prophets and kings-第58部分

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Thus　it　was　that　〃in　the　cities　of　Judah；　and　in　the　streets　of　Jerusalem〃　the　message　of　Jeremiah　to　Judah　was；　〃Hear　ye　the　words　of　this　covenant；〃the　plain　precepts　of　Jehovah　as　recorded　in　the　Sacred　Scriptures；〃and　do　them。〃　Jeremiah　11：6。　And　this　is　the　message　he　proclaimed　as　he　stood　in　the　temple　courts　in　the　beginning　of　the　reign　of　Jehoiakim。

Israel's　experience　from　the　days　of　the　Exodus　was　briefly　reviewed。　God's　covenant　with　them　had　been；　〃Obey　My　voice；　and　I　will　be　your　God；　and　ye　shall　be　My　people：　and　walk　ye　in　all　the　ways　that　I　have　commanded　you；　that　it　may　be　well　unto　you。〃　Shamelessly　and　repeatedly　had　this　covenant　been　broken。　The　chosen　nation　had　〃walked　in　the　counsels　and　in　the　imagination　of　their　evil　heart；　and　went　backward；　and　not　forward。〃　Jeremiah　7：23；　24。

〃Why；〃　the　Lord　inquired；　〃is　this　people　of　Jerusalem　slidden　back　by　a　perpetual　backsliding？〃　Jeremiah　8：5。　In　the　language　of　the　prophet　it　was　because　they　had　obeyed　not　the　voice　of　the　Lord　their　God　and　had　refused　to　be　corrected。　See　Jeremiah　5：3。　〃Truth　is　perished；〃　he　mourned；　〃and　is　cut　off　from　their　mouth。〃　〃The　stork　in　the　heaven　knoweth　her　appointed　times；　and　the　turtle　and　the　crane　and　the　swallow　observe　the　time　of　their

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coming；　but　My　people　know　not　the　judgment　of　the　Lord。〃　〃Shall　I　not　visit　them　for　these　things？　saith　the　Lord：　shall　not　My　soul　be　avenged　on　such　a　nation　as　this？〃　Jeremiah　7：28；　8：7；　9：9。

The　time　had　come　for　deep　heart　searching。　While　Josiah　had　been　their　ruler；　the　people　had　had　some　ground　for　hope。　But　no　longer　could　he　intercede　in　their　behalf；　for　he　had　fallen　in　battle。　The　sins　of　the　nation　were　such　that　the　time　for　intercession　had　all　but　passed　by。　〃Though　Moses　and　Samuel　stood　before　Me；〃　the　Lord　declared；　〃yet　My　mind　could　not　be　toward　this　people：　cast　them　out　of　My　sight；　and　let　them　go　forth。　And　it　shall　come　to　pass；　if　they　say　unto　thee；　Whither　shall　we　go　forth？　then　thou　shalt　tell　them。　Thus　saith　the　Lord；　Such　as　are　for　death；　to　death；　and　such　as　are　for　the　sword；　to　the　sword；　and　such　as　are　for　the　famine；　to　the　famine；　and　such　as　are　for　the　captivity；　to　the　captivity。〃　Jeremiah　15：1；　2。

A　refusal　to　heed　the　invitation　of　mercy　that　God　was　now　offering　would　bring　upon　the　impenitent　nation　the　judgments　that　had　befallen　the　northern　kingdom　of　Israel　over　a　century　before。　The　message　to　them　now　was：　〃If　ye　will　not　hearken　to　Me；　to　walk　in　My　law；　which　I　have　set　before　you；　to　hearken　to　the　words　of　My　servants　the　prophets；　whom　I　sent　unto　you；　both　rising　up　early；　and　sending　them；　but　ye　have　not　hearkened；　then　will　I　make　this　house　like　Shiloh；　and　will　make　this　city　a　curse　to　all　the　nations　of　the　earth。〃　Jeremiah　26：4…6。

Those　who　stood　in　the　temple　court　listening　to　Jeremiah's　discourse　understood　clearly　this　reference　to　Shiloh；

416

and　to　the　time　in　the　days　of　Eli　when　the　Philistines　had　overcome　Israel　and　carried　away　the　ark　of　the　testament。

