prophets and kings-第75章
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Being who upon the heights of Sinai had spoken the precepts of the Decalogue。 Jeremiah's words of warning and entreaty reached every part of the kingdom； and all had opportunity to know the will of God concerning the nation。
The prophet made plain the fact that our heavenly Father allows His judgments to fall； 〃that the nations may know themselves to be but men。〃 Psalm 9：20。 〃If ye walk contrary unto Me； and will not hearken unto Me；〃 the Lord had forewarned His people； 〃I； even I； 。 。 。 will scatter you among the heathen； and will draw out a sword after you： and your land shall be desolate； and your cities waste。〃 Leviticus 26：21； 28；33。
At the very time messages of impending doom were urged upon princes and people； their ruler； Jehoiakim； who should have been a wise spiritual leader； foremost in confession of sin and in reformation and good works； was spending his time in selfish pleasure。 〃I will build me a wide house and large chambers；〃 he proposed； and this house； 〃ceiled with cedar； and painted with vermilion〃 （Jeremiah 22：14）； was built with money and labor secured through fraud and oppression。
The wrath of the prophet was aroused； and he was inspired to pronounce judgment upon the faithless ruler。 〃Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness； and his chambers by wrong；〃 he declared； 〃that useth his neighbor's service without wages； and giveth him not for his work。 。 。 。 Shalt thou reign； because thou closest thyself in cedar？ Did not thy father eat and drink； and do judgment and justice； and then it was well with him？ He
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judged the cause of the poor and needy； then it was well with him： was not this to know Me？ saith the Lord。 But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness； and for to shed innocent blood； and for oppression； and for violence； to do it。
〃Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah； They shall not lament for him； saying； Ah my brother！ or； Ah sister！ they shall not lament for him； saying； Ah lord！ or； Ah his glory！ He shall be buried with the burial of an ass； drawn and cast forth 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
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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
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at the danger hanging over himself and his people； seized the roll and in a frenzy of rage 〃cut it with the penknife and ca
