prophets and kings-第71章
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ty； and an iron pillar； and brazen walls against the whole land； against the kings of Judah； against the princes thereof； against the priests thereof； and against the people of the land。 And they shall fight against thee； but they shall not prevail against thee； for I am with thee； saith the Lord； to deliver thee。〃 Verses 7； 8； 17…19。
For forty years Jeremiah was to stand before the nation as a witness for truth and righteousness。 In a time of unparalleled apostasy he was to exemplify in life and character the worship of the only true God。 During the terrible sieges of Jerusalem he was to be the mouthpiece of Jehovah。 He was to predict the downfall of the house of David and the destruction of the beautiful temple built by Solomon。 And when imprisoned because of his fearless utterances； he was still to speak plainly against sin in high places。 Despised； hated； rejected of men； he was finally to witness the literal fulfillment of his own prophecies of impending doom； and share in the sorrow and woe that should follow the destruction of the fated city。
Yet amid the general ruin into which the nation was rapidly passing； Jeremiah was often permitted to look beyond the distressing scenes of the present to the glorious prospects of the future； when God's people should be ransomed from the land of the enemy and planted again in Zion。 He foresaw the time when the Lord would renew His covenant relationship with them。 〃Their soul shall be as a watered
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garden； and they shall not sorrow any more at all。〃 Jeremiah 31：12。
Of his call to the prophetic mission； Jeremiah himself wrote： 〃The Lord put forth His hand； and touched my mouth。 And the Lord said unto me； Behold； I have put My words in thy mouth。 See； I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms； to root out； and to pull down； and to destroy； and to throw down； to build； and to plant。〃 Jeremiah 1：9； 10。
Thank God for the words； 〃to build； and to plant。〃 By these words Jeremiah was assured of the Lord's purpose to restore and to heal。 Stern were the messages to be borne in the years that were to follow。 Prophecies of swift…coming judgments were to be fearlessly delivered。 From the plains of Shinar 〃an evil〃 was to 〃break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land。〃 〃I will utter My judgments against them；〃 the Lord declared； 〃touching all their wickedness； who have forsaken Me。〃 Verses 14； 16。 Yet the prophet was to accompany these messages with assurances of forgiveness to all who should turn from their evil…doing。
As a wise master builder； Jeremiah at the very beginning of his lifework sought to encourage the men of Judah to lay the foundations of their spiritual life broad and deep； by making thorough work of repentance。 Long had they been building with material likened by the apostle Paul to wood； hay； and stubble； and by Jeremiah himself to dross。 〃Refuse silver shall men call them；〃 he declared of the impenitent nation； 〃because the Lord hath rejected them。〃 Jeremiah 6：30； margin。 Now they were urged to begin building wisely and for eternity； casting aside the rubbish
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of apostasy and unbelief； and using as foundation material the pure gold； the refined silver； the precious stonesfaith and obedience and good workswhich alone are acceptable in the sight of a holy God。
Through Jeremiah the word of the Lord to His people was： 〃Return； thou backsliding Israel； 。 。 。 and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you： for I am merciful； saith the Lord； and I will not keep anger forever。 Only acknowledge thine iniquity； that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God。 。 。 。 Turn； O backsliding children； saith the Lord； for I am married unto you。〃 〃Thou shalt call Me； My Father； and shalt not turn away from Me。〃 〃Return； ye backsliding children； and I will heal your backslidings。〃 Jeremiah 3：12…14； 19； 22。
And in addition to these wonderful pleadings； the Lord gave His erring people the very words with which they might turn to Him。 They were to say： 〃Behold； we come unto Thee； for Thou art the Lord our God。 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills； and from the multitude of mountains： truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel。 。 。 。 We lie down in our shame； and our confusion covereth us： for we have sinned against the Lord our God； we and our fathers； from our youth even unto this day； and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God。〃 Verses 22…25。
The reformation under Josiah had cleansed the land of the idolatrous shrines； but the hearts of the multitude had not been transformed。 The seeds of truth that had sprung up and given promise of an abundant harvest had been choked by thorns。 Another such backsliding would be
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fatal； and the Lord sought to arouse the nation to a realization of their danger。 Only as they should prove loyal to Jehovah could they hope for the divine favor and for prosperity。
Jeremiah called their attention repeatedly to the counsels given in Deuteronomy。 More than any other of the prophets； he emphasized the teachings of the Mosaic law and showed how these might bring the highest spiritual blessing to the nation and to every individual heart。 〃Ask for the old paths； where is the good way； and walk therein；〃 he pleaded； 〃and ye shall find rest for your souls。〃 Jeremiah 6：16。
On one occasion； by command of the Lord； the prophet took his position at one of the principal entrances to the city and there urged the importance of keeping holy the Sabbath day。 The inhabitants of Jerusalem were in danger of losing sight of the sanctity of the Sabbath； and they were solemnly warned against following their secular pursuits on that day。 A blessing was promised on condition of obedience。 〃If ye diligently hearken unto Me；〃 the Lord declared； and 〃hallow the Sabbath day； to do no work therein； then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David； riding in chariots and on horses； they； and their princes； the men of Judah； and the inhabitants of Jerusalem： and this city shall remain forever。〃 Jeremiah 17：24； 25。
This promise of prosperity as the reward of allegiance was accompanied by a prophecy of the terrible judgments that would befall the city should its inhabitants prove disloyal to God and His law。 If the admonitions to obey the
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Lord God of their fathers and to hallow His Sabbath day were not heeded； the city and its palaces would be utterly destroyed by fire。
Thus the prophet stood firmly for the sound principles of right living so clearly outlined in the book of the law。 But the conditions prevailing in the land of Judah were such that only by the most decided measures could a change for the better be brought about； therefore he labored most earnestly in behalf of the impenitent。 〃Break up your fallow ground；〃 he pleaded； 〃and sow not among thorns。〃 〃O Jerusalem； wash thine heart from wickedness； that thou mayest be saved。〃 Jeremiah 4：3； 14。
But by the great mass of the people the call to repentance and reformation was unheeded。 Since the death of good King Josiah； those who ruled the nation had been proving untrue to their trust and had been leading many astray。 Jehoahaz； deposed by the interference of the king of Egypt； had been followed by Jehoiakim； an older son of Josiah。 From the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign； Jeremiah had little hope of saving his beloved land from destruction and the people from captivity。 Yet he was not permitted to remain silent while utter ruin threatened the kingdom。 Those who had remained loyal to God must be encouraged to persevere in rightdoing； and sinners must； if possible； be induced to turn from iniquity。
The crisis demanded a public and far…reaching effort。 Jeremiah was commanded by the Lord to stand in the court of the temple and speak to all the people of Judah who might pass in and out。 From the messages given him he must diminish not a word； that sinners in Zion might have the
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fullest possible opportunity to hearken and to turn from their evil ways。
