prophets and kings-第68节
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in the night to the frost。 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity； and I will bring upon them； and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem； and upon the men of Judah； all the evil that I have pronounced against them。〃 Jeremiah 36：30； 31。
The burning of the roll was not the end of the matter。 The written words were more easily disposed of than the reproof and warning they contained and the swift…coming punishment God had pronounced against rebellious Israel。 But even the written roll was reproduced。 〃Take thee again another roll；〃 the Lord commanded His servant； 〃and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll； which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned。〃 The record of the prophecies concerning Judah and Jerusalem had been
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reduced to ashes； but the words were still living in the heart of Jeremiah； 〃as a burning fire；〃 and the prophet was permitted to reproduce that which the wrath of man would fain have destroyed。
Taking another roll； Jeremiah gave it to Baruch； 〃who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire： and there were added besides unto them many like words。〃 Verses 28；32。 The wrath of man had sought to prevent the labors of the prophet of God； but the very means by which Jehoiakim had endeavored to limit the influence of the servant of Jehovah； gave further opportunity for making plain the divine requirements。
The spirit of opposition to reproof； that led to the persecution and imprisonment of Jeremiah； exists today。 Many refuse to heed repeated warnings； preferring rather to listen to false teachers who flatter their vanity and overlook their evil…doing。 In the day of trouble such will have no sure refuge； no help from heaven。 God's chosen servants should meet with courage and patience the trials and sufferings that befall them through reproach； neglect； and misrepresentation。 They should continue to discharge faithfully the work God has given them to do； ever remembering that the prophets of old and the Saviour of mankind and His apostles also endured abuse and persecution for the Word's sake。
It was God's purpose that Jehoiakim should heed the counsels of Jeremiah and thus win favor in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar and save himself much sorrow。 The youthful
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king had sworn allegiance to the Babylonian ruler； and had he remained true to his promise he would have commanded the respect of the heathen； and this would have led to precious opportunities for the conversion of souls。
Scorning the unusual privileges granted him； Judah's king willfully followed a way of his own choosing。 He violated his word of honor to the Babylonian ruler； and rebelled。 This brought him and his kingdom into a very strait place。 Against him were sent 〃bands of the Chaldees； and bands of the Syrians； and bands of the Moabites； and bands of the children of Ammon；〃 and he was powerless to prevent the land from being overrun by these marauders。 2 Kings 24：2。 Within a few years he closed his disastrous reign in ignominy； rejected of Heaven； unloved by his people； and despised by the rulers of Babylon whose confidence he had betrayedand all as the result of his fatal mistake in turning from the purpose of God as revealed through His appointed messenger。
Jehoiachin ＇also known as Jeconiah； and Coniah＇； the son of Jehoiakim； occupied the throne only three months and ten days； when he surrendered to the Chaldean armies which； because of the rebellion of Judah's ruler； were once more besieging the fated city。 On this occasion Nebuchadnezzar 〃carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon； and the king's mother； and the king's wives； and his officers； and the mighty of the land；〃 several thousand in number； together with 〃craftsmen and smiths a thousand。〃 With these the king of Babylon took 〃all the treasures of the house of the Lord； and the treasures of the king's house。〃 2 Kings 24：15；16；13。
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The kingdom of Judah； broken in power and robbed of its strength both in men and in treasure； was nevertheless still permitted to exist as a separate government。 At its head Nebuchadnezzar placed Mattaniah； a younger son of Josiah； changing his name to Zedekiah。
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Chapter 36
The Last King of Judah
Zedekiah at the beginning of his reign was trusted fully by the king of Babylon and had as a tried counselor the prophet Jeremiah。 By pursuing an honorable course toward the Babylonians and by paying heed to the messages from the Lord through Jeremiah； he could have kept the respect of many in high authority and have had opportunity to communicate to them a knowledge of the true God。 Thus the captive exiles already in Babylon would have been placed on vantage ground and granted many liberties； the name of God would have been honored far and wide； and those that remained in the land of Judah would have been spared the terrible calamities that finally came upon them。
Through Jeremiah； Zedekiah and all Judah； including those taken to Babylon； were counseled to submit quietly to the temporary rule of their conquerors。 It was especially important that those in captivity should seek the peace of the land into which they had been carried。 This； however；
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was contrary to the inclinations of the human heart； and Satan； taking advantage of the circumstances； caused false prophets to arise among the people； both in Jerusalem and in Babylon； who declared that the yoke of bondage would soon be broken and the former prestige of the nation restored。
The heeding of such flattering prophecies would have led to fatal moves on the part of the king and the exiles； and would have frustrated the merciful designs of God in their behalf。 Lest an insurrection be incited and great suffering ensue； the Lord commanded Jeremiah to meet the crisis without delay； by warning the king of Judah of the sure consequence of rebellion。 The captives also were admonished； by written communications； not to be deluded into believing their deliverance near。 〃Let not your prophets and your diviners； that be in the midst of you； deceive you；〃 he urged。 Jeremiah 29：8。 In this connection mention was made of the Lord's purpose to restore Israel at the close of the seventy years of captivity foretold by His messengers。
With what tender compassion did God inform His captive people of His plans for Israel！ He knew that should they be persuaded by false prophets to look for a speedy deliverance； their position in Babylon would be made very difficult。 Any demonstration or insurrection on their part would awaken the vigilance and severity of the Chaldean authorities and would lead to a further restriction of their liberties。 Suffering and disaster would result。 He desired them to submit quietly to their fate and make their servitude as pleasant as possible； and his counsel to them was： 〃Build ye houses； and dwell in them； and plant gardens；
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and eat the fruit of them； 。 。 。 and seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives； and pray unto the Lord for it： for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace。〃 Verses 5…7。
Among the false teachers in Babylon were two men who claimed to be holy； but whose lives were corrupt。 Jeremiah had condemned the evil course of these men and had warned them of their danger。 Angered by reproof； they sought to oppose the work of the true prophet by stirring up the people to discredit his words and to act contrary to the counsel of God in the matter of subjecting themselves to the king of Babylon。 The Lord testified through Jeremiah that these false prophets should be delivered into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar and slain before his eyes。 Not long afterward； this prediction was literally fulfilled。
To the end of time； men will arise to create confusion and rebellion among those who claim to be representatives of the true God。 Those who prophesy lies will encourage men to look upon sin as a light thing。 When the terrible results of their evil deeds are made manifest； they will seek； if possible； to make the one who has faithfully warned them； responsible for their difficulties； even as the Jews charged Jeremiah with their evil fortunes。 But as surely as the words of Jehovah through His prophet were vindicated anciently； so surely will the certainty of His messages be established today。
From the first； Jeremiah had followed a consistent course in counseling submission to the Babylonians。 This counsel was given not only to Judah； but to many of the surrounding
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nations。 In the earlier portion of Zedekiah's reign； ambassadors from the rulers of Edom； Moab； Tyre； and other nations visited the king of Judah to learn whether in his judgment the time was opportune for a united revolt and whether he would join them in battling against the king of Babylon。 While these ambassadors were awaiting a response； the word of the Lord came
