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Prophets and Kings
Already advanced in years, he could never hope to receive personal
benefit from the purchase he had made. However, his study of the
prophecies that were recorded in the Scriptures had created within his
heart a firm conviction that the Lord purposed to restore to the children
of the captivity their ancient possession of the Land of Promise. With
the eye of faith Jeremiah saw the exiles returning at the end of the
years of affliction and reoccupying the land of their fathers. Through
the purchase of the Anathoth estate he would do what he could to
inspire others with the hope that brought so much comfort to his own
heart.
Having signed the deeds of transfer and secured the countersig-
natures of witnesses, Jeremiah charged Baruch his secretary: “Take
these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed,
and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel,
that they may continue many days. For thus saith the Lord of hosts,
the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed
again in this land.”
Jeremiah 32:14, 15
.
So discouraging was the outlook for Judah at the time of this ex-
traordinary transaction that immediately after perfecting the details of
the purchase and arranging for the preservation of the written records,
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the faith of Jeremiah, unshaken though it had been, was now sorely
tried. Had he, in his endeavor to encourage Judah, acted presumptu-
ously? In his desire to establish confidence in the promises of God’s
word, had he given ground for false hope? Those who had entered into
covenant relationship with God had long since scorned the provisions
made in their behalf. Could the promises to the chosen nation ever
meet with complete fulfillment?
Perplexed in spirit, bowed down with sorrow over the sufferings
of those who had refused to repent of their sins, the prophet appealed
to God for further enlightenment concerning the divine purpose for
mankind.
“Ah Lord God!” he prayed, “behold, Thou hast made the heaven
and the earth by Thy great power and stretched-out arm, and there
is nothing too hard for Thee: Thou showest loving-kindness unto
thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom
of their children after them: the great, the mighty God, the Lord of
hosts, is His name, great in counsel, and mighty in work: for Thine
eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give everyone