The Arvada enterprise., 1923-05-31
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
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' Lesson '
(By REV. P. b. FITZWATER. D. D..
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF ChicaGo)
Copyright. 1873. Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR JUNE 3

LESSON FOR June 3
JEREMIAH, THE PROPHET OF
COURAGE
LESSON TExT-Jeremiah 3:1-S.
GOLDEN TEXT-Watch ye. stand fast
In the faith. quit you like men. be strong.
- Corinthians 1913.
REFERENCE MATER1AL-Jeremiah
sI-s: l3l-9: 1914: Matthew 2:7. l8
JUNIOR ToP1c-The Story Of the
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Jeremiah, the Courageous Prophet
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Jeremiahs Service to His Nation.
Jeremiah was one Of the last proph-
cts Of Judah. He saw the nation 60
into the Babylonian Captivity and Je-
rusalem destroyed. after which he
went into Egypt. He was lonely.
misunderstood and unpopular prophet.
He was most bitterly hated and per.
secuted. His own countrymen turned
against him. He was placed In stocks
and then thrown into horrible dun
geon from which he narrowly escaped
with his life. The teacher should give
4 little sketch Of his life. The fol-
lowing Is suggested:
l. His Call Il :2-10).
2. His Commission Il :11-1o).
8. His Sympathetic Heart (4:19).
4. His Great Sorrows (10:16-2D.
g. The Divine Power Which Urged
Him Forward and Sustained Him
(10:7.e).
Because hs was called upon to
prophecy against his own nation and
At the command Of God urged them to
surrender to the Babylonians. he was
regarded as q traitor guilty Of treason
against his own nation.
!. The Rsehabitss' Test (vv. 1.5).
In the days Of Jehoiakim, the Lord
charged Jeremiah to bring the Recha-
bites into the house Of the Lord and
test them regarding the drinking Of
wine. This he did In a place whero
the people might behold them. the aim
being to teach Judah by example.
The father Of the Rechabites had
given command that they should not
drink wine. Their filial obedience
put to shame the children Of Judah
for their lack Of obedience. Jonadab.
the father Of the Rechabites. was only
q man but the one whose commands
Judah disregarded was the Almighty
God, their Creator and Savior. It 10
Gods plan that every man be tested.
Being a free agent. he can have char
acter only through testing.
u. The FIIIal Loyalty sf the REQ
habltss wv. GID.
Though they were out Of their own
country in the midst Of foreign peo-
pie they refused to drink wine. de-
claring that they had been true to the
instructions Of Jonadab all their lives.
II IL nne thing when children re-
member their fathers and render
obedience to their commands.
III. The Loyalty Of the Reehabitss
In Contrast with the oIsioyaIty ~
Judah tvv. 12-18).
I. The Appeal wv. 1s. 1D. He
mnde the appeal on the basis Of the
fiiial loyalty Of the Rechabites. He
also reminded them that he Ind
spoken to them in person. rising up
early to do so.
2. Tho Ministry Of the Prophets
wv. IL. l8). When the people failed
10 render obedience to God. he sent
to them the prophets. who pleaded
with them to amend their ways by
turning away from their idols. Mat
thew Henry indicates the points Of
contrast somewhat as follows: az
The Rechabites were obedient to one
who was but man: the Jews dis.
oheyed the infinite and eternal God.
(2) Jonadab was dead and could not
know Of their disloyaity or correct
them for It. God IL all.knowinR and
lives forever and will punish for dis.
obedience. (S) The Rechabites were
never reminded Of their obligations,
hut God sent His prophets to speak
10 His people. ~ Jonadab left the
charge but no estate TO support the
charge. but God gave the people a
goodly land and prospered them In It.
t0 God never assigned His people
task as hard as Jonadab's. but Gods
people dlsobeyed Him while the
Rechnbltes obeyed their father.
". Judgment Upon the Jews for
oisobsdienee ". l7).
God declared tint He would bring
Judgment upon them according to
what He had said. Judgment is laid
upon those who disobey and rebel
against God.
v. Reward Of the Reehabltss for
Their Loyalty wv. 1s. 19).
Because they had been true TO the
commands Of Jonadnb. they should
always have representative before
God. God has such n regard for f,llal
obedience that lie lets no net 90 I'm.
rewarded.