按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
460
and the princes of the realm； were taken to Babylon and there executed as traitors。 Others were carried captive； to live in servitude to Nebuchadnezzar and to his sons 〃until the reign of the kingdom of Persia： to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah。〃 Verses 20； 21。
Of Jeremiah himself it is recorded： 〃Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuchadnezzar…adan the captain of the guard； saying； Take him； and look well to him； and do him no harm； but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee。〃 Jeremiah 39：11； 12。
Released from prison by the Babylonian officers； the prophet chose to cast in his lot with the feeble remnant； 〃certain poor of the land〃 left by the Chaldeans to be 〃vinedressers and husbandmen。〃 Over these the Babylonians set Gedaliah as governor。 Only a few months passed before the newly appointed governor was treacherously slain。 The poor people； after passing through many trials； were finally persuaded by their leaders to take refuge in the land of Egypt。 Against this move； Jeremiah lifted his voice in protest。 〃Go ye not into Egypt；〃 he pleaded。 But the inspired counsel was not heeded； and 〃all the remnant of Judah； 。 。 。 even men； and women； and children；〃 took flight into Egypt。 〃They obeyed not the voice of the Lord： thus came they even to Tahpanhes。〃 Jeremiah 43：5…7。
The prophecies of doom pronounced by Jeremiah upon the remnant that had rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar by fleeing to Egypt were mingled with promises of pardon to those who should repent of their folly and stand ready to return。 While the Lord would not spare those who turned
461
from His counsel to the seductive influences of Egyptian idolatry； yet He would show mercy to those who should prove loyal and true。 〃A small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah；〃 He declared； 〃and all the remnant of Judah； that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there； shall know whose words shall stand； Mine； or theirs。〃 Jeremiah 44：28。
The sorrow of the prophet over the utter perversity of those who would have been the spiritual light of the world； his sorrow over the fate of Zion and of the people carried captive to Babylon； is revealed in the lamentations he has left on record as a memorial of the folly of turning from the counsels of Jehovah to human wisdom。 Amid the ruin wrought； Jeremiah could still declare； 〃It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed；〃 and his constant prayer was； 〃Let us search and try our ways； and turn again to the Lord。〃 Lamentations 3：22； 40。 While Judah was still a kingdom among the nations； he had inquired of his God； 〃Hast Thou utterly rejected Judah？ hath Thy soul loathed Zion？〃 and he had made bold to plead； 〃Do not abhor us； for Thy name's sake。〃 Jeremiah 14：19； 21。 The prophet's absolute faith in God's eternal purpose to bring order out of confusion； and to demonstrate to the nations of earth and to the entire universe His attributes of justice and love； now led him to plead confidently in behalf of those who might turn from evil to righteousness。
But now Zion was utterly destroyed； the people of God were in their captivity。 Overwhelmed with grief； the
462
prophet exclaimed： 〃How doth the city sit solitary； that was full of people！ how is she become as a widow！ she that was great among the nations； and princess among the provinces； how is she become tributary！ She weepeth sore in the night； and her tears are on her cheeks： among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her： all her friends have dealt treacherously with her； they are become her enemies。
〃Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction； and because of great servitude： she dwelleth among the heathen； she findeth no rest： all her persecutors overtook her between the straits。 The ways of Zion do mourn； because none come to the solemn feasts： all her gates are desolate： her priests sigh； her virgins are afflicted； and she is in bitterness。 Her adversaries are the chief； her enemies prosper； for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions： her children are gone into captivity before the enemy。〃
〃How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger； and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel； and remembered not His footstool in the day of His anger！ The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob； and hath not pitied： He hath thrown down in His wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah； He hath brought them down to the ground： He hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof。 He hath cut off in His fierce anger all the horn of Israel： He hath drawn back His right hand from before the enemy； and He burned against Jacob like a flaming fire； which devoureth round about。 He hath bent His bow like an enemy： He stood with His right hand as an adversary； and slew all
463
that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion： He poured out His fury like fire。〃
〃What thing shall I take to witness for thee？ what thing shall I liken to thee； O daughter of Jerusalem？ what shall I equal to thee； that I may comfort thee； O virgin daughter of Zion？ for thy breach is great like the sea： who can heal thee？〃
〃Remember； O Lord； what is come upon us： consider； and behold our reproach。 Our inheritance is turned to strangers； our houses to aliens。 We are orphans and fatherless； our mothers are as widows。 。 。 。 Our fathers have sinned； and are not； and we have borne their iniquities。 Servants have ruled over us： there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand。 。 。 。 For this our heart is faint； for these things our eyes are dim。〃
〃Thou； O Lord； remainest forever； Thy throne from generation to generation。 Wherefore dost Thou forget us forever； and forsake us so long time？ Turn Thou us unto Thee； O Lord； and we shall be turned； renew our days as of old。〃 Lamentations 1：1…5； 2：1…4； 13； 5：1…3； 7； 8； 17； 19…21。
（464）
Chapter 38
Light Through Darkness
The dark years of destruction and death marking the end of the kingdom of Judah would have brought despair to the stoutest heart had it not been for the encouragements in the prophetic utterances of God's messengers。 Through Jeremiah in Jerusalem； through Daniel in the court of Babylon； through Ezekiel on the banks of the Chebar； the Lord in mercy made clear His eternal purpose and gave assurance of His willingness to fulfill to His chosen people the promises recorded in the writings of Moses。 That which He had said He would do for those who should prove true to Him； He would surely bring to pass。 〃The word of God 。 。 。 liveth and abideth forever。〃 1 Peter 1：23。
In the days of the wilderness wandering the Lord had made abundant provision for His children to keep in remembrance the words of His law。 After the settlement in Canaan the divine precepts were to be repeated daily in every home； they were to be written plainly upon the doorposts and