The　sin　of　Eli　had　consisted　in　passing　lightly　over　the　iniquity　of　his　sons　in　sacred　office；　and　over　the　evils　prevailing　throughout　the　land。　His　neglect　to　correct　these　evils　had　brought　upon　Israel　a　fearful　calamity。　His　sons　had　fallen　in　battle；　Eli　himself　had　lost　his　life；　the　ark　of　God　had　been　taken　from　the　land　of　Israel；　thirty　thousand　of　the　people　had　been　slainand　all　because　sin　had　been　allowed　to　flourish　unrebuked　and　unchecked。　Israel　had　vainly　thought　that；　notwithstanding　their　sinful　practices；　the　presence　of　the　ark　would　ensure　them　victory　over　the　Philistines。　In　like　manner；　during　the　days　of　Jeremiah；　the　inhabitants　of　Judah　were　prone　to　believe　that　a　strict　observance　of　the　divinely　appointed　services　of　the　temple　would　preserve　them　from　a　just　punishment　for　their　wicked　course。

What　a　lesson　is　this　to　men　holding　positions　of　responsibility　today　in　the　church　of　God！　What　a　solemn　warning　to　deal　faithfully　with　wrongs　that　bring　dishonor　to　the　cause　of　truth！　Let　none　who　claim　to　be　the　depositaries　of　God's　law　flatter　themselves　that　the　regard　they　may　outwardly　show　toward　the　commandments　will　preserve　them　from　the　exercise　of　divine　justice。　Let　none　refuse　to　be　reproved　for　evil；　nor　charge　the　servants　of　God　with　being　too　zealous　in　endeavoring　to　cleanse　the　camp　from　evil…doing。　A　sin…hating　God　calls　upon　those　who　claim　to　keep　His　law　to　depart　from　all　iniquity。　A　neglect　to　repent　and　to　render　willing　obedience　will　bring　upon　men　and　women　today　as　serious　consequences　as　came

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upon　ancient　Israel。　There　is　a　limit　beyond　which　the　judgments　of　Jehovah　can　no　longer　be　delayed。　The　desolation　of　Jerusalem　in　the　days　of　Jeremiah　is　a　solemn　warning　to　modern　Israel；　that　the　counsels　and　admonitions　given　them　through　chosen　instrumentalities　cannot　be　disregarded　with　impunity。

Jeremiah's　message　to　priests　and　people　aroused　the　antagonism　of　many。　With　boisterous　denunciation　they　cried　out；　〃Why　hast　thou　prophesied　in　the　name　of　the　Lord；　saying；　This　house　shall　be　like　Shiloh；　and　this　city　shall　be　desolate　without　an　inhabitant？　And　all　the　people　were　gathered　against　Jeremiah　in　the　house　of　the　Lord。〃　Jeremiah　26：9。　Priests；　false　prophets；　and　people　turned　in　wrath　upon　him　who　would　not　speak　to　them　smooth　things　or　prophesy　deceit。　Thus　was　the　message　of　God　despised；　and　His　servant　threatened　with　death。

Tidings　of　the　words　of　Jeremiah　were　carried　to　the　princes　of　Judah；　and　they　hastened　from　the　palace　of　the　king　to　the　temple；　to　learn　for　themselves　the　truth　of　the　matter。　〃Then　spake　the　priests　and　the　prophets　unto　the　princes　and　to　all　the　people；　saying；　This　man　is　worthy　to　die；　for　he　hath　prophesied　against　this　city；　as　ye　have　heard　with　your　ears。〃　Verse　11。　But　Jeremiah　stood　boldly　before　the　princes　and　the　people；　declaring：　〃The　Lord　sent　me　to　prophesy　against　this　house　and　against　this　city　all　the　words　that　ye　have　heard。　Therefore　now　amend　your　ways　and　your　doings；　and　obey　the　voice　of　the　Lord　your　God；　and　the　Lord　will　repent　Him　of　the　evil　that　He　hath　pronounced　against　you。　As　for　me；　behold；　I　am　in　your　hand：　do　with　me　as　seemeth　good　and　meet　unto

418

you。　But　know　ye　for　certain；　that　if　ye　put　me　to　death；　ye　shall　surely　bring　innocent　blood　upon　yourselves；　and　upon　this　city；　and　upon　the　inhabitants　thereof：　for　of　a　truth　the　Lord　hath　sent　me　unto　you　to　speak　all　these　words　in　your　ears。〃　Verses　12…15。

