prophets and kings-第83章
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nd in the land of Benjamin； and in the places about Jerusalem； and in the cities of Judah； shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them； saith the Lord。
〃Behold； the days come； saith the Lord； that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah。〃 Jeremiah 33：1…14。
Thus was the church of God comforted in one of the darkest hours of her long conflict with the forces of evil。 Satan had seemingly triumphed in his efforts to destroy Israel； but the Lord was overruling the events of the present； and during the years that were to follow； His people were to have opportunity to redeem the past。 His message to the church was：
〃Fear thou not； O My servant Jacob； 。 。 。 neither be dismayed； O Israel： for； lo； I will save thee from afar； and thy seed from the land of their captivity； and Jacob shall return； and shall be in rest； and be quiet； and none shall make him afraid。 For I am with thee； saith the Lord； to save thee。〃 〃I will restore health unto thee； and I will heal thee of thy wounds。〃 Jeremiah 30：10； 11； 17。
In the glad day of restoration the tribes of divided Israel were to be reunited as one people。 The Lord was to be acknowledged as ruler over 〃all the families of Israel。〃 〃They shall be My people。〃 He declared。 〃Sing with gladness for Jacob； and shout among the chief of the nations： publish ye； praise ye； and say； O Lord； save Thy people；
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the remnant of Israel。 Behold； I will bring them from the north country； and gather them from the coasts of the earth； and with them the blind and the lame； 。 。 。 they shall come with weeping； and with supplications will I lead them： I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way； wherein they shall not stumble： for I am a Father to Israel； and Ephraim is My first…born。〃 Jeremiah 31：1； 7…9
Humbled in the sight of the nations； those who once had been recognized as favored of Heaven above all other peoples of the earth were to learn in exile the lesson of obedience so necessary for their future happiness。 Until they had learned this lesson； God could not do for them all that He desired to do。 〃I will correct thee in measure； and will not leave thee altogether unpunished；〃 He declared in explanation of His purpose to chastise them for their spiritual good。 Jeremiah 30：11。 Yet those who had been the object of His tender love were not forever set aside； before all the nations of earth He would demonstrate His plan to bring victory out of apparent defeat； to save rather than to destroy。 To the prophet was given the message：
〃He that scattered Israel will gather him； and keep him； as a shepherd doth his flock。 For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob； and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he。 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion； and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord； for wheat； and for wine； and for oil； and for the young of the flock and of the herd： and their soul shall be as a watered garden； and they shall not sorrow any
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more at all。 。 。 。 I will turn their mourning into joy； and will comfort them； and make them rejoice from their sorrow。 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness； and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness； saith the Lord。〃
〃Thus saith the Lord of hosts； the God of Israel； As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof； when I shall bring again their captivity； The Lord bless thee； O habitation of justice； and mountain of holiness。 And there shall dwell in Judah itself； and in all the cities thereof together； husbandmen； and they that go forth with flocks。 For I have satiated the weary soul； and I have replenished every sorrowful soul。〃
〃Behold； the days come； saith the Lord； that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel； and with the house of Judah： not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt； which My covenant they brake； although I was an husband unto them； saith the Lord： but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel； After those days； saith the Lord； I will put My law in their inward parts； and write it in their hearts； and will be their God； and they shall be My people。 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor； and every man his brother； saying； Know the Lord： for they shall all know Me； from the least of them unto the greatest of them； saith the Lord： for I will forgive their iniquity； and I will remember their sin no more。〃 Jeremiah 31：10…14； 23…25； 31…34。
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In the Lands of the Heathen
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Ye are My witnesses； saith the Lord； and My servant whom I have chosen。〃 Isaiah 43：10。
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Chapter 39
In the Court of Babylon
Among the children of Israel who were carried captive to Babylon at the beginning of the seventy years' captivity were Christian patriots； men who were as true as steel to principle； who would not be corrupted by selfishness； but who would honor God at the loss of all things。 In the land of their captivity these men were to carry out God's purpose by giving to heathen nations the blessings that come through a knowledge of Jehovah。 They were to be His representatives。 Never were they to compromise with idolaters； their faith and their name as worshipers of the living God they were to bear as a high honor。 And this they did。 In prosperity and adversity they honored God； and God honored them。
The fact that these men； worshipers of Jehovah； were captives in Babylon； and that the vessels of God's house had been placed in the Temple of the Babylonish gods； was boastfully cited by the victors as evidence that their religion
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and customs were superior to the religion and customs of the Hebrews。 Yet through the very humiliations that Israel's departure from Him had invited； God gave Babylon evidence of His supremacy； of the holiness of His requirements； and of the sure results of obedience。 And this testimony He gave； as alone it could be given； through those who were loyal to Him。
Among those who maintained their allegiance to God were Daniel and his three companionsillustrious examples of what men may become who unite with the God of wisdom and power。 From the comparative simplicity of their Jewish home； these youth of royal line were taken to the most magnificent of cities and into the court of the world's greatest monarch。 Nebuchadnezzar 〃spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs； that he should bring certain of the children of Israel； and of the king's seed； and of the princes； children in whom was no blemish； but well favored； and skillful in all wisdom； and cunning in knowledge； and understanding science； and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace。 。 。 。
〃Now among these were of the children of Judah； Daniel； Hananiah； Mishael； and Azariah。 〃 Seeing in these youth the promise of remarkable ability； Nebuchadnezzar determined that they should be trained to fill important positions in his kingdom。 That they might be fully qualified for their lifework； he arranged for them to learn the language of the Chaldeans and for three years to be granted the unusual educational advantages afforded princess of the realm。
The names of Daniel and his companions were changed
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to names representing Chaldean deities。 Great significance was attached to the names given by Hebrew parents to their children。 Often these stood for traits of character that the parent desired to see developed in the child。 The prince in whose charge the captive youth were placed； 〃gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar； and to Hananiah； of Shadrach； and to Mishael； of Meshach； and to
