Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-25

1 children tainted in every street as they
went about in search of a crumb; the
/ sucklings swooned because their mothers
milk had failed; the mothers themselves
leven contemplated eating their babes in
lswaddlfng clothes! The streets were fill
ed with young and old fallen in their
weakness.
How hardened. how stiff-necked was
Zedekiah that he was willing to bring all
of this on his people, that he was willing
to let them suffer thus rather than do as
jeremiah repeatedly advised him, sur
render to the Babylonian king,
But finally the forces of Nebuchad-
nezzar made a breach in the north wall.
1t was about 10 o'clock at night When
Zedelkiah heard it, he fled with his sons
and mobiles through the gate near the
south wall, and took the road leading
south through the Arabab, the dessert
plain between Jerusalem and the Dead
Sea. This was just as Ezekiel had
prophesied. In Babylon God had made
him walk with his head down. cover his
face and carry his luggage as a sign
that the king should escape out of the
city by night
CAPTURED AND PUNISHED.
He was soon overtaken by Babylowian
soldiers. Surrounding the city as they
were, there was not much hope of any,
one leaving the city by any exit with
out their knowledge - The Jews were
so weakened in numbers and strength
by the conditions of the siege that they
could not make any adequate resistance
to their enemies.
Zedekiah was. carried to Nebuchad-
nezzer who was stationed at Riblah.
This was in the extreme north, 20 miles
north of Damascus and beyond the
mountains of Lebanon. He had chosen
this point because it was the dividing
point of the two roads that led to Jer-
usalem and Tyre, and as he was con-
Quoting siege against the latter city
also at the same time. he could best
direct his forces from that point.
Zedekiah was tried before Nebuchad-
nezzar as a common criminal because he
had broken the solemn oath he had made.
His punishment was severe; involving
not only himself but his family and
friends His sons were slain before his
eyes, then his princes were slain before
his eyes; then his eyes were burned out
with. a hot iron. Shackles were put on
him, and he was led a captive into Baby
Ion. + AF 5fe
Thus were literally fulfilled the words
which Ezekiel and Jeremiah had spoken
of him--he -beheldy, Nebuchadnezzar
face to face at Rfblah: he had been car
ried a captive to Babylon, but his eyes
never beheld the city.
There are two very solemn truths sug-
gested here: Let them take hold Of your
life Gods word is sure of fulfilrhent.
What he says he will do, wiz be done.
Study his word, therefore, that you may
know his will as it has been revealed,
and obey it! Be certain that the prom
Uses will be literally fulfilled. Be equally
certain that the curses win be literally
fulfilled.
The other truth is expressed in the
OGDEN text and is a corallary to the one
just stated. Zedekiah suffered dreadfully.
He lost his kingdom, his sons his friends,
his sight, his liberty. During the subse-
quent years as laborer and prisoner
that last sight he had must have come
before his mind's eye many a time, Let
us hope he repented and was forgiven.
But why should you have to suffer this
in order to be forgiven