prophets and kings-第76章
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he 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； and I will bring upon them； and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem； and upon the men of Judah； all the evil that I have pronounced against them。〃 Jeremiah 36：30； 31。
The burning of the roll was not the end of the matter。 The written words were more easily disposed of than the reproof and warning they contained and the swift…coming punishment God had pronounced against rebellious Israel。 But even the written roll was reproduced。 〃Take thee again another roll；〃 the Lord commanded His servant； 〃and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll； which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned。〃 The record of the prophecies concerning Judah and Jerusalem had been
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reduced to ashes； but the words were still living in the heart of Jeremiah； 〃as a burning fire；〃 and the prophet was permitted to reproduce that which the wrath of man would fain have destroyed。
Taking another roll； Jeremiah gave it to Baruch； 〃who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire： and there were added besides unto them many like words。〃 Verses 28；32。 The wrath of man had sought to prevent the labors of the prophet of God； but the very means by which Jehoiakim had endeavored to limit the influence of the servant of Jehovah； gave further opportunity for making plain the divine requirements。
The spirit of opposition to reproof； that led to the persecution and imprisonment of Jeremiah； exists today。 Many refuse to heed repeated warnings； preferring rather to listen to false teachers who flatter their vanity and overlook their evil…doing。 In the day of trouble such will have no sure refuge； no help from heaven。 God's chosen servants should meet with courage and patience the trials and sufferings that befall them through reproach； neglect； and misrepresentation。 They should continue to discharge faithfully the work God has given them to do； ever remembering that the prophets of old and the Saviour of mankind and His apostles also endured abuse and persecution for the Word's sake。
It was God's purpose that Jehoiakim should heed the counsels of Jeremiah and thus win favor in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar and save himself much sorrow。 The youthful
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king had sworn allegiance to the Babylonian ruler； and had he remained true to his promise he would have commanded the respect of the heathen； and this would have led to precious opportunities for the conversion of souls。
Scorning the unusual privileges granted him； Judah's king willfully followed a way of his own choosing。 He violated his word of honor to the Babylonian ruler； and rebelled。 This brought him and his kingdom into a very strait place。 Against him were sent 〃bands of the Chaldees； and bands of the Syrians； and bands of the Moabites； and bands of the children of Ammon；〃 and he was powerless to prevent the land from being overrun by these marauders。 2 Kings 24：2。 Within a few years he closed his disastrous reign in ignominy； rejected of Heaven； unloved by his people； and despised by the rulers of Babylon whose confidence he had betrayedand all as the result of his fatal mistake in turning from the purpose of God as revealed through His appointed messenger。
Jehoiachin ＇also known as Jeconiah； and Coniah＇； the son of Jehoiakim； occupied the throne only three months and ten days； when he surrendered to the Chaldean armies which； because of the rebellion of Judah's ruler； were once more besieging the fated city。 On this occasion Nebuchadnezzar 〃carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon； and the king's mother； and the king's wives； and his officers； and the mighty of the land；〃 several thousand in number； together with 〃craftsmen and smiths a thousand。〃 With these the king of Babylon took 〃all the treasures of the house of the Lord； and the treasures of the king's house。〃 2 Kings 24：15；16；13。
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The kingdom of Judah； broken in power and robbed of its strength both in men and in treasure； was nevertheless still permitted to exist as a separate government。 At its head Nebuchadnezzar placed Mattaniah； a younger son of Josiah； changing his name to Zedekiah。
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Chapter 36
The Last King of Judah
Zedekiah at the beginning of his reign was trusted fully by the king of Babylon and had as a tried counselor the prophet Jeremiah。 By pursuing an honorable course toward the Babylonians and by paying heed to the messages from the Lord through Jeremiah； he could have kept the respect of many in high authority and have had opportunity to communicate to them a knowledge of the true God。 Thus the captive exiles already in Babylon would have been placed on vantage ground and granted many liberties； the name of God would have been honored far and wide； and those that remained in the land of Judah would have been spared the terrible calamities that finally came upon them。
Through Jeremiah； Zede
