Evening star., 1922-05-27

Josiah's tragic death upon the bat
tleheld marks the closing epoch OF
Judah's history. The reformation
which he inaugurated and carried out
with such drastic power failed to
reach the heart Of the nation. The
outward changes were of a religious
nature. The heart Of the people re-
mained unoonverted. SO that the re-
forms died with Josiah. The secret
sins then became open. The reaction
aries gained control Of the nation
until the end came. The forces OF
|disintegration soon revealed them
selves in the moral, religious. com
mercial and political life of the peo-
pie. The radical progressive pro-
phetic party struggled faithfully for
and reform, but they
fought losing battle.
1t was an hour somewhat similar
to that which Europe faces today AZ
q result of the world war. The old
breaking up and the leaders were
like those Of modern Europe. uncer-
tain as to the form the new order
would take. Babylon had succeeded
to the overlordship of Asia. In Jeru-
salem the people and politicians de-
SlECQ " 1OgIh ClOSCT COEHP0SI Will
Egypt and adopt their mode of life
jeremiah. like Isaiah. had always op-
posed placing any dependence upon
lEgypt. In fact. this priest. who had
been called to assume the prophetic
Office during the reign OF Josiah, be-
came the central figure in the death
struggle of the nation. IL Jeremiah
had not been called of God to assume
the task OF q prophet he would have
hesitated to speak boldly for Jehovah
at the coronation services Of Jehoia-
kim, who was the nominee OF Pha-
raoh Necho. When he questioned his
fitness to become the prophet Of God
BE not afraid, for I am with thee.
have put my words in thy mouth" II
was this assurance that made the
timid. shrinking Jeremiah one of the
most coura geous and effective preach
ers in the history Of Judah.
Moved by the spirit, the prophe,
took advantage Of the coronation OF
Jehoiakim. the unworthy SON OF
Josiah. to appeal to Judah. He could
not offer any political resistance to
the king and his Egyptian suzerain
although he probably could have
counted upon the support Of the anti
lance with Babylon. ''The fre in his
bones" could not be extinguished
The divine impulse to speak out the
truth clearly. courageously 'ano
charitably compelled him ito speak
the word Of the Lord" in an effort to
save the nation. II any man could
have saved Judah 1T was Jeremiah
His earnestness and eloquence at,
tracted the people but failed to hold
them to the old paths of Josiah.
He did not hesitate to declare unto
them the nations peril. It called for
courage and patriotism to speak fear
lessly to the assembled host as they
faced the throne OF God in the tenn
pie. He demanded in the name OF
Jehovah that they repent and return
to Gods true prophets for guidance
His appeal for them to make their
life good by a genuine reform proves
that the efforts of Josiah were more
or less superficial The prophei
charged the people definitely in Is
of theft. murder, perjury, immoral
ity. idolatry" and also of human sac
riflce T.3D. in addition to the gen
eral indictment of this weeks lessor
of disobedience and obstinacy. He
exposed the hypocrisy of the priests
and false prophets as well as thel!
unreliable basis of hope that formal
worship and sacrifice would be ac:.
ceptabie to Jehovah. He warned
them that the temple would become
like Shiloh (once the, abode OF the
tabernacle and the ark), place o!
ruins and that Jerusalem itself would
become a curse to the nations
The sermon, which is given IN a
fuller form from the seventh to the
tenth chapters, than in the lesson
aroused the opposition Of the people
priests and politicians. 1t fell like
nderbolt out of the clear sky and
stirred up especially the false proph'