Middletown transcript., 1922-05-27
LESSON FOR MAY %.
JEREMIAH SPEAKS BOLDLY FOR
GOD.

GOD.
LESSON TEXT.-Jer. 20.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Amend your ways and
your ooings, and obey the voice Of the
Lord.-Jer 26:13
REFERENCE MATERIAL II Sam.
6:1-S
Brave Prophet.
JUNIOR TOPIC. A Brave Prophets
Message.
lNTERMEDIATEAND SENIOR TOPIC.
Jeremiah Speaks Boldly for God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC.
-When and How Should Wrong Be Re-
buked?
I. Jeremiahs Solemn Warning to
Judah (vv. 1-7).
The Lord commanded him to stand
In Il conspicuous place in the temple
and proclaim the judgment which was
ABOUT to fall upon them because of
their sins. The object was to provoke
them to repentance ". 81. If they
'''"''' not repent. God would make
the temple as Shiloh ". g.. Just as
Siiloh Was once the dwelling place
OF the Lord and now fallen into decay
and abandoned, so will it be with the
temple. Jeremiah was sent to speak
the words the Lord had told him and
not to diminish word. The minister
Of God must utter unreservedly and
faithfully all that God commands him
to speak; neither intimidation nor
fattery should turn him aside. The
reason is that God has sent him.
II. jeremiah on Trial wv. S-11).
l. Cause of Arrest ". 81. 1t was
for faithfully speaking all that the
Lord had commanded. The one who
speaks boldly what God commands
shall be opposed. The time-server and
self-seeker will not stand for such q
ministry.
:. The Charge wv. s, 81. 1t was
capital crime. They said, Thou shalt
surely die" His guilt according to
their charge was twofold: Q Pre-
tending to speak for God; (2) Speak
ing against the temple and the city.
According to their charge he was
guilty of blasphemy and sacrilege.
The one who prophesied without Gods
command was to be punished by death
(Deut. 1S:20). Blasphemy was also
punished by death (Lev. 24:16). Both
Jesus and Stephen We're accused of
blasphemy.
3. The Princes Sit in Judgment
wv. 10, 1D. When the excitement
reached the ears of the princes they
came to judge of the merits of the
case. Matters Of state were not en-
tirely in the hands of the priests and
elders, but were partly controlled by
members of the royal family.
III. Jeremiah's Defense (vv. 12-15).
Threats Of death did not deter him
from preaching, but only made him
repeat his message with clearness and
tenderness.
l. Reiterates His Divine Commits
sion ". 12). He had nothing to deny,
but to repeat what he had said. He
plainly told them that in opposing
him they were opposing God, for he
was Gods messenger.
2. His EXhortation ". 13). He
urged them to amend their ways and
obey God, and God would not bring
upon them judgment. Their threats
did not cause him to suppress or
soften his message.
3. He Gave Himself Up ". 14). He
did not resist the powers of govern
ment (Rom. 13:D. Knowing that
he was sent of God he was content to
trust God for deliverance. He did not
fear what man could do unto him.
4. Warns of Fatal Consequence
". 15). He frankly told them that
God had sent him and If they killed
him they would be guilty Of defying
God. Resistance to Gods prophet
would be resistance to God. Woe
would not only fall upon them, but
the nation and city would suffer.
w. Jeremiah Saved wv. 1924.
He was acquitted. God is able to
raise up friends and advocates from
the ranks of those who oppose US.
All hearts are in Gods hands.
1. Judgment of the Princes WIG.
They pronounced him not guilty, as
he had spoken in the name of the
Lord. Jeremiah's words convinced
them that he was speaking the truth.
2. Speech of the Elders (vv. 1929,
AS the princes probably represented
the king, so the elders represented
the people.
The elders plead for Jeremiah and
adduced several cases in illustration:
Q) Micah wv. Is, 19). Micah had
prophesied against Jerusalem, but the
king Hezekiah instead of putting him
to death. repented and thus turned
aside the punishment which was i'm
pending. (2) Urijah (vv.. 20-23).
Urijah prophesied against the city and
land and thus incurred the wrath Of
Jehoiakim, who brought him back
from Egypt whence he had fled and
slew him.
Though all this was done, Judgment
was not thus thwarted. Killing Gods
prophets does not prevent Gods judg-
ment. but intensifies it. In the case
of Hezekah Gods judgments were
turned aside through needing the
words of the prophet, and in the case
of Jehoiakim judgment fell upon the
| nation because of refusal and NAL.
treatment of the prophet.
5. Rescued by Ahikam ". 24).
Ahikam must have been man of in
n ~