The Monroe journal., 1911-08-01

ana my salvation, whom shah l Tears
Psa ri
TIME-Jcsiah was slain in hattie a. C
-. IN the Sist year OF his reign
Jshoiaklm his son began % rtiSn the
same year and reigned eleven years, 3. c.
eS % -,
PLACE. Jerusalem and Judah
JEREMIAH gan 10 prophecy r {,
90. N tue 1876 wear 81 Josiah. sson after
josiah h-sar his first reforms and he
prophesisd e. years % r. {. s. the year
thar the Temple was destroyed an JeEn-
salem burned 20 the ground.
We turn now from the career and
character Of a good boy who became
a good king. 10 a bad young man who
became a bad king; while The same
pruphe; who aided the frs FOR Is
years tried now 10 stem tie tide of
evil favored by the other during the
II 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 espousing the Assyrian cause.
Josiah met him al 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, JehoahaE. % wears
old evidently because he resembled
his father but as soon as the victor
ious Necho returned from the Euphra-
ties he reversed the arrangement, car
ried Jehoahaz In chains 10 Egypt after
a reign Of only three months. and left
on the throne his elder brother, Ella
kim. 25 years old, rightly judging him
10 be of a character more suited 10
his purpose In token OF yassalage
Eliakim changed his name Tin form,
but not in signihcance) TO Jehoiskim.
Jehovah raiseth up" He proved 10
be a tyrant, OF whom jeremiah speaks
always in condemnation. His mag,
nihcent palace, built by forced labor,
his murder OF the prophet Criah and
his persecution OF Jeremiah show his
character.
Jeremiah was a native OF Anathoth,
a little villaeg three and onehali
miles northwest from Jerusalem His
father was Hilkiah, a priest not the
high priest who was Josiahs aid. lie
was OF a retiring. eXquisitely sensitive
nature. and yet had spiritual courage
that triumphed over all weakness, and
compelled his body TO the most DIFF
flcult and dangerous duties He never
failed He was the butt of ridicule
and scorr He was put in the stocks
lie was publicly whipped He was
misrepresented as an enemy. He was
Imprisoned several times But he kept
right on.
In the beginning Of lehoiakims
reign tB. c. 60>) jeremiah makes an
earnest appeal TO the leaders and the
people. almost ike an inaugural ad
dress, or the annual sermon 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 city but OF the
surrounding country are aocking into
the court 10 Join in the worship. The
reform was hating. The kingdom was
impoverished by the heavy fine OF 100
talents Of silver and one of colo
tS920,000) which Necho had imposed.
Jerusalem was acquitted by the
princes. They realized that he had
been the spokesman Of God. Then
some Of the elders, the leading people
iustanced Re case q the good king
Hezekiah. He did not slay the prophet
Micah, who boldly threatened the de
struction OF Jerusalem-that its site
would become a plowei field, and the
temple a heap Of ruins unless they re
pented Heaekiah did not kill Micah,
but on the contrary he led his people
TO repentance, and the Lord averted
the danger
TIE verses following tell us OF an
other prophet who fed from danger
TO Egypt, was followed by the ennis.
saries Of Jehoiakim, brought back aud
executed. This story is meant to show
how serious Jeremiah's danger was
and perhaps to contrast Jeremiah's
faith and courage with the timidity OF
Uriah. who yet did not escape his
enemies, but found a sad end.
II is the strong adverse wind that
makes the kite fly high toward heav.
en-, provided that II is held fast by
It's cord without the string the ad.
verse winds would simply blow 1t TO
its fall and ruin. A heart fixed In
God and duty-held fast TO them by
strong falth--can rise to the highest
usefulness, can overcome every
temptation.
Revival work and decision days,
wisely used, are the most effective re
Inducements Of the common powers
that move TO the choice Of the better
life. One of the strongest influences
against choosing the right lies in the
gang spirit, the power Of a popular
leader and a band Of associates.
Every child, like the young king OF
thia lnssnn ie horn ir.tn q urnrld where