King's Business - 1947-05

minded them of the terrible punish­ ments which God would bring upon them if they refused to worship and serve Him. So faithful was Josiah in following God, that the Bible says, "And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, ac­ cording to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him" (2 Ki. 23:25). Today God is seeking Christians who w jll follow Him wholly. He needs boys and girls who will re­ mind others of His Word and tell them fearlessly about their sins and the Saviour. become so great that "the Lord would not pardon.” They had gone beyond mercy. It was not that the Lord would not pardon, but, as they utterly refused to return to Him, His judgment was the only possible re­ su lt Points and Problems "W rite therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee" (Jer. 36:t). Some face a problem here in explain­ ing how the prophet could remember all that he had previously spoken against Israel, Judah and the na­ tions. But this offers no real diffi­ culty, fo r the same Spirit who first communicated the messages to HU servant could surely re-communicate them to him. The Holy Spirit has a perfect memory, and one of HU ministries U to aid the servants of God in remembering the things they ought to communicate to others. Jesus told HU dUciples concerning the Spirit who would come after HU ascension,. “He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). More­ over, it may have been that the pre­ vious utterances had already been committed to writing, but now were to be written in one volume so as to be read continuously to the Jews in the temple. " I t may be that the house of Judah will hear " (36:3). For what purpose did the Lord want Judah to hear HU Word? In order that they might “return” or repent. Here we have another picture of the longsuffering of God. He U "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). Thus, in today’s lesson, in spite of Judah’s frequent waywardness, we find God extending HU forgiving hand to HU prodigal people and yearning fo r them to receive it In

the high priest that the temple should be repaired. The priest told the messenger that he had found the Book of the Lord in the temple. God’s people had forgotten Him, and His Word had been lost! When the messenger read the Word of the Lord to Joslah, the king tore his clothing, for he knew how angry God was that the words of the Book had been disobeyed fo r so many years. Josiah called the people to the tem­ ple and read to them from this Book of the Lord. The people promised that they would never again disobey God’s commandments. They forsook their idols and returned to the wor­ ship of the true God. Josiah re­ Outline and Exposition T h e O p p o r t u n it y fo r J u d a h (3 6 :2 ,3 ) God never acts hastily in bringing judgment upon sinners; He is loath to allow it to fall. Hence He gave Judah chance rafter chance because He hoped she would repent and give Him an opportunity to “forgive their iniquity.” But when people become settled in their rebellion, with hearts hardened beyond hope of softening, chastisement must come. Otherwise God Himself would become a partner in sin and His righteousness would be destroyed. T h e D e f ia n c e b y J u d a h (36:28-31) A written threat of judgment was delivered to Jehoiakim, king of Ju­ dah, but he cut it up and burned it. Then Jeremiah was commanded to write another scroll, repeating the message of the first, and adding a declaration of Jehoiaklm’s punish­ ment to come. Over and over God dealt in patience with His people and their king, giving them every opportunity to cease from their idol­ atry and return to Him. He warned them of the sure end of their wicked­ ness. He invited them to come to Him; He promised to give them prosperity and peace, “But they hearkened not.” T h e D o w n f a l l o f J u d a h (2 Ki. 24:1-4) The king of Babylon was allowed by God to overcome Jehoiakim and to reduce him to servitude. After some time, Jehoiakim rebelled against this, but the Lord stirred up other peoples to attack Judah. This was the judgment of which the Lord had warned “by his servants the prophets” to whom Judah had re­ fused to listen. The sins of former kings of Judah, as well as those of Jehoiakim, had MAY, I »47

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JUNE 15,1947 JUDAH’S APPROACHING DOOM J e r . 36:2, 3, 28-31; 2 Ki. 24:1-4

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