The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1911-08-04
JEREMIAH TRIED
AND ACQUITTED

Specially Arranged for This Paper
LESSON TEXT-Jeremiah d.
vERSES-ta-tA

LESSON TEXT-Jeremiah d.
MEMORY vERsEs-ia-n.
GOLDEN TExT-"The Lord Il my l,rht
and my salvation: whom shall I fear 7'-
Psa. 2,:i.
TIME-Josiah was slain in bstt,. q. c.
s0. In the 3Ist year Of his reign.
Jehoiakim his son began to reign the
same year and reigned eleven years. b. C.
eos to 5s1
PLACE-Jerusaiem and Judah.
JEREMIAH began to prophesy r. G..
S2s. In the 18th year Of Josiah soon after
Josiah began his frat reforms. and he
prophesied ~ years. to B G. 5ss. the year
that the Temple was destroyed and Jer,i-
salem burned to the ground.
We turn now from the career anl
character Of good boy who became
good king. to a bad young man who
became a bad king; while the same
prophet who aided the nrst for Is
years tried now to stem the tide q
evil favored by the other during the
II years OF his reign.
Thirteen years OF iabors 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 at Mesiddo on the
plain Of Esdraeion, was defeated and
killed. Professor Kent calls this dis
aster Internationally the most tragic
event In Hebrew history. The reform
party at once placed upon the throne
Josiah's third son. Jehoahas. 20 years
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 Jshoahas In chains to Egypt after
Q reign Of only three months, and left
on the throne his elder brother. Ella.
kim. rs years old. rightly Judging him
TO be Of . character more suited to
his purpose. In token Of vassalags
Eliakim changed his name lin form.
but not In signincanceD to Jehoiakirn.
Jehovah raiseth up" lie proved TO
be . tyrant. Of whom Jeremiah speaks
always In condemnation. His mag.
nincent palace. built by forced labor.
his murder OF the prophet Uriah and
his persecution Of jeremiah show his
character.
jeremiah was . native Of Anathoth.
. little villaeg three and one.hali
miles northwest from Jerusalem. His
father was Hilkiah. q priest (not the
high priest who was Josiah's add. He
was Of . retiring. exQuisitely sensitive
nature. and yet had . spiritual courage
that triumphed over all weakness. and
compelled his body to the most dis
ncult 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
misrepressnted ~ an enemy. He was
Imprisoned several times. hut he kept
right on.
In the beginning Of Jehoiakim's
reign (B. c. 60s) jeremiah makes an
earnest appeal 10 the leaders and the
people. almost like an inaugural nd.
dress. or the annual sermon preached
In Boston on the Inauguration Of the
governor Of the state. The prophet
people not only Of the city but Of the
surrounding country are focking into
the court to Join In the worship. The
reform was hating. The kingdom was
Impoverished by the heavy fine OF 100
talents of silver and one Of gold
($220.O00) 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.
instanced the case of the good king
Iiezekiah. He did not STAY the prophet
Micah, who boldly threatened the de.
struction OF Jerusalem--,hat its site
would become a plowed field. and the
temple heap Of ruins, unless they re-
pented. Iiezekiah did not kill Micah.
hut on the contrary he led his people
to repentance, and the Lord ayerted
the danger.
The verses following tell us OF an.
other prophet who fed from danger
to Egypt, was followed by the ennis.
saries Of Jehoiakim. brought back and
executed. This story Ia 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 sad end,
1t is the strong adverse wind that
makes the kite fly high toward heav-
On, provided that II Ia held fast by
its cord. Without the string the ad.
verse winds would simply blow II to
its fall and ruin. A heart fxed In
God and duty-held fast to them by
strong faith-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