Evening star., 1922-06-03

jeremiah was the pioneer in rsli-
gious publicity. He did not adopt this
uniQuA method Of presenting his mes.
saxes until he was directed by the
Spirit Of God to commit the prophe-
cies, which he had delivered during
more than twenty years ministry. to
writing. This lssson teaches W. how
one OF the sacred books OF the Bible.
which IL = library Of sixty-six vol
tunes, was written by the Inspiration
Of God. The prophet had no thought
OF literary fame. no inklipg that in
the Providence OF the Lord his writ.
ings would hnd, . large place In the
Holy Scriptures; he was concerned
Judah from rushing on to its destruc-
tion AZ 1 result OF the nations In.
fquity.~
The PropAet's Purpose.
Some see In the patriotic prophets
appeal to the nation evidence that
even At that date Jshoiakim. who had
been .plaetd upon the throne by the
power OF Necho, would be amenahle
pose Of Jeremiah is revealed. in. the
lesson. which clearly shows that he
dictated the substance of his mes.
sages to Baruch, SO That Judah might
Be won back to God. 1t was an evil
hour. Licentiousness and idoiatries
and people had followed the leader
ship Of Jehoiakim, so that they were
united in their iniqutty. The prophet
believed that II they repented, Je-
hovah would save them from their
peril at the hands Of Nebuchadneszar.
as He had delivered Jerusalem from
Sennaehsrib. He had been put under
restraint, SO that he could not per-
sonally seek to persuade the nation to
repent and seek Gods protection
against their enemies.
CarchenAsh. which many historians
belIevs to be one Of the decisive bat
ties OF the world, brought to an end
the ambitious plans Of Necho. the
Pharaoh ct Egypt, who had sought to
enlarge the boundaries OF his king
dom to the Euphrates river. The over
to confirm Jeremiah's political views
He had insisted that Judah should
recognize that the rapidly rising
power OF Babylon had legally sue
ceeded to 1.-The rights of Assyria. The
king, who owed hts position to Necho.
Of Jehoiakim. who had been placed
upon the throne by the prophetical
party, refused to heed the advice OF
jeremiah. Possibly 1t may have been
due to the kings antagonism that
God shut the prophet In, SO that he
should not risk his life. Baruch, after
q years strenuous effort, had COM
mitted to . roll Of parchment. which
was made by fastening skins to-
gether, the messages of the prophet
when he was called upon to read
Gods word to the people.
Jeremiah sent his loyal assistant
out upon his mission OF religious pub
licity At m. opportune hour. Jeru-
salem was depfessed as a result Of
the overwhelming victory OF the
Babylonian forces at Carchemish.
The city was fflled with refugees, in
cludinE the Rechabites. the tribe of
temperance Arabs, who preserved
their peculiar tribal customs and
dress within the city walls. Gemar-
iah. the brother Of the nobleman
whose Intervention had saved Jere-
miah." as we saw in last weeks les
son, placed at the disposal OF Barach
q room, from which he could COM
mand the attention Of the crowded
court" hlled with people who had
come out Of the cities to attend the
special feast that had been super
stitiously appointed in anticipation OF
Nebuchadnexzar's approach to Jeru.
salem.
Although the prophet was absent.
the reading OF the. prophets message
made . powerful impression upon the