The Minnesota fiery cross. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1924-19??, 1924-05-23

JEREMIAH AND THE eAsYLoNiAN
CRISIS
LESSON TExT-Jer. "a.

LESSON TEXT--Jer. 10.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Amend your ways
and your doings, and obey the voice Of
the Lord your God."-Jer. 26:l3
PRIMARY ToPIC-God Saves Brave
Prophet.
JUNIOR ToPIc-The Story of /.
Brave Prophet.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Standing Bravely for the Right
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
E-Jeremiah's Message to HIS People.
O. Jsrsmiai's Solemn Warning to
judah wv. 10.
The Lord commanded him TO stand
in a 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. II they
would not repent, God would make
the Temple as Shiloh ". 81. Just as
Shiloh was once the dwelling place
of the Lord and now fallen into decay
and abandoned, so will il be with the
Temple. Jeremiah was sent TO speak
the words which the Lord had told
him and not to diminish a word.
~. jeremiah on Trial (vv. SID.
/. Cause Of Arrest ". s.. IL was
for faithfully speaking oil the Lord
had commanded. The one who speaks
boldly what God commands shall be
opposed. The time-server and self
90 min
lstry. The Isaiahs and Jeremiahs
must suffer.
2. The Charge wv. s, 81. 1t was a
capital crime. They said, Thou shalt
surely die" His guilt according TO
their charge was twofold: (D 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 enc who prophesied without
Gods command was to be punished
by death Deut. IS :20). Blasphemy
was also punished by death Iev.
"a :16). Both Jesus and Stephen were
accused Of blespuemy.
8. The Princes Sit in Judgment wv.
1O,11). When the excitement reached
the ears of the princes they came to
Judge Of the merits Of the case. Mat
tiers of state were not entirely In the
hands Of the priests and elders, but
were partly controlled by members Of
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.
1. 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 Elaboration ". 49,. He
urged them to amend their ways and
obey God, and God would not bring
upon them judgment.
3. He Gave Himself Up ". 1D. 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.
4. Warns of Fatal Consequence ".
l5). He frankly told them that God had
sent him, and IL they killed him they
would be guilty of defyfng 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.
/. Judgment of the Princes ". 16).
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.
. speech Of the Elders wv. 1929.
A. me princes probably represented
the king, so the elders represented the
people. The elders pleaded for Jere-
miah and adduced several cases in
illustration:
~ Micah wv. IS, 1917. Micah had
prophesled against Jerusalem, but King
Hezekiah instead Of putting him to
death, repented and thus turned aside
the punishment which was impenG:ng.
(2) Urijah wv. 20-23). Urijah
prophesicd against the city and land
and thus incurred the wrath Of
Jehoiaklm, who even brought him back
from Egypt whence he had fed 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 Hezekiah Gods judgments were
turned aside through needing the words
Of the prophet, and In the case Of
Jehoiakim judgment fell upon the ma
ton because OF refusal and maltreat
ment Of the prophet
3. Rescued by Ahikam ". 24. Ahi-
kan must have been a man OF influence
to be able 10 interfere at such a time