prophets and kings-第67节

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h　beyond　the　gates　of　Jerusalem。〃　Verses　13…19。

Within　a　few　years　this　terrible　judgment　was　to　be　visited　upon　Jehoiakim；　but　first　the　Lord　in　mercy　informed　the　impenitent　nation　of　His　set　purpose。　In　the　fourth　year　of　Jehoiakim's　reign　〃Jeremiah　the　prophet　spake　unto　all　the　people　of　Judah；　and　to　all　the　inhabitants　of　Jerusalem；〃　pointing　out　that　for　over　a　score　of　years；　〃from　the　thirteenth　year　of　Josiah；　。　。　。　even　unto　this　day；〃　he　had　borne　witness　of　God's　desire　to　save；　but　that　his　messages　had　been　despised。　Jeremiah　25：2；　3。　And　now　the　word　of　the　Lord　to　them　was：

〃Thus　saith　the　Lord　of　hosts；　Because　ye　have　not　heard　My　words；　behold；　I　will　send　and　take　all　the　families　of　the　north；　saith　the　Lord；　and　Nebuchadnezzar　the　king　of　Babylon；　My　servant；　and　will　bring　them　against　this　land；　and　against　the　inhabitants　thereof；　and　against　all　these　nations　round　about；　and　will　utterly　destroy　them；　and　make　them　an　astonishment；　and　an　hissing；　and　perpetual　desolations。　Moreover　I　will　take　from　them

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the　voice　of　mirth；　and　the　voice　of　gladness；　the　voice　of　the　bridegroom；　and　the　voice　of　the　bride；　the　sound　of　the　millstones；　and　the　light　of　the　candle。　And　this　whole　land　shall　be　a　desolation；　and　an　astonishment；　and　these　nations　shall　serve　the　king　of　Babylon　seventy　years。〃　Verses　8…11。

Although　the　sentence　of　doom　had　been　clearly　pronounced；　its　awful　import　could　scarcely　be　understood　by　the　multitudes　who　heard。　That　deeper　impressions　might　be　made；　the　Lord　sought　to　illustrate　the　meaning　of　the　words　spoken。　He　bade　Jeremiah　liken　the　fate　of　the　nation　to　the　draining　of　a　cup　filled　with　the　wine　of　divine　wrath。　Among　the　first　to　drink　of　this　cup　of　woe　was　to　be　〃Jerusalem；　and　the　cities　of　Judah；　and　the　kings　thereof。〃　Others　were　to　partake　of　the　same　cup〃Pharaoh　king　of　Egypt；　and　his　servants；　and　his　princes；　and　all　his　people；〃　and　many　other　nations　of　earthuntil　God's　purpose　should　have　been　fulfilled。　See　Jeremiah　25。

To　illustrate　further　the　nature　of　the　swift…coming　judgments；　the　prophet　was　bidden　to　〃take　of　the　ancients　of　the　people；　and　of　the　ancients　of　the　priests；　and　go　forth　unto　the　valley　of　the　son　of　Hinnom；〃　and　there；　after　reviewing　the　apostasy　of　Judah；　he　was　to　dash　to　pieces　〃a　potter's　earthen　bottle；〃　and　declare　in　behalf　of　Jehovah；　whose　servant　he　was；　〃Even　so　will　I　break　this　people　and　this　city；　as　one　breaketh　a　potter's　vessel；　that　cannot　be　made　whole　again。〃

The　prophet　did　as　he　was　commanded。　Then；　returning　to　the　city；　he　stood　in　the　court　of　the　temple　and　declared

432

in　the　hearing　of　all　the　people。　〃Thus　saith　the　Lord　of　hosts；　the　God　of　Israel；　Behold；　I　will　bring　upon　this　city　and　upon　all　her　towns　all　the　evil　that　I　have　pronounced　against　it；　because　they　have　hardened　their　necks；　that　they　might　not　hear　My　words。〃　See　Jeremiah　19。

