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nt me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard。 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings； and obey the voice of the Lord your God； and the Lord will repent Him of the evil that He hath pronounced against you。 As for me； behold； I am in your hand： do with me as seemeth good and meet unto
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you。 But know ye for certain； that if ye put me to death； ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves； and upon this city； and upon the inhabitants thereof： for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears。〃 Verses 12…15。
Had the prophet been intimidated by the threatening attitude of those high in authority； his message would have been without effect； and he would have lost his life； but the courage with which he delivered the solemn warning commanded the respect of the people and turned the princes of Israel in his favor。 They reasoned with the priests and false prophets； showing them how unwise would be the extreme measures they advocated； and their words produced a reaction in the minds of the people。 Thus God raised up defenders for His servant。
The elders also united in protesting against the decision of the priests regarding the fate of Jeremiah。 They cited the case of Micah； who had prophesied judgments upon Jerusalem； saying； 〃Zion shall be plowed like a field； and Jerusalem shall become heaps； and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest。〃 And they asked： 〃Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death？ did he not fear the Lord； and besought the Lord； and the Lord repented Him of the evil which He had pronounced against them？ Thus might we procure great evil against our souls。〃 Verses 18； 19。
Through the pleading of these men of influence the prophet's life was spared； although many of the priests and false prophets； unable to endure the condemning truths he
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uttered； would gladly have seen him put to death on the plea of sedition。
From the day of his call to the close of his ministry； Jeremiah stood before Judah as 〃a tower and a fortress〃 against which the wrath of man could not prevail。 〃They shall fight against thee；〃 the Lord had forewarned His servant； 〃but they shall not prevail against thee： for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee； saith the Lord。 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked； and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible。〃 Jeremiah 6：27； 15：20； 21。
Naturally of a timid and shrinking disposition； Jeremiah longed for the peace and quiet of a life of retirement； where
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he need not witness the continued impenitence of his beloved nation。 His heart was wrung with anguish over the ruin wrought by sin。 〃O that my head were waters； and mine eyes a fountain of tears；〃 he mourned； 〃that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people！ O that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men； that I might leave my people； and go from them。〃 Jeremiah 9：1； 2。
Cruel were the mockings he was called upon to endure。 His sensitive soul was pierced through and through by the arrows of derision hurled at him by those who despised his messages and made light of his burden for their conversion。 〃I was a derision to all my people；〃 he declared； 〃and their song all the day。〃 〃I am in derision daily； everyone mocketh me。〃 〃All my familiars watched for my halting； saying； Peradventure he will be enticed； and we shall prevail against him； and we shall take our revenge on him。〃 Lamentations 3：14； Jeremiah 20：7； 10。
But the faithful prophet was daily strengthened to endure。 〃The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible One；〃 he declared in faith； 〃therefore my persecutors shall stumble； and they shall not prevail： they shall be really ashamed； for they shall not prosper： their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten。〃 〃Sing unto the Lord； praise ye the Lord： for He hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers。〃 Jeremiah 20：11； 13。
The experiences through which Jeremiah passed in the days of his youth and also in the later years of his ministry； taught him the lesson that 〃the way of man is not in
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self： it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps。〃 He learned to pray； 〃O Lord； correct me； but with judgment； not in Thine anger； lest Thou bring me nothing。〃 Jeremiah 10：23； 24。
When called to drink of the cup of tribulation and sorrow； and when tempted in his misery to say； 〃My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord；〃 he recalled the providences of God in his behalf and triumphantly exclaimed； 〃It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed； because His compassions fail not。 They are new every morning： great is Thy faithfulness。 The Lord is my portion； saith my soul； therefore will I hope in Him。 The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him； to the soul that seeketh Him。 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord。〃 Lamentations 3：18； 22…26。
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Chapter 35
Approaching Doom
The first years of Jehoiakim's reign were filled with warnings of approaching doom。 The word of the Lord spoken by the prophets was about to be fulfilled。 The Assyrian power to the northward； long supreme； was no longer to rule the nations。 Egypt on the south； in whose power the king of Judah was vainly placing his trust； was soon to receive a decided check。 All unexpectedly a new world power； the Babylonian Empire； was rising to the eastward and swiftly overshadowing all other nations。
Within a few short years the king of Babylon was to be used as the instrument of God's wrath upon impenitent Judah。 Again and again Jerusalem was to be invested and entered by the besieging armies of Nebuchadnezzar。 Company after companyat first a few only； but later on thousands and tens of thousandswere to be taken captive to the land of Shinar； there to dwell in enforced exile。 Jehoiakim； Jehoiachin； Zedekiahall these Jewish kings were in turn to become vassals of the Babylonian
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ruler； and all in turn were to rebel。 Severer and yet more severe chastisements were to be inflicted upon the rebellious nation； until at last the entire land was to become a desolation； Jerusalem was to be laid waste and burned with fire； the temple that Solomon had built was to be destroyed； and the kingdom of Judah was to fall； never again to occupy its former position among the nations of earth。
Those times of change； so fraught with peril to the Israelitish nation； were marked with many messages from Heaven through Jeremiah。 Thus the Lord gave the children of Judah ample opportunity of freeing themselves from entangling alliances with Egypt； and of avoiding controversy with the rulers of Babylon。 As the threatened danger came closer； he taught the people by means of a series of acted parables； hoping thus to arouse them to a sense of their obligation to God； and also to encourage them to maintain friendly relations with the Babylonian government。
To illustrate the importance of yielding implicit obedience to the requirements of God； Jeremiah gathered some Rechabites into one of the chambers of the temple and set wine before them； inviting them to drink。 As was to have been expected； he met with remonstrance and absolute refusal。 〃We will drink no wine；〃 the Rechabites firmly declared； 〃for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us； saying； Ye shall drink no wine； neither ye； nor your sons forever。〃
〃Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah； saying； Thus saith the Lord of hosts； the God of Israel； Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem；
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Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to My words？ saith the Lord。 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab； that he commanded his sons not to drink wine； are performed； for unto this day they drink none； but obey their father's commandment。〃 Jeremiah 35：6； 12…14。
God sought thus to bring into sharp contrast the obedience of the Rechabites with the disobedience and rebellion of His people。 The Rechabites had obeyed the command of their father and now refused to be enticed into transgression。 But the men of Judah had hearkened not to the words of the Lord； and were in consequence about to suffer His severest judgments。
〃I have spoken unto you； rising early and speaking；〃 the Lord declared； 〃but ye hearkened not unto Me。 I have sent also unto you all My servants the prophets； rising up early and sending them； saying； Return ye now every man from his evil way； and amend your doings； and go not after other gods to serve them； and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers： but ye have not inclined your ear； nor hearkened unto Me。 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father； which he commanded them； but this people hath not hearkened unto Me： therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts； the God of Israel； Behold； I will bring