Newspaper Page Text
8 (776)
The Sunday School
THE CAPTIVITY OF J I D AII.
Sunday, Aug. 27, 1911. Jeremiah 39.
The event that has been impending
for some time has come; Judah is carried
away captive. For a long while
Jeremiah has been warning King and
people that this would surely come upon
them if they did not mend their ways.
He got imprisoned for his frankness
and now his prophecies are being fulfilled.
A prophet does not usually live to be
vindicated.
About one hundred and thirty years
before this time the Assyrians, then
the dominant nation in Asia, had overthrown
the Northern Kingdom. Judah
had listened to the warnings of Isaiah
and under the leadership of good kings
had staved off disaster. Assyria had now
lost the dominant place to another kingdom,
the Chaldean. The great city of
Nineveh had been destroyed and the city
of Babylon had taken its place as the
world city. During the conflict between
Assyria and Chaldea the King of Egypt
thought the time opportune to get control
of some of the territory, particularly
Palestine and Syria. A great battle
was fought at Charchemish and Babylon
triumphed. Ever since that time Jerusalem
had been threatened. In 597 Jehoiachin
and a number of the princes
and leaders of the people had been carried
and it is probable that later another
company was taken to Babylon.
Mattaniah, the youngest son of Josiah
had been placed upon the throne by
Nebuchadnezzer, and his name changed
to Zedekiah. He had been put under solemn
oath to remain loyal to the Chaldean
King and to pay tribute regularly.
The final overthrow of Jerusalem was
brought about by Zedekiab's unfaithfulness
to his vow of allegiance. When
Nebuchadnezzer heard of the perfidy of
Judah's king of his turning toward
Egypt, he immediately set about the
capture of the city of Jerusalem and the
punishment of its King.
The present lesson divides as follows:
1. Jerusalem captured. 1-3.
2. Fate of the King. 4-7.
P.. .Tr*rilR?llAm Doatrnvod PonHvzio
? ? ?
Taken Away. 8-10.
4. Later History of Jeremiah.
1. Jerusalem Captured: For about
eighteen months the city is beseiged
by the armies of Nebuchadnezzer. Many
attacks are made upon its walls but for
a long time they withstand and the
hopes of the people are high. But the
provisions get low and then the walls
are broken and the leaders of the Chaldean
army take up a position of advantage
commanding the city. When this
occurred the men of war fled and the
King went with them. Thus ends the
history of the independence of the city
of Jerusalem so long a power In the
land. It had been a city of great joy to
the Jews. David and Solomon had made
it great and many events of great importance
had taken place there. Now it
is in the hands of the enemy and its
glory will soon pass. To this day the
devout Jew turns his eyes toward Jerusalem.
2. Fate of the King: The Chaldeans
were coming In from the north so the
King and his men attempt to escape to
the south. They are closely followed
and on the plains of Jericho they are
captured and the King is taken to Riblah
where Nebuchadnezzer has his
headquarters. Riblah is In Syria
and was convenient for the Chaldean
King as he was at this time
beselglng Tyre also. Fearful punishment
is given Zedekiah. His sons are
slain before his eyes ar.Vl then his eyes
are put out and he is curled to Babylon.
This exactly fulfills Vhe prophecy
of Ezekiel (12:13) that Zedlpkiah should
ifi&
TttE P R ? S B Y T E R I
be carried to Babylon, but should not
see it. It is hard to have much sympathy
for Zedekiah. He had been warned time
and again by Jeremiah. The course that
Jehovah expected him to pursue had
been outlined to him by the prophet,
yet he had -disobeyed. We must learn
that our success depends upon obedience.
The man who expects to use any
of the great forces of the universe must
learn and obey the laws of those forces
or disaster will be the sure result. Yet
it seems hard to get some people to realize
that the law of God is really for
their help and that it is not a restriction
of their real liberty.
3. Jerusalem Destroyed: The Drinci
pal structures in Jerusalem are destroyed
by the King's orders, and the
walls are thrown down. So passes the
glory of the great city of Judaism. The
greater part, particularly the better
class of the people, of the population of
the city is carried away to Babylon. The
poorer people are left and are permitted
to occupy the vineyards and olive yards
that had been left by the captives. This
seems to be something of a compensation
for the wrongs they had been suffering.
