Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1911 — OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES

BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED Jeremiah 37—Aug. 20 "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely far Idy sake.”—MaitJUic s.u. PERSECUTION implies that the person or thing persecuted possessed some qualities or powers that are feared. When the persecution is for religion it proves that the persecutor realizes his own weakness to meet the argument in a

more rational way. Today’s study draws our attention to the persecutions endured by one of the Lord’s faithful Prophets, He was a

patriot in the highest sense of the word in that he looked for the highest good for his nation along the lines of Divine wisdom. His principle was “God First,” and he well knew that only this procedure could bring Divine blessings to his

nation. He was of course misunder stood by the king and his counsellors They did not like him because he told the truth, fearlessly—they preferred prophets who would tell them of their own wisdom, greatness and the success of their policies. At the time of this study Zedekiab was on "the throne. He was a vassal to Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Chai deans, whose seat of empire was to the north. Hoping for assistance frdm Egypt on the south, Judah revolted, contrary to the warning of the Lord through Jeremiah. The Chaldeans laid siege, and the Egyptian army started for their deliverance. Yet Jeremiah persisted in declaring as at first that the end of the kingdom was near, that they would be swallowed up in Babylon.

Faithful Jeremiah Persecuted When the Chaldean army had withdrawn from the Siege, Jeremiah con eluded to cast his lot with some of the nation living outside the city wails—in the portion of the tribe of Benja min. Attempting to do this he was arrested on the charge of disloyalty—that he had given himself over to cowork with the Chaldeans against the interests of his own land. Although he denied the charge he was put into prison. ► Jerusalem was honeycombed with underground cisterns and vaults, arch ed overhead, and these were called “cabins.” They were designed to be reservoirs for water in time of drought or of siege. The liottoms of these “cabins,” or cisterns, after the removal of the water, were frequently deep with mud and slime. The next chapter tells us of the terrible condition bf the dungeon into which Jeremiah was put. We read, “They let down Jeremiah with cords, and in the dungeon there was no water but mire; so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.” When finally they drew him out they took “old cast off clouts and rotten ra'gs and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah," who put them under his arms and was drawn up by the cords. In this dungeon the Prophet remained “many days.” Blessed Are They Who Xre Persecuted For Righteousness’ Sake We are reminded of others who were put in prison for righteousness’ sake.

Saints Peter and John, Saints Paul and Silas. The world can never understand the power which, operating in these men, enabled them to rejoice in persecutions. With their backs bleeding from the whips of torture and hands and feet fast in the

stocks, they were yet able to sing praise to God for. the privilege they enjoyed of suffering with Christ, suffering for righteousness* sake, and thus filling up a share of the afflictions of Christ. Such characters we are to emulate. We are to understand that such joy and peace in the midst of sorrow and persecution can come only from the Lord. The Master’s words in our text apply yesterday, today and tomorrow—so long as the reign of evil is permitted—- “ Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake.” But to be worthy of this blessing, and to receive it means to develop and possess a character which the enemies of righteousness would deem worthy of persecution. The Scriptures declare that persecution will be of the faithful people of God through this Age—until the establishment of the Kingdom of Messiah. Under the new regime suffering for righteousness will not be possible. Mark the Master’s words, “Whosoever will live godly in this present time shall suffer persecution." To live godly means, not merely to abstain from vicious and overt-sin. bnt to be a hero in the strife, a defender of the right and an opposer of the wrong—a servant of righteousness, a soldier of the cross. ~*.r • . •-

Jeremiah imprisoned.

The king’s private con sultation.