mysterious and most
curious prcdictions in the entire Bible.
lie declared that King Zedekiah
should be led into Bablon a captive.
should there live and there die. and
yet he should never see the city. So
singular is this record that we must
read the verses Just as he wrote them
out. Now put with this parallel
passage. jeremiah was thrown into
prison by his monarch. While there
under bonds he In like manner pre-
dicted the downfall OF Jerusalem: and
no said that zedekiah should speak
with Nebuchadnezzar mouth TO mouth,
and sec his eyes. The history We
have Just considered shows how those
prophecies were fulfilled and the cap
tives carried TO Babylon.
The way Of Transgressors In tho
choice OF those who walk In Il. God.
good men. angels, laws. all are against
any mans walking therein. The way
OF transgressors fs hard indeed, be-
cause of the awful punishment at the
end OF the way. Like the human vic
tim selected for sacrifice by the Az
tees, who for weeks was Toasted and
honored. but who knew all the time
what the end was 10 be. So the sin
full know that the end Of their way
10 death, and the consciousness of
this throws shadow over all the life
before. The ruin from sin Ia an awful
tragedy; but whenever sin goes un-
punished the sin increases. Murders
have greatly increased in this conn
try. where the majority Of murderers
go unpublished.
The way OF ;ransgressors 10 very
hard, not only on account Of the pun.
ishment at the end, but because 30
many barriers must be broken down
and restraining influences must be-
overcome in order to go on In sin--ihe
love OF God. the conscience and moral
nature. the word OF God. tho Holy
Spirit the sense Of honor. Gods good.
ness, early training, the Influences OF
religion.
There is nothing God wants so much
as to save men from the way Of trans.
gressors. into the kingdom OF heaven.
This ia not merely New Testament
teaching. but Old Testament teaching.
Witness Isaiah. and Jeremiah. and
Ezekiel Listen to Hosea's message
from God. expressions OF Gods loving,
kindness and unwearied yearning over
-