The Columbus journal., 1911-08-16
JEREMIAH CAST
INTO PRISON

Specially Arranged for This Pa,er

LESSON TEXT.-Jeremiah 81
MEMORY VERSE. Is
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Blessed are ye
when men shall reviie you. and persecut
you. and say all manner Of evil aSa:ns
you falsely. for my ake"-Matt. Sill
TINE OF this lesson was B. C. 5SS-sS6
Is years after our last lesson during tn.
last siege OF Jerusalem by Nebuehadnez
Ear. from the 9Th to the 18th year OF Zede
kiah's reign.
Professionalism. surrounded by IN.
besieg'nG armies CT the ChaIdeans. ant
suffering from famine and pestilence der
80
jeremiah had prophesied nearly - year.
tsince SOD and was a prematLreiy ole
man.
Zedekiah was the las, king OF judah
reignIrg II years
Nebuchadnezzar 18th and 18th year o.
his reign.
Jehoiakim reigned six years after
be had burned the roll OF Jeremiah
prophecies. which. like the tabled
phoenix rose anew and fresh from
the ashes. He was slain in So.
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. ascended the
throne. a bad. weak boy. utterly unit
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 Cha!dean
! 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 prisoner in Babylon for 81
years and was then released. Ezekiel
was carried away with him. and the
great-sranGfather of Mordecai. Queen
Esiher's cousin.
This was the second blow of divine
judgment. the beginning Of the second
! captivity. when 10000 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 5.iG0 vessels Of gold
and silver from the Temple and pal
aces. The policy Of Nebuchadnezzar
gas 10 remove out of the way all those
ohio might be able to organize a re-
volt when he and his army had de-
parted. Such men il would have been
dangerous to leave behind. IL would
seem as If all this would have been
sufficient 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-
tunicy Of repentance. plunged more
deeply into folly. The dregs Of the
people. left behind in Jerusalem laid
this fat:ering JUNCTION TO their souls:
We have been spared by Jehovah.
therefore We are righteous in lis
sight
During a brief respite while Nebu-
chadnezzar left Jerusalem free while
he fought the Egyptians jeremiah
wen: forth out of Jerusalem TO go into
the land OF Benjamin His home was
at Anathoth in Benjamin. three or
four miles north of the city. II was
apparently 10 secure his share OF the
tithes and produce of the Leviticai
giebe of the village. due TO him as one
Of its priests. Knowing that the Chai-
deans would return. ii was imperative
that he should obtain the means OF
to take back into the city.
so soon TO be beleagured afresh. 9th
ers think It was 10 secure himself in |
the possession Of an Inheritance |
There was a natural rush 10 get out |
OF the city after so long contine- |
menr. Jeremiah went with the others. !
When jeremiah was In the gate OF |
BENJAMIN. The north gate OF the city.
that by which any one would go TO ,
the country of Benjamin which adj |
Joined jerusalem. guard said: "ThOv /
:allest away to the Chaldeans: you
are trying to desert to the enemy"
His we'll known prophecies Of the &c
o. the city. and advice that
the people should yield the city to the
gave color to this accuse
ton
Then said jeremiah: False, A lie!
fall not way 10 the ChaIdeans."
He was arrested by the guard. ard
brought 10 the princes. the officials OF
The government. who were wroth with
Jeremiah. He had compared them &c
rotten figs He was the strongest and
most resolute opponent of their war
policy. But for him they would have
had j; all their own way.
jeremiah was placed in a dungeon
lnder the prison building. Jerusalem
vas honey-comted with subterranesn
vaulted or arched overhead,
.rched spaces of a cistern. containing
water
At last Zedekiah. the king. secretly
ook him out to inquire: rs there any
word from the Lord?" jeremiah re
,lied: There is" The word was:
Thou shalt be delivered into the hand
4 the king OF Babylon" At Jeremiah's
eQuest. and TO escape from the gull;