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LESSON BACKGROUND .
The kingdom of Israel had fallen more than 130 years
before Jerusalem was destroyed. Two factors contributed
to this: (l) Israel had the misfortune of being located on
the main route that linked the major world powers on that
day. The other factor In Judah’s advantage was that some
of the kings during this period were good kings who sought
to do God’s will. Because of the actions of these kings, God
stayed His hand of judgment for a time. Unfortunately, the
successors of Josiah did not follow his leading, (of being a
good king) and the result was a rapid deterioration in the
religious and political situation, leading finally to disaster.
Josiah was mortally wounded in the battle against the
Egyptians and was succeeded on the throne by his son,
Jahoahay. After three months he was dethroned and his
brother, Eliakim, was installed as king, and changed his
name to Jehoioakim. Jehoioakim “did that which was
evil in the sight of the Lord,” (2 Kings 23:37). He
persecuted and tried to kill the prophet Jeremiah.
Jehoioakim was followed by his 18 year old son,
Jehoiachim, who was taken prisoner and taken to Babylon!
Another son of Josiah, Mattaniah, was the chosen
successor. His name was changed to Zedekiah.
THE LESSON
/.eaekiah was 21 years old when he became king of
Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for 11 years. His mother
was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from the city of
Libnah. King Zedekiah sinned against the Lord, just as
King Jehoiakim had done. The Lord became so angry with
the people of Jerusalem and Judah that he banished them
from his sight. Zedekiah rebelled against King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia, and so Nebuchadnezzar
came with all his army and attacked Jerusalem on the
tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah’s
reign. They set up camp outside the city, built walls
around it and kept it under siege until Zedekiah’s eleventh
year,” (2 Kings 24:18-20; 25:1-2).
The exact event or series of eveifts that signaled the
beginning of the revolt is not known. Whatever it was, the
ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign Nebuchadnezzar began his
campaign against Judah. He captured several outlying,
fortified towns before proceeding against Jerusalem.
After surrounding the city, he built forts or siege towers
from which he could attack it. The details of the siege can
be found in Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Nebuchadnezzar’s strategy was to starve the city out.
After a year and a half, the strategy proved effective as
the people of Jerusalem were reduced to weakness by
starvation. The book of Lamentations gives us some of the
horrible details of the suffering that accompanied the final
1: Zedekiah resembled a-tsagic character in
a classical Greek drama. He had one flaw in his character
that proved his undoing. He was indecisive, wavering back
and forth when faced with an important decision. “He did
that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all
that Jehoiakim had done.”
Jehoiakim despised the prophet Jeremiah and would
have had him killed had he thought he could get away with
it. Zedekiah, on the other hand, often consulted Jeremiah.
Unfortunately, after he had received good advice from the
prophet, he usually didn't follow it. Zedediah was
surrounded by counselors who were pro-Egyptian, and he
was afraid to oppose them, even though he knew in his
heart that they were wrong. Thus he allowed himself to be
pushed into rebelling against the Chaldeans. If he had
followed the advice of Jeremiah, his nation might have
been spared the destruction that came upon them.
Aren’t we all somewhat like Zedekiah on occasion? We
have committed ourselves to God and we seek counsel
from the Scriptures and from Bible teachers. Yet we are
often guilty of compromising our convictions and ignoring
the Bible teachings. May the tragic fate of Zedekiah
remind us that the price of such compromise is
exceedingly high.
Our nation stands at the pinnacle of power reached by
other great empires. The decisions we make will
determine our destiny. We dare not think that we enjoy
some special privilege that keeps us immune from God’s
judgment.
We are tempted to believe that our destiny can be
assured by placing our trust in vast armaments. Whatever
justification there may be for the billions we spend on
defense' in our more sober moments we know that
rockets and nuclear bombs are not our final refuge. We
must learn from the history of ancient Judah that a nation
can remain strong only when its citizens are prepared “to
do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly’’ with
God.
To walk such a course has never been easy. It requires a
knowledge of God’s will for us as revealed in the Scrip
tures. It requires the courage to follow His will wherever it
may lead us. It also requires a knowledge of the past so
that we avoid the pitfalls that proved the undoing of Judah
and Israel.
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First Baptist Church-West Bums Mortgage
West to recognise the commit
ment that, without fanfare, the
leadership and membership have
accomplished together. It was five
years ago in November, 1981, that
the Mortgage Liquidation Drive
began and it has been achieved 11
years short of the time
alloted.
The day will have festivities of
celebration including an afternoon
reception and evening banquet
which will be held at the Sheraton
Hotel on 1-85, at 6:30 p.m.
All are welcome to attend.
The church is located at 1801
Oaklawn Ave. Rev. Humphrey is
pastor.
NEW ST. JOHN
"Sometimes we Christians let
other things take precedence in our
lives, when Christ should be
preeminent. In the Christian life,
Christ is not a sideline. He is the
center,” attests Rev. Robert Leak
And in his sermon on Sunday,
November 9,11 a m., Rev. Leak will
preach on: "Making Jesus the Main
Attraction in Your Life.”
