The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1922-06-08
LESSON FOR JUNE II
JEREMIAH CAST INTO PRISON

ssSSSO VIZ SSNe -
JEREMIAH CAST INTO PRISON
LESSON TEXT-Jsremiah $S:l-lS
GOLDEN TExT-Be not afraid of their
faces: for am with thee to deliver thee.
saith the LOrd.-Jer. LIS.
REFERENCE MATERIAL K Gen. -:
lS.2a; Jer. 20l-ls: Luke $3.50: Acts Il:
PRIMARY ToPrc-How God Cared for
jeremiah.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Jeremiah's Bold Truth
telling.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
Faithful in the Face of Danger.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Lessons From Jersmiah's Character.
!. jeremiah Predicts the Capture Of
Jerusalem wv. 1-3).
I. To Whom-the People ". ~.
Jeremiah had been taken out of the
prison by the king (37: 40, and
ordered confined to the court Of the
prison (S7 :21). The people seem to
have had free access to him 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. (1) All
that remalneth In the city shall die by
the sword, famine and pestilence. (2)
He that goeth forth to the Chaldeans
shall live. HE shall have his life for
a prey" doubtless means that he shall
escape with his life, though losing all
else.
u. Jeremiah Accused BY the Princes
wv. 4, 81.
1. "He weakeneth the hands Of the
men and all the people" ". ~. From
4 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 vel
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 u abandoned by his coward
" friend. The very one whom Jere-
mlah was trying to help deserted him.
The king was afraid Of the Chaldeans,
the princes, jeremiah and God.
~. Jeremiah Cas- Into the ounasen
". 81.
This was not regular prison, but
Q cistesu 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 IL q type Of Christ
(Psalm 00). Jeremiah was one Of the
beavest Of Gods servants.
w. Jeremiah Rescued From he
Dungeon (vv. 7-13).
l. BY Whom-Ebed.melech, an Afri.
can servant wv. TOY. The Jewish
prophet whom his own countrymsn
tried to destroy IL saved by Gentle,
which may be thought Of a. fore
shadOwing the Gentlies' attitude to-
ward Christ. Though Ebed.melech
had co1ored 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
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
10 AZ to prevent injury to him as he
was lifted up. They lifted him out
Of the dungeon and he was permitted
the freedom OF the court Of the prison.
why did jeremiah have such hard
timer Why do the purest and best
men and women have to suffer! Why
are Gods prophets unpopular? Jere.
mlah, the prophet who declared Gods
power to deliver, goes to prison and
suffers. "Why do the righteous suf-
Ter" Is an age-old question.
1. The power Of God IL more strik.
ingiy shown In deliverance than In
keeping from trials. This was 10 10
the case Of the Hebrews In the derry
furnace and Daniel In the den of
lions.
2. Great gain accrues to the suffer.
ers; e. e. the Hebrews In the derry
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: 9. 6. Job be-
comes the priest through whose inter.
cession his friends are pardoned:
Paul's suiferings furthered the preach.
Ing Of the gospel; John through ban.
ishment on the Isle Of Patmos was
given the vision Of the Revelation.