The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-06-08
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared especially for The Republi-
can by DR.. U. S. Wright.
SUNDAY. JUNE II.

! NNAA ~ 80 - ~ W ASsAb'
SUNDAY, JUNE II.
JEREMIAH CAST INTO PRISON
Jer. 37:1-3S:13.
Be not afraid because of them; for
am with thee to deliver thee, saith
Jehovah.-Jer. |: S.
! VISIONLESS PATRIOTISM
"Where there is no vision the peo-
pie perish" This might be a COM
ment upon Jerusalem in the days of
its latest kings. Jehoiachin had de-
| rided the messages of Jehovah and
| burned the roll upon which they had
been written. Revolving in the hope
that Egypt would rescue them from
Babylon without seeing that if it did
become a fact it would merely be the
exchange of one master for a worse
and, refusing the Prophets counsel,
the city was quickly besieged and the
King learned a new lesson. Gods
book might be cut and burned but
Gods word lived. The city was sur.
rendered in 597 and the foolish boy
for he was little more-sent to
| Babylonian prison. Nebuchadrezzer
carried away all the leading people,
all the gold from the treasury, all the
vessels from the Temple and believed
the place was hopelessly crippled as
a possible foe. Great was the change
that came to the city. Prisoners of
war could not tarry for the sale of
houses and business locations and
these were disposed OF for a song to
the first bidder. Many were simply
abandoned because there were no off
ers but the journey must be begun
without regard for anything except
the prod of the spear in the hands of
the guard. There was a throng of
new-rich folk who month before had
had nothing but grabbing while the
grabbing was good now possessed
houses, lands and vineyards. A new
social class came into being that ig-
norant, superstitious, conceited and
intolerant, dubbed by Jeremiah, "Bad
figs Seeing the old order trans
ported to foreign land that con-
cluded that the exiles We're the hated
of Jehovah and they were the beloved
else such results would not have come.
When group like that attempts gov
| eminent in the midst of war con-
| ditions and in relation with the astute
diplomates of Chaldea and Egypt the
fate of Russia offers the only modern
parallel. The group of princes that
| made up the counselors of the King
were driven by a hot but visionless
patriotism. To them jeremiah was a
traitor who must be silenced for the
good of the state and they were not
too careful about legal measures if
they might remove what they con-
sidered menace. Perhaps we had
best not condemn too loudly lest
Professor Lindeman of North Caro-
lima College for Women who was
ordered out by the KIu Klux
Khan, lest beaten preachers, lest sill,
enced labor leaders, all from our own
land and day, find a voice. 1t is
proof of his influence that the
princely group hated him so de-
votedly. Blind patriotism can do
some most unholy things.
THE SFRVI.E KING
Deported Jeconiah had been re-
placed by Zedekiah, his uncle. He
was yellow inside and chameleon
hued without. He changed color to
suit the last visitor or the strongest
among contented parties. Honor was
an unknown term in his vocabulary.
Under the deepest obligations of
loyalty to Babylon he watched for
what seemed a favorable hour for
revolt against her. Having pledged
his word to support Nebuchadrezzer
he scrapped his treaty as readily as
did Germany. Having promised God
to rule according to his will and hav-
ing freed the Hebrew slaves in ac-
cordance with that promise no sooner
was the pressure removed than he re-
stored their bonds. When the princes
came with their charges against the
Prophet he listened and allowed them
to do their will. When he secretly
sent for jeremiah he was all for fol-
lowing his direction. When his ser
want came to him appealing for the
life of Jehovah's Spokesman he set
thirty men of his guard at work car
rying out that servants desire. Sent
for to Babylon probably because some
of his vacilation had come to the ears
of the great King he was ready to
make oath of his readiness to serve
the interests of the empire. Nothing
is more dangerous than weakness in
the place of power. Sceptered sin is
less perilous because it rouses right
eousness into a fighting force. A
swinging door may break heads in
both directions. The inevitable end
came to this weather-vain- monarch.
| With hrokap yuo11c apd a bIo,;,o. 49,,