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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
counsel of the Mighty One of Israel.” Then the people would have
respected his courageous spirit, and those who were wavering between
faith and unbelief would have taken a firm stand for the right. The very
fearlessness and justice of this course would have inspired his subjects
with admiration and loyalty. He would have had ample support, and
Israel would have been spared the untold woe of fire and carnage and
famine.
But the weakness of Zedekiah was a crime for which he paid a
fearful penalty. The enemy swept down like a resistless avalanche and
devastated the city. The Hebrew armies were beaten back in confusion.
The nation was conquered. Zedekiah was taken prisoner, and his sons
were slain before his eyes. Then he was led away from Jerusalem a
captive, hearing the shrieks of his wretched people and the roaring of
the flames that were devouring their homes. His eyes were put out,
and when he arrived at Babylon he perished miserably. This was the
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punishment of unbelief and following ungodly counsel.
There are many false prophets in these days, to whom sin does
not appear specially repulsive. They complain that the peace of the
people is unnecessarily disturbed by the reproofs and warnings of
God’s messengers. As for them, they lull the souls of sinners into a
fatal ease by their smooth and deceitful teachings. Ancient Israel was
thus charmed by the flattering messages of the corrupt priests. Their
prediction of prosperity was more pleasing than the message of the
true prophet, who counseled repentance and submission.
The servants of God should manifest a tender, compassionate spirit
and show to all that they are not actuated by any personal motives
in their dealings with the people, and that they do not take delight
in giving messages of wrath in the name of the Lord. But they must
never flinch from pointing out the sins that are corrupting the professed
people of God, nor cease striving to influence them to turn from their
errors and obey the Lord.
Those who seek to cloak sin and make it appear less aggravating
to the mind of the offender are doing the work of the false prophets
and may expect the retributive wrath of God to follow such a course.
The Lord will never accommodate His ways to the wishes of corrupt
men. The false prophet condemned Jeremiah for afflicting the people
with his severe denunciations, and he sought to reassure them by
promising them prosperity, thinking that the poor people should not