Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-17
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For June IS. II Kings 25:1-2I.
BY DIR. MARION McH. HULL

Of royal blood. He would not try
another one Of them, so he MADE
Gedaliah, the grandson Of Shaphan
and the son of Akiham, Jeremiah's
friend and protector, as governor
over the land. Gedaliah established
his residence at M. r,ah, as Jerusa-
lem was no longer habitable.
jeremiah was given his choice
by Nebuchadnezzer-h might go to
Babylon and live in ease and lux
ury the balance of his life, or he
might stay in Judea II he cared.
He had been carried to Ramah in
chains, and from thence saw the
captives start on their way to Baby
lon. He seems to have hesitated a
moment and then chose to remain
with his people. AS he saw the cap
tives leave, he wept. "A voice was
heard in Ramah, lamentation and
bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for
her children refused to be COM
forted, etc."-Jer, 31:15-17.
Ebedmelech was also given his
life, and Baruch. Zedekiah's daugh-
ters--young gir!s-were also spared.
It is hard to know how they escaped
the violating and muderous hand of
the Chaldeans. These gathered at
Mizpah to Gedaliah. Other Jews,
who had fled before the Chaldeans
began the siege heard of Gedeliah's
governorship and returned to the
country, and found large estates IN.
occupied and seized them.
Their prosperity, however, was
short lived. Ishmael, of the royal
blood (probably by his motherl foul
ly murdered Gedaliah and his de-
tenders, but had to flee for his own
life later. The princes who Were
left still looked to Egypt for help,
and finally came to jeremiah to ask
him to- find out Gods will for them,
whether they should go to Egypt.
After ten days jeremiah told them
they should not go and rebuked
them for their hypocrisy in
asking God what to do when they
had already made up their minds as
to what they were going to do.
Forcibly they took jeremiah and
Baruch and the kings daughters
with them and went to Daphne In
Egypt. Here, according to Jere.
miah's prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar
came, and pitched his tent on the
very spot where they were placed
and the last of the kingdom of
judah was taken. The only rem
nant left were the captives in
Babylon.
The Cause of the Curse
This terrible curse on Judah was
caused by their repeated refusal to
obey Gods will and to follow Him.
He had done everything He could
to save Judah from destruction, He
had warned and wooed, had pleaded
and pardoned; had promised and re.
pented--but Judah would not hark-
en-, persisted in her refusal to follow
Him. There was nothing left for
Him, but to leave them to their own
ways; and this meant certain de.
struction.
There Is warning in this today
for the individual-Godh has done eV-
erything He can do to save you from
yourself. Finally He gave His only
begotten son that whatsoever be.
lieveth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. And some
men will not have Him. "This is
the condemnation that men loved
darkness rather than light" "Who-
soever believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not be,
lieveG in the name of the only be.
gotten Son of God" No man
cometh unto the Father but by Him.
IT you persist in refusing Gods gift
OF life, don't blame God when you
find yourself desolated, deserted, de.
feated, destroyed.
But what about our nation? Is
America to go on increasingly for
getting Gods word, Gods day, Gods
laws, Gods sovereignty, Gods will,
and escape? Why should she? Judah
did not. Western Europe did not.
Russia Is not today. The valley of
the Volga has been one of the most
productive spots in the world, and
have never known drought before:
but no rain threw Russia into the
present famine-Russia who has
openly defied God. Lack Of rain for
one season could starve America. Or
too much rain could do the same.
God may have to let America suffer
to save her.
Oh! Why will people not yield to
Him who loves us and longs to bless
us: but who loves us so much that
He will leave us to suffer If that
is the only way He can make us
realize our best.