The Tupelo journal., 1911-08-18
JEREMIAH CAST
INTO PRISON
a.. q. Nh
TExT.-Jeremiah n.
~-.~~- Nv~-A~

Va Az
GOLDEN TExT.-.Blsssed are ~.
when men shall revile you, a persecuta
you, and say all manner OF evil against
you falsely. for my sake."-Matt. b:1l.
TIME Of this lesson was B. c. 6SS-6SS,
IS years after our last lesson during the
last siege Of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnex-
xar, from the eth to the 18th year Of Zede-
kiah's reign.
PLACE.-Jerusalem, surrounded by the
besieging armies Of the Chaldeans. and
suffering from famine and pestilence Ger.
1922.
jeremiah had prophesied nearly 40 years
(since 626 and was a prematurely old
man.
Zedekiah was the last king Of Judah.
Nebuchadnezzar, 18th and 18th year OF
his reign.
Jehoiakim reigned six years after
he 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, assembled the
throne, a bad, weak boy, utterly limit
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 Jerusa-
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 10. 900 people were car
ried 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 $500 vessels OF gold
and silver from the Temple and pal
c The policy of Nebuchadnezaar
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. 1t would
seem as II all this would have been
sufHcient to prevail on the people to
repent and be saved.
Zedekiah, the brother OF Jehoiakin.
was placed upon the throne by Nebu-
chadnezzar, "a shadow king over .
desperate band OF men. During the
first nine years Of his reign the ma
ton, instead Of embracing the oppor-
tunity of repentance. plunged more
deeply into fofy. The dregs of the
people, left behind in Jerusalem, laid
this flattering JUNCTION to their souls:
I'VE have been spared by Jehovah,
therefore-we are righteous in his
sight"
During a brief respite while Nebu-
chadnsszar left Jerusalem free while
he fought the Egyptians jeremiah
went forth out Of jerusalem TO 90 into
the land Of BENJAMIN. His home was
at Anathoth in Benjamin. three or
four miles north of the city. 1t wal
apparently to secure his share OF the
tithes and produce Of the Levitical
glebe Of the village, due to him az one
of its priests. Knowing that the Chal.
deans would return, 1t 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 It was to secure himself IN
the possession Of an inheritance
There was a natural rush to get out
OF the city after so long a conine
ment. jeremiah went with the Others
When jeremiah was In the gate OF
Benjamin. the north gate OF the city
that by which any n would 80 tc
the country of Benjamin which ad
Joined Jerusalem. q guard said: "Thor
fallest away to the Chaldeahs; YOU
are trying to desert to the enemy.'
Then said jeremiah: False! A lie!
fall not a way to the Chaldeans.'
He was arrested by the guard. anf
brought to the princes. the officials O
the government, who were wroth Will
Jeremiah. He had compared them te
rotten figs. He was the strongest and
most resonte opponent of their wal
policy. But for him they would havt
had 1t all their ow1 way.
Jeremiah was placed In q dungeon
under the prison building. Jerusalem
was ~honey-combed with su~bterraneaI
cisterns, vau!ted or arched overhead
and cabins, vaults, the subterrahean
arched spaces OF : cistern, containing
water.
At last Zedekiah. the king, secrstl,
took him out to inquire: lis there's an!
word from the Lord?" jeremiah re
piled: There Is" The word was
Thou shalt be delivered into the hant
Of the king q Babylon"
Missionary illustrations are album
dant In modern times. Witness tn
81 fcrr fold Urnwth of the church In Mao