The　prophet's　words；　instead　of　leading　to　confession　and　repentance；　aroused　the　anger　of　those　high　in　authority；　and　as　a　consequence　Jeremiah　was　deprived　of　his　liberty。　Imprisoned；　and　placed　in　the　stocks；　the　prophet　nevertheless　continued　to　speak　the　messages　of　Heaven　to　those　who　stood　by。　His　voice　could　not　be　silenced　by　persecution。　The　word　of　truth；　he　declared；　〃was　in　mine　heart　as　a　burning　fire　shut　up　in　my　bones；　and　I　was　weary　with　forbearing；　and　I　could　not　stay。〃　Jeremiah　20：9。

It　was　about　this　time　that　the　Lord　commanded　Jeremiah　to　commit　to　writing　the　messages　he　desired　to　bear　to　those　for　whose　salvation　his　heart　of　pity　was　continually　yearning。〃Take　thee　a　roll　of　a　book；〃　the　Lord　bade　His　servant；　〃and　write　therein　all　the　words　that　I　have　spoken　unto　thee　against　Israel；　and　against　Judah；　and　against　all　the　nations；　from　the　day　I　spake　unto　thee；　from　the　days　of　Josiah；　even　unto　this　day。　It　may　be　that　the　house　of　Judah　will　hear　all　the　evil　which　I　purpose　to　do　unto　them；　that　they　may　return　every　man　from　his　evil　way；　that　I　may　forgive　their　iniquity　and　their　sin。〃　Jeremiah　36：2；3。

In　obedience　to　this　command；　Jeremiah　called　to　his　aid　a　faithful　friend；　Baruch　the　scribe；　and　dictated　〃all　the　words　of　the　Lord；　which　He　had　spoken　unto　him。〃

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Verse　4。　These　were　carefully　written　out　on　a　roll　of　parchment　and　constituted　a　solemn　reproof　for　sin；　a　warning　of　the　sure　result　of　continual　apostasy；　and　an　earnest　appeal　for　the　renunciation　of　all　evil。

When　the　writing　was　completed；　Jeremiah；　who　was　still　a　prisoner；　sent　Baruch　to　read　the　roll　to　the　multitudes　who　were　assembling　at　the　temple　on　the　occasion　of　a　national　fast　day；　〃in　the　fifth　year　of　Jehoiakim　the　son　of　Josiah　king　of　Judah；　in　the　ninth　month。〃　〃It　may　be；〃　the　prophet　said；　〃they　will　present　their　supplication　before　the　Lord；　and　will　return　everyone　from　his　evil　way：　for　great　is　the　anger　and　the　fury　that　the　Lord　hath　pronounced　against　this　people。〃　Verses　9；　7。

Baruch　obeyed；　and　the　roll　was　read　before　all　the　people　of　Judah。　Afterward　the　scribe　was　summoned　before　the　princes　to　read　the　words　to　them。　They　listened　with　great　interest　and　promised　to　inform　the　king　concerning　all　they　had　heard；　but　counseled　the　scribe　to　hide　himself；　for　they　feared　the　king　would　reject　the　testimony　and　seek　to　slay　those　who　had　prepared　and　delivered　the　message。

When　King　Jehoiakim　was　told　by　the　princes　what　Baruch　had　read；　he　immediately　ordered　the　roll　brought　before　him　and　read　in　his　hearing。　One　of　the　royal　attendants；　Jehudi　by　name；　fetched　the　roll　and　began　reading　the　words　of　reproof　and　warning。　It　was　the　time　of　winter；　and　the　king　and　his　companions　of　state；　the　princes　of　Judah；　were　gathered　about　an　open　fire。　Only　a　small　portion　had　been　read；　when　the　king；　far　from　trembling

434

at　the　danger　hanging　over　himself　and　his　people；　seized　the　roll　and　in　a　frenzy　of　rage　〃cut　it　with　the　penknife　and　cast　it　into　the　fire　that　was　on　the　hearth；　until　all　the　roll　was　consumed。〃　Verse　23。

