Evening star., 1924-05-31
Sunday School Lesson

They tried to weaken the effective
ness of the blows or overturn these
weapons of destruction by. the use of
chains. Archers made the defense
difhcult. Their darts tipped with fire
kindled the roofs of the houses.
Catapults hurled stones into the city
with force that crushed all that
came in their way. The walls were
mined and frequent attempts made to
scale them.
The first part of the wall to give
away was the long stretch on the
east side of the city, which helped
though jeremiah had urged a sur
render. they refused during the try
ing days of the siege. The king and
his forces tried to escape under the
lowed the advice of the prophet he
could have escaped and the city been
saved, but his effort 20 escape came
too late. Tsey. were detected. fol-
lowed and eSertaken upon the wide
plains of Jericho. where they We're
forced to give battle. The last battle
for the expiring monarchy was fought
and Zedekiah was defeated on the
site Of Joshua's first triumph.
Zedekiah, the migrate and traitor,
was carried 200 miles to be presented
to Nebuchadnezzar, who was at Rab-
lah. in Klamath. The mighty mon
arch showed no pity upon the man
who had been disIoyal to him. He
commanded him to witness the death
of his two sons and attendants. Zede-
kiah having seen their sorrow had to
endure greater anguish by belng
blinded and carried to Babylon as an
exile. Binding of rulers was COM
mon punishment Of kings in the ORR
ent in ancient times, as it deprived
them of all hope of ever recovering
their throne. In this two prophecies,
were fulfilled. jeremiah had predict
ed that he should go to Babylon, as
had EZekial, although the latter had
prophesied that he would never see
Babylon and yet that he should die
there.
ter of his prophecy a minute account
of Jerusalem's destruction. He was
an eye witness of the work OF Neb-
uzaradan, the chief of the Babylonian
generals, who took charge Of the de-
molishing of the city The palaces,
public buildings and for tifications
were completely destroyed. The
fanatical loyalistS. who sought shell
ter in the precincts of the temple,
were slaughtered in the precincts of
the place of worship. The vessels,
5000 in number, according to Ezra
We're gathered together and carried
away with the other spoils to Baby
lon. All survivors Of the siege and
slaughter. except the poor serfs. were
taken captive in Babylon, leaving
J
In this Micah's grim phophecy was
fulfilled. Jerusalem became heaps.
and the mountain of the house as
high places of the forests
Out of death came life. Greece died.
yet lives in the noble graces that
transfgures the thoughts OF men.
Rome fell. yet in the majesty and law
of all nations she lives forever. Je-
rusalem perished. but out of that eX
lie, as We will see next week. came
greater Judah. and it is toward Q
lew Jerusalem that men look with the
hope of new era today.
Modern society breeds in its own
heart the instrument of it's punish
ment. II we fail God, He will punish
us. as He did Judah for failing to
take advantage of her opportunities
of service. Our danger is within, not
without. Let us be willing to sacri-
flee our resources and give of our life
for His glory and the uplift of So
ciety. If we are called upon to die
for the advancement of our country
and the Kingdom of God, it will be
no defeat. Let us seek the ways of
righteousness that exileth a nation
and turn away from sin that is a re-
proach to any people.