4. Later History of Jeremiah: Jeremiah
was taken with the other captives
but was released at Ramah and given
permission to dwell where he pleased.
Gedaliah had been appointed governor
of the land by Nebuchadnezzer and
Jeremiah goes to dwell with him. Many
of the Deonle who had boen seattArAd
during the seige come back into the
land and things seem to be getting on
nicely. Under the leadership of one
Ishmael a revolt takes place and Gedaliah
is slain. Ishmael carries away a
number of the people. Johanan goes after
thom and brings them back. He decides
to go to Egypt, but is warned by
Jeremiah not to do so. He disobeys and
takes Jeremiah with him.
The central truth of this lesson is undoubtedly
that which has been suggested
already; obedience and its value and
it would be well for all teachers to
urge it from every point of view.
New Orleans, La. Geo. D. Booth.
INTERESTING LETTERS TO RET.
E. P. PENICK.
Chinkiang, 5-30-11.
Dear Father Penick.:?I was in such
a rush yesterday morning till I did not
mention that my hopes had been that
the woman, who is bringing those children
to the home might stay for a while
and look after them. This lady is an Independent
worker out here in China,
and belongs to the Holiness branch. Her
expenses are paid by Mr. Mussen, who
is the father of the children. He was
able to borrow the money, and now
for nearly a year he will be working
that debt off. My point was or is that
the woman would not have to be paid a
salary. I do not think, for a f#>w mnntha
any "way. It is a little delicate matter
for me to make clear especially when
I did not have time to talk matters over
with her. She told me that her plans
were to come on back. But my opinion
is that by the time she gets there with
the children she will appreciate a place
to stop at for a few days, and she may
turn out a valuable helper for you, at
least in the case of these children. She
wanted to go home, and now it seems
to me that she might be willing to stay
a while and feed that little baby as an
additional return for the expenses be
ing paid for her. Mr. Mussen Is going to
do what he can in helping support the
children. I think we have a fine chance
in the case of these children to train up
some good material. T hope and pray
that everything may work out 0. K It
would have been a pretty hard pull for
he children to have livtd through the
(Continued on page Bl)
AN OF THIS SOUTH
Young People's Societies
PERSIA AND TURKEY.
Topic for Sunday, August 27: A Missionary
Journey Around the World.
VIII Missions in Persia and
Turkey. Acts 4:13-31.
DAILY READINGS.
Monday: Growth of false religion. 2
Kings, 17:24-34.
Tuesday: Blight of error. Isaiah
9:16-21.
Wednesday: The fruit test. Matthew
. 7:15-20.
Thursday: The Coming of light. Acts
26:16-20.
Friday: A prayer for the East. Ephesians,
1:17-23.
Saturday: The victory. Phillippians
2:9-11.
The Mohammedan world presents
some of the most interesting features of
missionary work. The deeply rooted nature
of its religion, the relation between
the government and that religion
and the truculence of the people combine
to make the situation peculiar and
difficult.
The work as thus far prosecuted in
Turkey and its dependencies has been
amongst religionists other than followers
of Islam. All through the territory
dominated by Turkey there are people
of other faiths, and especially the Armenians,
and it has been amongst
these that the largest work has been
done.
The recent revolution in Turkey it
is believed will open the way for more
freedom in religion. The lately deposed
sultan was both wicked and intolerant.
The young Turk party looks in the direction
of progress and liberty. Not as
much has yet come of the change as
was hoped" for, but the people are facing
right.
In Persia there has been for many
years past far more tolerance of the
Christian faith than in other countries
so wholly Mohammedan. Flourishing
missions, especially of the Presbyterian
Church, have been long conducted
amongst this people. Persia also has
lately had a political revolution which
promises a more open door to Christian
activity.
It is believed by many careful students
of the situation that both Turkey
and Persia are indebted largely to the
missionary efforts in their domain for
the advancement which they have lately
made towards greater liberty toleration,
civilization, and constitutional governments.