Neither　the　king　nor　his　princes　were　afraid　〃nor　rent　their　garments。〃　Certain　of　the　princes；　however；　〃had　made　intercession　to　the　king　that　he　would　not　burn　the　roll：　but　he　would　not　hear　them。〃　The　writing　having　been　destroyed；　the　wrath　of　the　wicked　king　rose　against　Jeremiah　and　Baruch；　and　he　forthwith　sent　for　them　to　be　taken；　〃but　the　Lord　hid　them。〃　Verses　24…26。

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In　bringing　to　the　attention　of　the　temple　worshipers；　and　of　the　princes　and　king；　the　written　admonitions　contained　in　the　inspired　roll；　God　was　graciously　seeking　to　warn　the　men　of　Judah　for　their　good。　〃It　may　be；〃　He　said；　〃the　house　of　Judah　will　hear　all　the　evil　which　I　purpose　to　do　unto　them；　that　they　may　return　every　man　from　his　evil　way；　that　I　may　forgive　their　iniquity　and　their　sin。〃　Verse　3。　God　pities　men　struggling　in　the　blindness　of　perversity；　He　seeks　to　enlighten　the　darkened　understanding　by　sending　reproofs　and　threatenings　designed　to　cause　the　most　exalted　to　feel　their　ignorance　and　to　deplore　their　errors。　He　endeavors　to　help　the　self…complacent　to　become　dissatisfied　with　their　vain　attainments　and　to　seek　for　spiritual　blessing　through　a　close　connection　with　heaven。

God's　plan　is　not　to　send　messengers　who　will　please　and　flatter　sinners；　He　delivers　no　messages　of　peace　to　lull　the　unsanctified　into　carnal　security。　Instead；　He　lays　heavy　burdens　upon　the　conscience　of　the　wrongdoer　and　pierces　his　soul　with　sharp　arrows　of　conviction。　Ministering　angels　present　to　him　the　fearful　judgments　of　God；　to　deepen　the　sense　of　need　and　to　prompt　the　agonizing　cry；　〃What　must　I　do　to　be　saved？〃　Acts　16；30。　But　the　Hand　that　humbles　to　the　dust；　rebukes　sin；　and　puts　pride　and　ambition　to　shame；　is　the　Hand　that　lifts　up　the　penitent；　stricken　one。　With　deepest　sympathy　He　who　permits　the　chastisement　to　fall；　inquires；　〃What　wilt　thou　that　I　shall　do　unto　thee？〃

When　man　has　sinned　against　a　holy　and　merciful　God；　he　can　pursue　no　course　so　noble　as　to　repent　sincerely　and

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confess　his　errors　in　tears　and　bitterness　of　soul。　This　God　requires　of　him；　He　accepts　nothing　less　than　a　broken　heart　and　a　contrite　spirit。　But　King　Jehoiakim　and　his　lords；　in　their　arrogance　and　pride；　refused　the　invitation　of　God。　They　would　not　heed　the　warning；　and　repent。　The　gracious　opportunity　proffered　them　at　the　time　of　the　burning　of　the　sacred　roll；　was　their　last。　God　had　declared　that　if　at　that　time　they　refused　to　hear　His　voice；　He　would　inflict　upon　them　fearful　retribution。　They　did　refuse　to　hear；　and　He　pronounced　His　final　judgments　upon　Judah；　and　He　would　visit　with　special　wrath　the　man　who　had　proudly　lifted　himself　up　against　the　Almighty。

〃Thus　saith　the　Lord　of　Jehoiakim　king　of　Judah；　He　shall　have　none　to　sit　upon　the　throne　of　David：　and　his　dead　body　shall　be　cast　out　in　the　day　to　the　heat；　and　in　the　night　to　the　frost。　And　I　will　punish　him　and　his　seed　and　his　servants　for　their　iniquity；　a