Arkansas State press., 1947-06-13
yUDAH's APPROACHING DOOM

yUDAH's APPROACHING DOOM
LESSON TEXT - jeremiah 8:2. ),
1851; II Kings 24.l4.
MEMORY SELECTlON-The fear Of
the Lord prolongeth days; but the years
Of the wicked shall be shortened
Proverbs 1927.
The decline Of a nation from
strength and glory to weakness and
shame Is always sad thing to con-
template. Still worse is the evident
cause of such decay In the sinful.
ness Of the people and their stub
born rejection Of Gods mercy and
grace.
The religious reforms in Judah I'M
der Josiah were only temporary in
their effect on the people; partly be-
cause Of their own insincerity, and
partly because Josiah was soon
killed in battle. Yet God did not
leave his wandering people with
out good counsel, for 1t was in those
days that the great prophet Jeremi-
ali ministered. He had been the
helper Of Josiah in his good pur-
poses; now he continued to plead
with Judah to submit themselves
to God and to his win.
His efforts proved to be fruitless as
far a. Judah was concerned. for we
see that
!. Judah Would Not Respond to
Gods Mercy Ger. 1872, 81.
God commanded his prophet to
write down his words in order that
the people might not only know the
inevitable impending judgment. but
especially be reminded Of Gods de-
sire that they should turn from their
evil ways and be forgiven.
One would have thought that they
would have responded to such mer-
cy with an immediate and grateful
return to the Lord, but they did not
Jeremiah, unique man of great
ability, was SO tenderhearted that he
has often been called the weeping
prophet. Do not infer that he was
weak. emotional character. for he
was strong in the Lord. and coura.
geous In the face OF rejection and
persecution. He urged upon Judah
the necessity Of submitting to Bah
ylons to whom God had given power,
and above all to the Lord. for
spiritual cleansing and revival.
Our second section brings before
us the further sin Of King Jehoiakim,
who led his nation on to destruction.
We see that
II. Judah Would Not Receive Gods
word (Jer. So: 28-3l).
At Gods command jeremiah and
his scribe Baruch had prepared the
scroll with Gods Word upon it. One
Of the nations leaders was moved
by 1t, and through his urging, the
scroll was brought to the attention
Of the king.
Jehoiakim, sitting before the fire,
heard only part Of it, and then in
defiance Of God he took penknife
and cut it up and burned it.
One cannot help but think of those
In our day who call themselves
modern thinkers, or liberals. who
have also used their penknifes on
Gods Word. They cut out of the
Bible everything they do not like,
and offer the hungry people the stone
of their own PHILOSOPHERS in place of
the Bread Of life. Think what their
judgment will bel
Gods Word is not so easily got
ten out Of the way! The prophet
was commanded to rewrite the
scroll, and in il to declare the
awful judgment Of God upon the one
who mutilated his Word.
To try to destroy Gods truth by
FIRE and violence is as fruitless as
TO try to tear the stars from the
heavens or to keep the sun from
shining. The wicked leaders OF
great nation have tried that once
more. In recent years, and they now
lie dead for their sins, with the ma
ton subject people. broken and all
but destroyed.
One wonders why those who pro-
fess to serve the Lord will engage
In such activity, even as one won.
ders at Judah, favored people Of
God. refusing to receive his Word.
God Is not willing to give up, and
now tries chastisement But we see
that
III. judah Would Not Recognize
Gods Providenccs QI Kings 24.l-4.
Jehoiakim had become the vassal
OF Babylon, but after three years
he decided to-try to throw off the
yoke Of his oppressor, Nebuchad.
nezzar. He was not able at the time
TO deal with the situation, and so he
melted marauding bands from vari.
Gus other nations to harass Judah.
We see. however, that this came
about at the commandment Of God
wv. 2, 81. Evidently he was now
using the distressing experiences of
life to turn Judah back to him: but
once again IL proved to be in vain.
God does deal with men through
what we call his providences, and
these may include not 1nly his mer-
cies, but his chastisement Trouble
and sorrow may be Gods means Of
leading us to the place Of repent
ance and blessing
What folly it is TO disregard the