Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-05-22

PRIMARY TOPIC--God Saves Brave
Prophet.
JUNIOR ToPIc-The story OF :
Brave Prophet.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOR
lC-Standing Bravely for the Right.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
lC-Jeremiah's Message to His People.
|. JeremIah's Solemn Warning to
Judah (vv. I'D.
The Lord commanded him to stand
in 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
would not repent, God would make
the Temple as Shiloh ". O.. Just as
OF the Lord and now fallen into decay
and abandoned, 30 will 1t be with the
Temple. jeremiah was sent to speak
the words which the Lord had told
him and not to diminish word.
II. jeremiah on Trial wv. SID.
!. Cause of Arrest ". 81. II was
for faithfully speaking all the Lord
had commanded. The one who speaks
boldly what God commands shall be
opposed. The tlme-server and self
seeker will not stand for such q min
istry. The Isaiahs and Jeremiahs
must suffer.
2. The Charge wv. 8. %. 1t was a
capital crime. They said, Thou shalt
surely die His guilt according to
their charge was twofold: Cd Pre-
tending to speak for God; CD 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. 10 :20). Blasphemy
was also punished by death Q,ev.
4:16). Both Jesus and Stephen were
accused Of blespuemy.
g. The Princes Sit in Judgment ivy.
10,11). When the excitement reached
the oars Of the princes they came 10
nudge Of the merits Of the case. Mat
lers of state were not entirely in tie
hands of the priests and, elders, bit
were partly controlled by members If
the royal family.
III. Jeremiah's Defense wv. 12-15).
Threats of death did not deter him
from preaching, but only made him re-
peat his message.
/. Reiterates His Divine Commits
sion w. ~. He had nothing to deny,
but to repeat what he had said. He
plainly told them that in opposing him
they We're opposing God, for he was
Gods messenger
e His Elaboration ". 13). He
urged them to amend their ways and
obey God, and God would not bring
upon them Judgment.
3. He Gave Himself(Up ". 14). he
nent (Rom. 13:D. Knowing that he
was sent of God he was content to
trust God for deliverance.
4. Warns of Fatal Consequence ".
~. lie frankly told them that God had
sent him, and If they killed him they
would be guilty Of defying God. Woe
would not only fall upon them, but
the nation and city would suffer.
~. jeremiah Saved wv. 1920
He WAS acquitted. God is able to
raise up friends and advocates from
the ranks Of those who oppose us.
1. Judgment Of the Princes ". 100.
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 wv. 17-23).
AS the, princes probably represented
the king, so the elders represented the
people. The elders pleaded for Jere-
miah and adduced several cases In
illustration:
"a Micah (vv. IS, 19). Micah had
prophesied against Jerusalem, but King
Hezekiah instead of putting him 10
death, repented and thus turned aside
the punishment which was impending
(2) Urijah wv. 20-23l. Uriiah
prophesied against the city and land
and thus incurred the wrath Of
Jehoiakim who even 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 1t. In the case
of Hezekiah Gods judgments were
turned aside through needing the words
Of the prophet, and In the case of
Jehoiakim judgment fell upon the ma
tion because Of refusal and maltreat-
ment Of the prophet
3. Rescued by Ahikam w. pa Ahi-
kan must have been man of influence
to be able to interfere at such time