Jeremiah
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the ark of God had been taken from the land of Israel, thirty thousand
of the people had been slain—and all because sin had been allowed
to flourish unrebuked and unchecked. Israel had vainly thought that,
notwithstanding their sinful practices, the presence of the ark would
ensure them victory over the Philistines. In like manner, during the
days of Jeremiah, the inhabitants of Judah were prone to believe that
a strict observance of the divinely appointed services of the temple
would preserve them from a just punishment for their wicked course.
What a lesson is this to men holding positions of responsibility
today in the church of God! What a solemn warning to deal faith-
fully with wrongs that bring dishonor to the cause of truth! Let none
who claim to be the depositaries of God’s law flatter themselves that
the regard they may outwardly show toward the commandments will
preserve them from the exercise of divine justice. Let none refuse
to be reproved for evil, nor charge the servants of God with being
too zealous in endeavoring to cleanse the camp from evil-doing. A
sin-hating God calls upon those who claim to keep His law to depart
from all iniquity. A neglect to repent and to render willing obedience
will bring upon men and women today as serious consequences as
came upon ancient Israel. There is a limit beyond which the judgments
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of Jehovah can no longer be delayed. The desolation of Jerusalem in
the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the
counsels and admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities
cannot be disregarded with impunity.
Jeremiah’s message to priests and people aroused the antagonism
of many. With boisterous denunciation they cried out, “Why hast thou
prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be like
Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all
the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.”
Jeremiah 26:9
. Priests, false prophets, and people turned in wrath upon
him who would not speak to them smooth things or prophesy deceit.
Thus was the message of God despised, and His servant threatened
with death.
Tidings of the words of Jeremiah were carried to the princes of
Judah, and they hastened from the palace of the king to the temple, to
learn for themselves the truth of the matter. “Then spake the priests
and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This
man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye