p. 10 | A REMARKABLE TESTIMONY by Stephen N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 2, 1900

A REMARKABLE TESTIMONY.

By Stephen N. Haskell

Jeremiah, the “mournful prophet,” lived when Israel went into Babylonish captivity. His soul was burdened for the sins of his people and the welfare of the holy temple. His prophecies not only referred to the time in which he lived, but also to the time when the Jews would reject Christ, to the scattering of the Jews, and to the final gathering of the people of God in the last days. Three times the Lord told him not to pray for the people for their good; for he would not hear him (Jer. 7:16, 11:14; 14:11). But in this saying of the Lord, like Moses, he saw hope for the people (Ex. 32:9-12), and so he kept on praying; for if it was necessary for him to cease praying for the people, that God might destroy them, then there was hope that his prayers would save them.

“Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord. And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel.” 2 Chron. 36:11-13.

During the king’s wicked reign the Egyptians came to help Jerusalem. And the king sent a man of the priesthood to the prophet, saying, “Pray for us.” “Then came the word of the Lord unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to inquire of me: Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land. And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire. Thus saith the Lord: Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.” Jer. 37:1-10.

It will be noticed that the king thought he had a way of escape from the Chaldeans. It was by the aid of the Egyptians. God had previously said that Nebuchadnezzar was his servant, and would come against Jerusalem and take the city. Instead of the king and the people humbling their hearts, they remained in their wickedness and sought help from another source; so this was the testimony returned to the king. It seems that Jeremiah now became discouraged about rendering them any further assistance. “Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin to separate himself thence in the midst of the people.” Verse 12. He was taken, and falsely charged as having gone to fall into the hands of the Chaldeans. The princes took the prophet and put him into the dungeon, where he remained several days in a cell. Then Zedekiah sent and had him taken out, and inquired if there was any word from the Lord. The reply was, “There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.” The prophet asked what he had done to receive such treatment at the king’s hand? Zedekiah’s heart was touched, and he began to feel for the prophet of the Lord. Another testimony came, assuring them of the sword, famine, and pestilence, which would surely come upon Jerusalem, for which Jeremiah was thrust into a dungeon, where in a short time he would die.

The king’s heart relented, and he had Jeremiah taken out; and now, doubtless under Jeremiah’s direction, the king undertook to carry out the scripture concerning the jubilee, and release every servant and those in debt or in any way oppressed. This had never been done since the time of Moses.

After this came another testimony from the prophet entirely different from anything he had ever before received. Zedekiah said to the prophet, “I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.” Here they entered into a covenant, the king promising not to deliver again the prophet into their hands, but to follow the light God would give. Then there came this wonderful testimony:—

“Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: but if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.” Jer. 38:17, 18.

The king did not dare obey, for fear of the people. The prophet besought him to do this, assuring him, “They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.” Here was Zedekiah’s last hope. It was the last offer to spare the city. The king himself was responsible for its salvation. But it was not his way,—the way he would choose,—and he refused because he feared the people. This showed that while he professed great faith at this time in the prophet, yet here was a test altogether too close for a heart in which was a secret unbelief. Let the thirty-fourth to the thirty-ninth chapters of Jeremiah be studied, and a most wonderful lesson will be found, which should guide us in the last days in our relation toward the humble instrument through whom God has spoken for the last half-century, and also toward the Testimonies which have been sent to the leading men and people.

Our institutions, Conferences, and Foreign Mission Board are financially involved. The only way of escape has been pointed out. How many are laying it to heart? For the last three years especially, has the servant of God been presenting the needs of Australia as an important field, from which missionaries are to go forth to the inhabitants of other climates similar to that. Have we seen any more importance to this field than others? The Southern field has also been mentioned by the Lord; and it seems as if we become almost dazed at what is said. Do these Testimonies have the weight they should upon us? God began the work that would have brought relief all around, at the last General Conference; but Satan “trigged the wheels” by turning the attention from individual sacrifice to one man. Who now, in this time of extreme need, will come with help and relief?

Already God is drawing the line in the earth between him that believeth and him that believeth not. The judgments are abroad in the land. Is it not high time we take these Bible lessons and apply them to ourselves, and prepare to meet God? Either the work of present truth is all a deception, or it is high time to awake out of sleep and prepare for such a time as we have never before experienced. Our history as a people and as individuals is written out in the Scriptures, which we hold in our hands; and repeatedly we have been told that they should be studied as never before. Shall we not do it? These golden opportunities are fast passing into eternity, when selling and the giving of alms will be over. Money is now needed in every branch of the work. Men are needed. A zeal even beyond that of apostolic times should characterize the remnant. While a few more days of probation are left us, may the Lord have mercy on us, and stir our hearts to activity in the cause of Christ; for what we do must be done quickly. S. N. H.