McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1922-06-09

bhocON TEAT-Jeremfah SS:l-lh
GOLDEN TExT-Be not afraid OF their
faces: for am with thee to deliver thee.
saith the Lord. -Jer 1:s.
REFERENCE MATERIAL = Gen. %:
I,I; Jep. 2oa-iS; Luke 1880: Acts Il;
PRIMARY ToPIc-How Cod Cared for
jeremiah
JUNIOR ToPIC-Jsremiah.s Bold Truth
telling.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Faithful in the Face of Danger.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
lessons From Jeremiah's Character.
]. Jeremiah Predicts the Capture Of
Jerusalem wv. 1-3).
!. To Whom-the, People ". ~.
jeremiah had been taken out Of the
prison by the king t37:17. and
ordered confined to the court of the
prison (37 :21). The people seem TO
have had free access to hin in the
court (32 :12). From this place of
limited confinement Jeremiah an
nounced to the people their approach
Ing captivity.
2. Counsel Given wv. 2, 81. a. All
that remaineth In the city shall die by
the sword, famine and pestilence. {2)
He that goeth forth to the Chaldeans
shall live. "He shall have bis life for
a prey" doubtless means that he shall
escape with his life. though losing all
else.
VI. Jeremiah Accused by the Princes
wv. 4, 81.
l. He weakeneth the hands of the
men and all the people" ". A.. From
a human standpoint what they said
was true, but since Jeremiah was but
the interpreter of God to the nation
they ought to have needed his advice
to surrender.
2. This man seeketh not the well
fare Of this people, but the hurt" ".
A.. This charge was utterly false.
jeremiah was the best friend of the
people. for he faithfully proclaimed
to them Gods judgment upon them for
their sins and advised them how to
make the best of their unfortunate
situation.
3. The Kings Cowardly Act ". 81.
jeremiah is abandoned by his coward
ly friend. The very one whom Jere-
miah was trying to help deserted him.
The king was afraid of the Chaldeans,
the princes, jeremiah and God.
+ III. Jeremiah Cast into the Dungeon
". 81.
This was not regular prison. but
cistern which had doubtless been
emptied of its water during the siege,
leaving only "mire." Into this mire
he sank. The purpose was to let
jeremiah die there. There was no
possible way to escape. In this situa-
ton Jeremiah is type of Christ
psalm 69). jeremiah was one Of the
bravest Of Gods servants.
~. jeremiah Rescued From the
Dungeon (vv..7-13).
l. By Whom-Ebed-melech. an Afri-
can servant wv. TOY. The Jewish
prophet whom his own countrymen
tried to destroy is saved by Gentle,
which may be thought of as fore
shadowing the Gentiles' attitude to-
ward Christ. Though Ebed-melech
had colored skin he was the whitest
man in Jerusalem. He was not only
sympathetic, but courageous. He went
to the king and boldly declared that
the princes had done evil in imprison-
ing jeremiah.
2. The Method wv. 1919. The king
yielded to his request and furnished a
guard to prevent interference With the
work of rescue. He let down soft
rags and worn-out garments by ropes
and instructed jeremiah to put them
under his arms and under the ropes
so as to prevent injury to him as he
was lifted up. They lifted him out
of the dungeon and he was PERI tilted
the freedom of the court of the prison.
why did Jeremiah have such a hard
time? Why do the purest and best
men and women have to suffer? Why
are Gods prophets unpopular? Jere-
miah, the prophet who declared Gods
power to deliver, goes to prison and
suffers. 'Why do the righteous suf-
fer" is an age-old question. Cases in
point are many e. g. Job a perfect
man" is given over to Satan TO take all
except his life; three faithful Hebrew
children go into the fiery furnace
Daniel goes into the den of lions
John the Baptist is beheaded at the
request of dancing girl; Stephen is
stoned and Paul Is beaten and Inn
prisoned. The answer to these prob
lens may be given along the following
lines:
/. The power Of God is more strik-
lngly shown In deliverance than in
keeping from trialsl This was SO in
the case of the Hebrews in the fiery
furnace and Daniel In the den Of
lions.
2. Great gain accrues to the suffer
ers; e. g. the Hebrews in the fiery
furnace were not only kept from being
burned, but had walking with them
the Son of God; Job through his
trials was brought to see himself.
3. Suffering turns out to the further
ance of Gods cause; e. g. Job be-
comes the priest through whose inter
cession his friends are pardoned
Paurs sufferings furthered the preach
ing of the gospel; John through BAN
lshment on the Isle of Patmos was
given the vision of the Revelation.