063. II. Sermons Connected With The First Captivity
II SERMONS CONNECTED WITH THE FIRST CAPTIVITY 1. Exhortations to Repent before it is forever too Late. (Jeremiah 13:15-27)
Seek Jehovah’s help in this time of danger (Jeremiah 13:15-17). Give heed, O Judeans, and humble yourselves before the Lord. Pay homage to him, and secure his favor before he causes this black storm-cloud, which lowers over you, to break in all its fury. But no; I can perceive from your actions that even now you will not bow your proud heads. Nothing remains for me to do but to mourn over the disaster, and the complete captivity toward which you, the chosen people of Jehovah, are hurrying.
Judah’s humiliation (Jeremiah 13:18-21). Let the queen regent and the youthful king, Jehoiakin, descend from the tottering throne, for the crown is falling from their heads. Already the cities of Southern Judah are besieged by the foe, and there is no one to restore them. Already a large portion of the population is being carried away captive, and the rest will soon be compelled to follow. Behold, the long-heralded northern foe draws near to Jerusalem. Where are the powerful people entrusted to your care, O sacred city? What will you think of your boasted alliances with heathen nations when you are subjected to their harsh rule? Unutterable woes shall soon overtake you. If you seek the cause of your disgraceful humiliation, you will find it in the black record of guilt with which your past is darkened.
Nothing but just retribution (Jeremiah 13:23-27). But it is useless to attempt to turn you, O Judeans, from your evil course, for your sinful habits have crystallized into character. It were easier for the negro to become white, or for a leopard to lose his spots. Hence, since you are incapable of repenting, eager to pardon and save you though he is, Jehovah can only punish your neglect and treachery toward him by laying bare before the world all your guilt and infidelity, and by scattering you as exiles among the nations.
2. A Dirge over Fallen Judah (Jeremiah 12:7-13) The rejected and afflicted nation (Jeremiah 13:7-13). Jehovah has handed over this nation, which he loves so deeply, and for which he has done so much, to be spoiled by cruel enemies. The continued defiance of his people has at last exhausted even the patience of the Infinite. Now foreign foes shall complete the devastation begun by the selfish, traitorous rulers of Judah, who have preyed upon rather than protected their charge. Already plundering foes, unconsciously carrying out the divine purpose, have laid waste the whole land, and granted no peace nor mercy to its inhabitants. In vain do you sow your grain, O Judeans, expecting to reap the harvest; for the hand, not only of man, but of God himself, is against you.
3. Threats and Promises to the Heathen (Jeremiah 12:14-17)
Fate of the heathen conditioned upon their conduct (Jeremiah 7:14-17). To those heathen foes, who are attacking his people, Jehovah declares that he will cause them also to taste the horrors of exile. At length, however, he will be moved by that deep love and pity which he feels toward all mankind, and will restore them each to his native land. If they will seek to act in accordance with his will as revealed to his chosen people, and will manifest as much zeal in worshipping and serving him as they did in influencing the Hebrews to acknowledge fealty to Baal, then shall they share with his restored people in the permanent enjoyment of his blessings. If they do not heed his gracious offer, then complete national annihilation shall be their fate.
4. Character and Future of the Jews in Judah and in Babylon (Jer 24) The two baskets of figs (Jeremiah 24:1-3). After the armies of Nebuchadrezzar had swept over Judah, leveling everything and carrying into captivity the youthful Jehoiakin, the nobles and the artisans, I beheld in a vision two baskets of figs. The one basket contained fresh, ripe, luscious figs; the other, worthless figs, unfit to be eaten.
Interpretation of the vision (Jeremiah 24:4-10). With the vision came this message from Jehovah: “The basket of good figs represents the Jewish captives, whom I have sent to Babylon, that they, by hard experience, may learn valuable lessons. I will watch over them. Out of their present affliction shall come great good, for I purpose to restore them to this land, nevermore to be disturbed. At last, in sincerity, they shall turn to me as their God, and I will again recognize them as my chosen people. The hopelessly bad figs represent the princes and the people, who are left in Judah with Zedekiah, and those who have found refuge in Egypt. Like worthless flotsam and jetsam they shall be cast about upon the face of the earth, objects of scorn and reproach to its inhabitants. They shall be the victims of war, want, and pestilence, until these dread agents of destruction have completed their fatal work.
5. A Letter to the Jewish Exiles in Babylon (Jeremiah 29)
Superscription (Jeremiah 29:1-3). This is the text of a letter from Jeremiah to the elders, priests, prophets, and people, held captive in Babylon, which was delivered by the hands of a messenger sent by Zedekiah to the Babylonian king:
Settle down for protracted residence in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:4-9). “It is Jehovah’s will, O Jewish captives in Babylon, that you make permanent homes for yourselves in the land of your enforced sojourn. Cultivate the soil, build up your families and increase. Be loyal to the cities of your adoption, for your prosperity is bound up with theirs. Be not deceived by your false prophets, when they declare in the name of Jehovah that you will speedily be allowed to return; for their words are a delusion.
Promise of an ultimate return (Jeremiah 29:10-14). For two generations (seventy years) the Babylonians shall hold you in captivity. Then shall Jehovah lead you back to your native land, and realize both his loving purpose toward you and the fond hopes which you cherish. Above all, you shall then seek him contritely and faithfully, and he will not be found slow to respond.
Fate of those who remain in Judah (Jeremiah 29:16-19). Far preferable will be your lot to that of Zedekiah and the worthless crew who are left behind in Judah. Calamity after calamity shall overtake them, and they shall be the object of the scorn and attacks of the people among whom they will be scattered, for they turn a deaf ear to the earnest warnings of Jehovah’s faithful messengers.
Judgment which is to overtake the false prophets in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:15;Jeremiah 29:20-23). Put no confidence in your lying prophets. Hear the divine sentence which will speedily be carried out against Ahab, the son of Kolaiah, and Zedekiah, the son of Maaseiah. The treason which they preach shall be reported to Nebuchadrezzar, and you shall be witnesses of their execution. Their crimes of deceit and adultery, and the judgment which overtook them, shall become a proverb among you.
Shemaiah the Nehelamite has written to the priest Zephaniah here in Jerusalem, declaring that the Lord has called him to the chief priesthood instead of Jehoiada, the present incumbent, and intimating that his first duty will be forcibly to silence the “mad prophets” who seek to dissuade the people from their hope of speedy deliverance from Babylon. Why did he not personally attack me, for I have urged you to settle in Babylon with a view to a continued residence there? This is Jehovah’s declaration respecting that base, intriguing prophet: “He has no commission from me, and he is seeking to mislead you with his lying words. He is a traitor against me, and as a penalty neither he nor any of his descendants shall survive to enjoy the blessings which I have in store for my people.”