turning, deposed him, a f t er a three-months' reign, and set up the brother Eliakim un- der the name of Jehoiaklm, who reigned 11 years. 3. The kingdom of Judah was nearlng its fall. The people were impov- erished to pay even the comparatively small tribute exacted by Necho. Idolatry, immor- ality, oppression, vice, abounded amo ng all classes. Baalism, robbery, drunkenness, adultery, perjury, murder, are all specified in Jeremiah's charges against them. Chief among the sins n amed was the deception of false prophecy (see especially 5:23-31; 14: and 23:); a nd to crown it all the "people loved to have it so" (5:31). 4. Trouble was brewing in the north. A seething pot" of political agitation in Mesopotamia would soon pour its desolating contents over them unless Jehovah interfered in response to t h at repentance which they refused. The por- tents of nature, prophecy and politics h a r- monize. IV. JEREMIAH'S ARREST AND TRIAL. 1. Against alt this wickedness the prophet was sent to testify. The "word" "came from the Lord" (26:1) saying: "Thus saith the Lord" (26:2), a phrase occurring 2600 times in S.S. "Stand in the court," etc. The word was to be proclaimed in the place where "all the cities" congregated. The greatest possible publicity should be given to God's Word. "All the words," the welcome and the unwelcome, the complimentary and the uncomplimentary, the promises and the threats. "Diminish not a word," heavy eni- phasfs is placed on this (gee Dent, 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6; Gal. 3:15; Rev. 22:18). This cannot be reconciled with the teaching of some t h at parts of the Bible are authori- tative while other p a r ts are not. The "words" here" referred to are detailed in chanters 5-12, which should be attentively read "If so be," etc. First is a promise of pardon and deliverance if they would re- pent. Throughout all these chapters the severity of the threats are more t h an matched by the tenderness and liberality of the promises. God is more willing^ to spare than to punish, to bless than to curse (26-3). "If ye will not," etc. This wa r n- ing is both kind and just, and was earnest- ly and repeatedly urged while judgment was postponed (26:4-6). 2. The resoonse of the religious authorities. They "took" the mes- senger of the Lord and pronounced against him tne sentence, "Thou shalt surely die (v. 8. 9). Incorrigible sinners are without reason or justice. They know the T r u th b ut would substitute a lie: The height of unreason. T h ey know themselves worthy of death, but slay their saviours, the height of injustice. May we always be humble, docile, at the reproof of the righteous (Prov. 15-5 10). 3. Jeremiah's appeal to the princes. (a) ' H e declared t h at the Lord had "sent" him T h at "all" the words were from Him. (b) He does it not in self-defense, but uses the opportunity for renewing the call to re- pentance. (c) He willinglv offers himself, but cautions t h em to heed wh at they do (vv 12-15). Such is the spirit of all who witness for the truth in love. Read the trial of Jesus; those of P e t er and John, in Acts 3:4; and of Luther at Worms. 4. The sentence of the Princes (vv. 16). ' This man is not worthy to die." It is a sad com- ment t h at the secular judgment is like to be more just t h an the ecclesiastical. It h a s
(and the believer) h a s the same commis- sion, "and marching orders," no more so, no less (Mat. 28:19, 20). (f) The Lord pledged His presence, protection, and "a mouth and wisdom" (1:8, 9: Luke 21:15). It is God's Word of Authority, not the "dreams," visions," "deceit," "conceits," "wisdom," "commandments and doctrines of men" (23:16, 26, 28; Col. 2:22, 23) t h at puts ma r t yr marrow into the vertebrae; and the consciousness of the Divine mission and message makes the Jeremiahs, Peters, Pauls, and Luthers. This was thè source of Jere- miah's courage and convicting power; and his support when they "devised devices" against him (18:18); when P a s h ur smote him in the face, and put him in the stocks (20:2); when he was shut up in the court of the prison (32:2); when the princes smote him and put him into the dungeon in the prison of J o n a t h an (37:15, 16); when he sank in the filthy mire of the pit dungeon of Cal- chiah, where he was "like to die for hun- ger," and whence to draw him from the miry depths the force would have torn his flesh but for protecting clouts (38:6-13); and when (26:) . . . . they assured him he should die (26:8); when all his "familiars" would "entice," "prevail a g a l n s v' "take revenge on him" (20:10). But he remainèd faithful and declared "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:2) and "the Lord was with him as a mighty and terrible one" (20:11); and will be with all who fol- low the same course. II. NOTABLE SAYINGS OF JEREMIAH. Our four studies among his prophecies warrant a further introduction to his works. It was he who gave us the following fine expressions: "My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me the Foun- tain of Living Waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (2:13); "Can a maid forget her orna- ments, or a bride her attire? Yet my peo- ple have forgotten Me" (2:32); "The harvest Is passed, the summer is ended and we are not saved' (8:20); "Is there no balm in Gllead, is there no physician there? Why then is the hurt of my people not healed?" (8:22); "Oh, that my head were waters and mine eyes were a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of my people" (9:1); "O Lord, correct me, with Judgment, not in anger, lest thou bring me to nothing" (10:4); "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (17'9); "The Lord our righteousness" (23:6); "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the Rock In pieces?" (23:29); "Give glory to the Lord your God before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains" (13:16), e etc., etc. III. THE POLITICAL AND SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS OF JEREMIAH'S TIME. 1. The good Josiah fell resisting Pharaoh Necho's unauthorized passage through his territory, for all Palestine was the hered- itary possession of the Davidic throne. It was a brave and patriotic though fatal act of the king, and should be commended, not condemned. 2. The people made Jehoahaz, his son, king In his stead. They had great hopes of the young "whelp" (Ezek. 19:3, 4) which were soon disappointed. Necho, re-
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