Robert College, on the Bosphorus,
and the work at Oorumiah have
borne rich fruit.
mi? u~i *? xl _ * ? * ? ?
xut) religion 01 me ivora Jesus Christ
always lifts up the people to whom It
is sent. Its note of freedom and progress
Is distinct and clear. The liberty of the
sons of God comes to the sons of men as
well. Godliness has promise of the life
that now Is. The sending of the gospel
Into all the world Is a form of philanthropy
not surpassed by rich legacies to
the poor or homes and comforts to the
needy.
Peculiar interest attaches to missions
in the Turkish empire from the fact
that Palestine, the Promised land, the
scene of the birth, activity and resurrection
of our T^nrrl la iindor tli?t
million. Missionary effort there is a holier,
more promising, and more imperative
a crusade than was that of Peter
the Hermit or Richard Coeur de Leon.
To rescue that land from the infldelB
by bringing the infidels themselves to
the Cross is a movement to stir the
heart and to stimulate the activity and
devotion of all who love the Lord Jesus
Christ
[August 16, 1911
The Prayer Meeting
SINCERITY AND TRUTH.
1 Cor. 5:8. Week Beginning Aug. 20.
Paul, in this and the preceding chapter,
calls the Corinthian church to account
for two Bins which it permitted
to exist among its members. The first is
the permitting of false teachers to lead
the church away from the truth; and
the second is one which he says, "is not
so much as named among the Gentiles."
He accuses them of being puffed up with
pride when they ought to be humbled
and penitent. He tells them that the offender
ought to be cast out of the
church, or excommunicated. This exercise
of discipline had a two-fold object,
as all church discipline should have.
First it was for the offender's good, to
make him see the sinfulness of his
course, and to bring him to repentance.
Then it was for the protection of the
church. "A little leaven leaveneth the
whole lump." Sin is contagious. Left to
grow under the protection of the
church, it will soon infect others. So he
who is guilty of flagrant sin should not
be allowed to remain in the church. Discipline
should be administered in love,
but it should be administered much oftener
than is customary at the present
time.
Paul exhorts to purity on the part
of the church, and uses some figures of
speech drawn from the passover. During
the week in which this feast was
celebrated the Jews were required to
cast all leaven out of their houses, for
leaven represented sin; and In every
way they were to keen themselves aB
clean ceremonially as possible. By his
passover feast he represents the" Christian
life. As the passover work was made
holy by the slaying of the lamb, so the
Christian life is <made holy by the death
of the Christian's Passover, the Lamb of
God. And because this life is thus made
holy, set apart for God, it ought to be
kept as free from sin as possible. The
church by its disciplinary powers
should at least keep Itself free from
flagrant sin.
But the church is made up of Individuals,
and If the Church is kept free
from sin It is necessary that the individuals
keep themselves free from sin.
The Christian's life should be a continual
paschal feast, kept holy unto God.
Paul oThnrta that tf ho Vont "with fho
unleavened bread of sincerity and
truth." A sincere life, a true life Is what
every child of God should lead.
"Sincerity" conies from two Latin
words, "sine" and "cera," which made it
mean originally "without wax." The
workman who did careless work would
fill up the cracks and cover over the defects
with wax. This would make the
work appear to be good, but it would
not stand the test of time, nor of a close
examination. It would he a sham and a
fraud. So if the Latins wanted to say
that a piece of work honestly done, they
said it was done without wax?sincere.
The Christian's life and all his work
should he honest, without sham or decelt?Bincere
before God and man. The
Greek word for which "sincerity" is the
translation eXDressen tho nnmo thmieht
under a somewhat different figure of
speech. It means "purity," with the
Idea of transparent clearness; something
through which the sun may shine without
revealing any flaw or defect. The
Christian should live in the light and
his life should be such that no flaws
can he found In It.
"Truth," a broad term in the Scriptures,
which means more than veracity.
It means here, as in many places, the
outward manifestation of the character
that is conformed to the law and character
of the true and holy God.