Arkansas State press., 1947-06-20

down went Judah In its sinful re
flsal 70 keep Gods Word, and ulii'
mately came the final day Of reek-
oning. I, always doesi The eatas
trophe which had long been ap-
preaching had arrived at last.
The fan Of a capital city, which
carries with II the empire. Is
Notwithstanding event TIE fail Of
Rome shattered the world for q
thousand years. The fall Of Berlin
and Tokyo are within the memory
Of all OF US. and the results are
seen In a disordered world.
The destruction of Jerusalem.
which our lesson presents. was even
more serious; for 1t was not only q
national tragedy. but also one with
deep religious significance.
The wicked king Jehoiakin was
succeeded by his son Jehoiachin, q
mere boy who reigned only three
months. He gave way to Hebuehad-
nezzar. who appointed as his sue.
eessor his uncle Zedekiah.
II is In the verses Just preceding
cur lesson that we learn that Zede-
kiah turned against Babylon In an
act Of
!. Rebellion ". ~.
Zedekiah ignored his oath Of ale
glance I'll Chron. SO: l3l. for which
he was condemned by Ezekiel as a
traitor tEzek. l7:13-l8. Zedekiah
has well been called the vanishing
point In a diminishing line Of kings.
II was an evil thing he did I'll Kings
AID, and one which showed his
eonceit, vanity and rashness.
True 1t was that he only followed
what he had learned from his pred
ecessors. but that Ii never . good
excuse for q man foolishly TO turn
against Gods will.
Observe that God was not just .
1isintsrested spectator. and yet he
had come to the place where he let
Judah 20 down 70 its own awful
doom. The worst thing that can hap
Pen 70 . man or q nation II 10 be
~ alone By God,
zsdekiah's act Of folly quickly
brought
n. RetFibution wv. 2-l0D.
jeremiah urged Zedekiah to sur
render (see Jer. 81. 38 in order 10
save Jerusalem and himself. but he
refused. and the city was besieged.
The kings refusal to hear Gods
prophet and his turning to Egypt
for help speak to US Of the manner
IN which unrepentant sinners reject
Gods mercy and then seek help at
he hopeless cisterns Of this world
der. 2:10.
The king tried to fee, but was
taken captive. Then came the siege
At Jerusalem. For one and one-hali
years the enemy gradually closed
IA, while famine and distress grew
apace In the city. jeremiah went
through this entire period sharing
his peoples trouble. The book Of
Lamentations 10 the record Of this
syewitness.
Sin does its terrible work. Even
- II can take a great city and turn
~ iptn q rla urts srrt ~, vkad 10
cruelty, suffering and death. even
20 !, can bring forth its inevitable
and unspeaksble results in the life
Of the individual who persists in re
sisting the voice Of God
Note also that the sin of Zedeklah
brought quick judgment, not only
on himself, but upon his innocent
children ". u. and on many In the
besieged city VINO were equally
guiltless Of wrongdoinR II is again
q picture Of what sin does today In
the homes and communities Of our
nation.
III. Removal wv. II, l2.
The Tall Of Jerusalem prepared
the way for the closing scene Of NE
immediate history Of the nation az
the people went into captivity. !,
also ended for the time being III,
history Of the city that had once GO
proudly held a position Of privilege
and power. but was now brought
down by It's sin and rebellion
against God.
We say rightly tina, history re
peats itself We see that any nation
that lifts itself up In pride and Tor
gets God win Inevitably perish We
ask ourselves where our beloved
country stands. As we consider it's
debauchery and drunkenness, Us
disregard Of moral standards, Its
indifference 10 the things Of God. W,
feel that instead of pointing a Anger
Of scorn at judah. we ought 10 be on
our faces before God In peni,enc,
and shame.
Let US not assume that we hold
place Of favor with God. which
exempts US from the certainty Of
judgment. Israel was his chosen
and they still are. Dor his promises
Of ultimate blessing to them have
never been withdrawn. But their
sin brought certain punishment, and
the same Is true today not only Of
the nation but Of the individual.
The Sunday school lessons will
take up the history OF Israel again
st this point in April. ie48, when we
consider the captivity and the par.
tial return Of the people 10 their
Lard