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T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
August 1930
be surprised at Jeremiah’s frequent out bursts o f grief. He is called “the weep ing prophet.” Yet throughout all his sor- sows and his dangers his courage did not fail. He looked to the future with confi dent hope.
4. Jehovah’s assurances (8), a. ' “ Be not afraid.” b. “ I am with thee,” 5. Jehovah’s empowering (9, 10). a. “I have put my words in thy mouth.” b. “I have set thee over the na tions.” 1. The promised regathering o f Is rael (27-30). 2. The promised forgiveness and es tablishment of Israel (31-34). * * * A pproach to the L esson JEREMIAH was by birth a priest. He J dwelt at Anathoth, a priests’ city (1 Chron. 6:60). His father’s name was Hilkiah. Older commentators identified this Hilkiah with the high priest of that name who found the book of the law in the temple, but modern commentators deny it. Jeremiah received his call to the pro phetic office in the thirteenth year of Jo siah. It was a time when great foes were threatening the kingdom of Judah, Egypt on the one hand and Babylon on the other. The Assyrian empire was breaking up and the power of the east was trans ferred from Nineveh to Babylon. Jere miah boldly foretold the greatness o f the coming empire of Nebuchadnezzar. Per haps it was this prophecy (chap. 25) which enraged the political leaders and placed his life in danger. He was the faithful messenger of Jehovah in very evil days, making a last but futile appeal to the covenant people to turn to Jehovah. The efforts at reform by Hezekiah and Josiah had failed. The nation was sink ing deeper and deeper into idolatry. Knowing the hopelessness of the situation, surrounded constantly by bitter foes who cruelly persecuted him, and spending much time in dark dungeons, one cannot II. The New Covenant (31:27-34).
the worship of God, the long-neglected temple o f Solomon, once the great reli gious center of the Jewish nation. It was in a sad state o f decay. Dirt and rubbish had accumulated; and in order to cleanse and repair it, money was needed. So the Levites, the tribe especially in charge of the house of God, were sent out through Palestine, and the money contributed by the people was given to Hilkiah, the high priest, to be used in buying materials and paying the workmen. One day a great discovery was made, while the temple was being repaired. Hil kiah found a manuscript roll which lie knew was the book of the law, and with great exultation he gave the roll to Sha- phan. It was not printed like our books, but was in the form o f a roll, and of course did not contain all that we now have in our Bibles. Shaphan read the Book to Josiah, the king, who, as he real ized the sins of his people and the punish ment .God had said would follow such sins, rent his clothes in grief. Then he sought for a prophet to inquire o f the Lord how these calamities might be averted. They found Huldah, the proph etess, who told Josiah that all God had said was true; but that the judgments would not come upon the nation in his day; God had seen his repentance, heard his prayers, known his sincere efforts to lead the people back to the worship of Jehovah. Then Josiah called the people together, and made a new covenant to worship and obey God. As soon as he saw what was the right thing to do, he did it, and used all his power and influence to cause others to do right also. God’s Word has been wonderfully pre served through all the years. Great was the joy over the discovery o f this one copy. Think o f all the Bibles there are today! Yet to us, our Bibles may be as truly “lost” as was this copy long ago, if we fail to read and obey them. In many places today there are people who have no copy of God’s Word. Some have never heard about it. Is your own Bible a treasure to you? Can you say: “ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psa. 119:105)? What are you doing to help send this “ light” to brighten the sin-darkened lands and hearts where it is indeed a hidden treasure? “ Send the light, the blessed Gospel light!” Prayer. — o — September 14, 1930 Jeremiah, the Prophet of Individual —— — — Religion Lesson: Jeremiah 1:1-10; 14:7-22; 31: 27-34. ( Lesson T ext : Jeremiah 1:4-10; 31:27- 34). Golden Text: “Each one o f us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). * j K * L esson in O utline I. The Call o f Jeremiah (1:4-10). 1. Jehovah’s eternal purpose (4,5). 2. The prophet’s humility (6). 3. Jehovah’s marching orders (7). a. “ Say not.” b. “Thou shalt go.” c. “ Thou shalt speak.”
* H eart of the L esson I. The Call o f Jeremiah (1:4-10).
V. 4. Word o f Jehovah came. Whether God spoke through an audible sound, or in a vision, or in some strong impression or conviction is not told us. It is clear
that Jeremiah had no doubt whatsoever as to the source of the message. V. 5. B e f o r e I formed thee I knew thee.' God not only f o r e k n e w t h e prophet b u t chose
and approved him before his birth for special service. I sanctified thee. In gen eral terms, to sanctify means to make holy. In its simple meaning it signifies to set apart to holy service for God. Ap^__ pointed thee a prophet. God’s plan for him was fixed in eternity. Unto the nations. Many o f the prophets had a ministry for Israel only. Jeremiah’s message in a sense was to all mankind. Taking these words in their full sense they could be true only of Jesus Christ, pf whom Jeremiah is a type. V. 6. Know not how to speak. The prophet does not refuse his appointment, but he shrinks from it in fear. He was not unlike Isaiah (Isa. 6:5) and Ezekiel (Ezek. 3:1-3). Jeremiah was but a youth at this time and felt that he had not the necessary eloquence to persuade the peo ple. V. 7. 'Say not, I am a child. Since the prophet was not disobedient, he did not receive rebuke, but rather encouragement. Thou shalt go. Like the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, he was given marching orders. He had no liberty to choose his own field or deliver his own message (cf. Matt. 28:18-20). V. 8. Be not afraid. The people o f Judah had hardened themselves and the prophet was warned that they would re sist his message, yet he need not fear'. I am with thee. God did not promise im munity from hardships and dangers. He gave assurance that He would accompany His servant to deliver him. This is similar to the message of Christ in the great com mission, “Lo, I am with you always.” V. 9. Touched my mouth. This sug gests the bestowing of divine grace and help, removing or overcoming the proph et’s lack of eloquence (cf. Isa. 6:5-7). Put my words in thy mouth. God’s mes sage was to become a very part of him. A similar thought appears in the story of the call o f Ezekiel (Ezek. 2:9-3:3). V. 10. Set thee over the nations. God made him an overseer or deputy, a title that marks him as one invested with great authority. As God’s vicegerent he had power “to pluck up and to break down,” to destroy and to overthrow. To build and to plant. The prophet’s message to his contemporaries included Warnings con cerning the approaching destruction of the kingdom, but he looked beyond that dis aster and saw the end o f Babylonian exile when there would be a time of na-
God’s Word (Matt. 4:4) B y M argaret E. B arber
I worship and praise and adore, And glorify Thee, blessed Lord; Though the foe may his utter most do. He never can alter Thy Word. It stands though the heavens may fall, It stands! though the earth pass away, And on it, I’m standing, 0 Lord, And standing in triumph today. I’m trusting in what Thou hast said, As my bark ploughs her way through the sea; Her chart and her compass Thy Word, All glory, Lord Jesus, to Thee! I rest on Thy promise divine, And smile at the gathering storm; My bark cannot sink, for I know, Thou wilt hasten Thy Word to perform. —Christian Fundamentalist.
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