Had　the　prophet　been　intimidated　by　the　threatening　attitude　of　those　high　in　authority；　his　message　would　have　been　without　effect；　and　he　would　have　lost　his　life；　but　the　courage　with　which　he　delivered　the　solemn　warning　commanded　the　respect　of　the　people　and　turned　the　princes　of　Israel　in　his　favor。　They　reasoned　with　the　priests　and　false　prophets；　showing　them　how　unwise　would　be　the　extreme　measures　they　advocated；　and　their　words　produced　a　reaction　in　the　minds　of　the　people。　Thus　God　raised　up　defenders　for　His　servant。

The　elders　also　united　in　protesting　against　the　decision　of　the　priests　regarding　the　fate　of　Jeremiah。　They　cited　the　case　of　Micah；　who　had　prophesied　judgments　upon　Jerusalem；　saying；　〃Zion　shall　be　plowed　like　a　field；　and　Jerusalem　shall　become　heaps；　and　the　mountain　of　the　house　as　the　high　places　of　a　forest。〃　And　they　asked：　〃Did　Hezekiah　king　of　Judah　and　all　Judah　put　him　at　all　to　death？　did　he　not　fear　the　Lord；　and　besought　the　Lord；　and　the　Lord　repented　Him　of　the　evil　which　He　had　pronounced　against　them？　Thus　might　we　procure　great　evil　against　our　souls。〃　Verses　18；　19。

Through　the　pleading　of　these　men　of　influence　the　prophet's　life　was　spared；　although　many　of　the　priests　and　false　prophets；　unable　to　endure　the　condemning　truths　he

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uttered；　would　gladly　have　seen　him　put　to　death　on　the　plea　of　sedition。

From　the　day　of　his　call　to　the　close　of　his　ministry；　Jeremiah　stood　before　Judah　as　〃a　tower　and　a　fortress〃　against　which　the　wrath　of　man　could　not　prevail。　〃They　shall　fight　against　thee；〃　the　Lord　had　forewarned　His　servant；　〃but　they　shall　not　prevail　against　thee：　for　I　am　with　thee　to　save　thee　and　to　deliver　thee；　saith　the　Lord。　And　I　will　deliver　thee　out　of　the　hand　of　the　wicked；　and　I　will　redeem　thee　out　of　the　hand　of　the　terrible。〃　Jeremiah　6：27；　15：20；　21。

Naturally　of　a　timid　and　shrinking　disposition；　Jeremiah　longed　for　the　peace　and　quiet　of　a　life　of　retirement；　where

420

he　need　not　witness　the　continued　impenitence　of　his　beloved　nation。　His　heart　was　wrung　with　anguish　over　the　ruin　wrought　by　sin。　〃O　that　my　head　were　waters；　and　mine　eyes　a　fountain　of　tears；〃　he　mourned；　〃that　I　might　weep　day　and　night　for　the　slain　of　the　daughter　of　my　people！　O　that　I　had　in　the　wilderness　a　lodging　place　of　wayfaring　men；　that　I　might　leave　my　people；　and　go　from　them。〃　Jeremiah　9：1；　2。

Cruel　were　the　mockings　he　was　called　upon　to　endure。　His　sensitive　soul　was　pierced　through　and　through　by　the　arrows　of　derision　hurled　at　him　by　those　who　despised　his　messages　and　made　light　of　his　burden　for　their　conversion。　〃I　was　a　derision　to　all　my　people；〃　he　declared；　〃and　their　song　all　the　day。〃　〃I　am　in　derision　daily；　everyone　mocketh　me。〃　〃All　my　familiars　watched　for　my　halting；　saying；　Peradventure　he　will　be　enticed；　and　we　shall　prevail　against　him；　and　we　shall　take　our　revenge　on　him。〃　Lamentations　3：14；　Jeremiah　20：7；　10。

But　the　faithful　prophet　was　daily　strengthened　to　endure。　〃The　Lord　is　with　me　as　a　mighty　terrible　One；〃　he　declared　in　faith；　〃therefore　my　persecutors　shall　stumble；　and　they　shall　not　prevail：　they　shall　be　really　ashamed；　for　they　shall　not　prosper：　their　everlasting　confusion　shall　never　be　forgotten。〃　〃Sing　unto　the　Lord；　praise　ye　the　Lord：　for　He　hath　delivered　the　soul　of　the　poor　from　the　hand　of　evildoers。〃　Jeremiah　20：11；　13。

The　experiences　through　which　Jeremiah　passed　in　the　days　of　his　youth　a