prophets and kings-第78章
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Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years。
〃And the prophet Jeremiah went his way。〃 Verse II。 Apparently he could do nothing more than to retire from the scene of conflict。 But Jeremiah was given another message。 〃Go and tell Hananiah；〃 he was bidden； 〃Thus saith the Lord； Thou hast broken the yokes of wood； but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron。 For thus saith the Lord of hosts； the God of Israel； I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations； that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon； and they shall serve him。 。 。 。
〃Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet； Hear now； Hananiah； The Lord hath not sent thee； but thou makest this people to trust in a lie。 Therefore thus saith the Lord； Behold； I will cast thee from off the face of the earth： this year thou shalt die； because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord。 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month。〃 Verses 13…17。
The false prophet had strengthened the unbelief of the people in Jeremiah and his message。 He had wickedly declared himself the Lord's messenger； and he suffered death in consequence。 In the fifth month Jeremiah prophesied the death of Hananiah； and in the seventh month his words were proved true by their fulfillment。
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The unrest caused by the representations of the false prophets brought Zedekiah under suspicion of treason； and only by quick and decisive action on his part was he permitted to continue reigning as a vassal。 Opportunity for such action was taken advantage of shortly after the return of the ambassadors from Jerusalem to the surrounding nations； when the king of Judah accompanied Seraiah； 〃a quiet prince；〃 on an important mission to Babylon。 Jeremiah 51：59。 During this visit to the Chaldean court； Zedekiah renewed his oath of allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar。
Through Daniel and others of the Hebrew captives； the Babylonian monarch had been made acquainted with the power and supreme authority of the true God； and when Zedekiah once more solemnly promised to remain loyal； Nebuchadnezzar required him to swear to this promise in the name of the Lord God of Israel。 Had Zedekiah respected this renewal of his covenant oath； his loyalty would have had a profound influence on the minds of many who were watching the conduct of those who claimed to reverence the name and to cherish the honor of the God of the Hebrews。
But Judah's king lost sight of his high privilege of bringing honor to the name of the living God。 Of Zedekiah it is recorded： 〃He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God； and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord。 And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar； who had made him swear by God： but he stiffened his neck； and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel。〃 2 Chronicles 36：12； 13。
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While Jeremiah continued to bear his testimony in the land of Judah； the prophet Ezekiel was raised up from among the captives in Babylon； to warn and to comfort the exiles； and also to confirm the word of the Lord that was being spoken through Jeremiah。 During the years that remained of Zedekiah's reign； Ezekiel made very plain the folly of trusting to the false predictions of those who were causing the captives to hope for an early return to Jerusalem。 He was also instructed to foretell； by means of a variety of symbols and solemn messages； the siege and utter destruction of Jerusalem。
In the sixth year of the reign of Zedekiah； the Lord revealed to Ezekiel in vision some of the abominations that were being practiced in Jerusalem； and within the gate of the Lord's house； and even in the inner court。 The chambers of images； and the pictured idols； 〃every form of creeping things； and abominable beasts； and all the idols of the house of Israel〃all these in rapid succession passed before the astonished gaze of the prophet。 Ezekiel 8：10。
Those who should have been spiritual leaders among the people； 〃the ancients of the house of Israel；〃 to the number of seventy； were seen offering incense before the idolatrous representations that had been introduced into hidden chambers within the sacred precincts of the temple court。 〃The Lord seeth us not；〃 the men of Judah flattered themselves as they engaged in their heathenish practices； 〃the Lord hath forsaken the earth；〃 they blasphemously declared。 Verses 11； 12。
There were still 〃greater abominations〃 for the prophet to behold。 At a gate leading from the outer to the inner
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court he was shown 〃women weeping for Tammuz；〃 and within 〃the inner court of the Lord's house； 。 。 。 at the door of the temple of the Lord； between the porch and the altar； were about five and twenty men； with their backs toward the temple of the Lord； and their faces toward the east； and they worshiped the sun toward the east。〃 Verses 13…16。
And now the glorious Being who accompanied Ezekiel throughout this astonishing vision of wickedness in high places in the land of Judah； inquired of the prophet： 〃Hast thou seen this； O son of man？ Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here？ for they have filled the land with violence； and have returned to provoke Me to anger： and； lo； they put the branch to their nose。 Therefore will I also deal in fury： Mine eye shall not spare； neither will I have pity： and though they cry in Mine ears with a loud voice； yet will I not hear them。〃 Verses 17；18。
Through Jeremiah the Lord had declared of the wicked men who presumptuously dared to stand before the people in His name： 〃Both prophet and priest are profane； yea； in My house have I found their wickedness。〃 Jeremiah 23：11。 In the terrible arraignment of Judah as recorded in the closing narrative of the chronicler of Zedekiah's reign； this charge of violating the sanctity of the temple was repeated。 〃Moreover；〃 the sacred writer declared； 〃all the chief of the priests； and the people； transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen； and polluted the house of the Lord which He had hallowed in Jerusalem。〃 2 Chronicles 36：14。
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The day of doom for the kingdom of Judah was fast approaching。 No longer could the Lord set before them the hope of averting the severest of His judgments。 〃Should ye be utterly unpunished？〃 He inquired。 〃Ye shall not be unpunished。〃 Jeremiah 25：29。
Even these words were received with mocking derision。 〃The days are prolonged； and every vision faileth；〃 declared the impenitent。 But through Ezekiel this denial of the sure word of prophecy was sternly rebuked。 〃Tell them；〃 the Lord declared； 〃I will make this proverb to cease； and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel； but say unto them； The days are at hand； and the effect of every vision。 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel。 For I am the Lord： I will speak； and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass； it shall be no more prolonged： for in your days； O rebellious house； will I say the word； and will perform it； saith the Lord God。
〃Again；〃 testifies Ezekiel； 〃the word of the Lord came to me； saying； Son of man； behold； they of the house of Israel say； The vision that he seeth is for many days to come； and he prophesieth of the times that are far off。 Therefore say unto them； Thus saith the Lord God； There shall none of My words be prolonged any more； but the word which I have spoken shall be done； saith the Lord God。〃 Ezekiel 12：22…28。
Foremost among those who were rapidly leading the nation to ruin was Zedekiah their king。 Forsaking utterly the counsels of the Lord as given through the prophets； forgetting the debt of gratitude he owed Nebuchadnezzar；
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violating his solemn oath of allegiance taken in the name of the Lord God of Israel； Judah's king rebelled against the prophets； against his benefactor； and against his God。 In