“It will make your life more
meaningful,” he assures.
Also, at 3 p.m.. New St. John’s
Angels of Love will host its annual
concert and many outstanding
guest choirs and choruses will
participate.
Everyone is urged to attend.
Finally, expressions of thanks are
offered to Rev. Mack McRae, Rev
Sis. Wilson and Rev. Norman
Kerry Jr. for their help in
making New St. John’s Trustee’s
annual program a great success.
The church is located at 2000 St.
John Rd. Rev. Leak is pastor
ANTIOCH
The second Sunday in November
has been designated as annual ,
Youth Day at Antioch Baptist
Church. Various youth activities are
scheduled throughout the week
end.
This year will feature a “Family
Banquet” to be held Saturday,
November 8, at 6:30 p.m. Miss
Shawn Pennington, chairperson of
Youth Day activities, will serve as
mistress of ceremonies at the
banquet: Mrs. Thomasenia T.
Drummond will be the banquet
speaker.
On Sunday, November 9, Rev.
Michael A. McClain, former pastor
of First Mayfield Memorial Bap
tist Church, will be the guest
minister for the 11 a.m. Worship
Service.
The youth of the church will lead
the music and other supporting
services.
The public is cordially invited to
all services.
Antioch Baptist is located at 232
Skyland Ave. Rev. Preston Pender
grass is pastor.
PLAZA UNITED
Space to sell crafts is still avail
able at the Plaza United Methodist
Fall Fest slated for Saturday,
November 15, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Each space will rent for 55 with
proceeds going to benefit the Plaza
Adult Living Service, a day care
program for the elderly.
To reserve a space to sell crafts,
call Doris Hendricks at 537-7934
during daytime hours.
Craft booths will be set up in the
church gymnasium. An attic sale,
food sales and numerous other
events are planned to attract area
residents all day long.
■hie church is located at 5600 The
Plaza.
Baptist Convention
Cary - The Baptist State Conven
tion, the statewide organization of
Southern Baptists in North Carolina,
will consider a new relationship with
the denomination’s oldest college,
Wake Forest University, during the
annual convention meeting in the
Greensboro Coliseum, November
10-12.
The spotlight chose to shine on Thomasena Drummond,wife of Rev. Paul
Drummond, pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church and her daughter recently.
The two shared a birthday luncheon hosted by the Missionary Groups at
the church. Approximately 50 friends attended the gala affair which was
held at McDonald s Cafeteria. Among the many gifts the mother and
daughter received was a beautiful cake made by Vender Moore and
presented by Gertrude Hamilton.
The proposed change between
church and college would give the
university complete antonomy in the
election of trustees and governance
of the institution. Currently, the
Baptist State Convention elects the
university's trustees Under the new
proposal. Wake Forest would also no
longer receive financial support
from the state convention.
The annual convention opens
Monday, November 10, 6:30 m..
with three sessions on Tuesday and a
closing session Wednesday
morning. Around 3,500 “mes
sengers” (delegates) are expected
to attend. /
The convention will also elect
officers, adopt a *27 million bud
get, hear reports from several of its
agencies, and consider a change in
status for Fruitland Baptist Bible
Institute, a training school for
ministers in Hendersonville. •
I
"A LIFl'S TOUCH” j
j with Rev. Hazel Shropshire
\ Everybody's looking for what I B
, call a “Burger King" religion
i "Have it your way " People want g
I their own kind of religion But you J
, can’t have it your way. You've got Q
to have it God's way or you’re not r
i going to have it at all God will §
bring you to a winding path to j
discipline you.
Any inquires call or write:
Rev. Hazel Shropshire
532 Brookhill Road J
Charlotte, N.C 28203
(704 ) 332 0666
d&l&xcmc/el
tM’irt/-'/(cut*’ -^/nt'.
SER VLNG THE PEOPLE OF
CHARLOTTE FOR OVER 70 YEARS
Continuing To Provide Faithful Service To Our-Community
Offering
PRE-ARRANGED FUNERALS
CREMATION ARRANGEMENTS
LIFE INSURANCE
OUT-OF-TOWN ARRANGEMENTS
333-1167
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PRAYER CHANGES
THINGS
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Are you Confused? Worried? Sick? Down on your luck9 Are you
constantly out of work? Laid Off? Fired? Are you having marital
problems? Are your loved ones turning on you? Is the world around
you moving forward and you seem to be moving backwards? Do you
seem to just be having plain old bad luck?
If so, you need prayer. Prayer can turn all these conditions around.
Prayer can restore your life to happyness and contentment. Prayer
will bring Christ into your life and put unhappyness and strife out.
Prayer defeats evil. Get help now. Call the Atlantic Coast Prayer Line
Call *(704 ) 976-PRAY, if busy, Call (704 ) 331-9734 or (704 ) 331-9735.
Do you just want inspirational prayer Would you just like to get
closer to God thru prayer9 Then call the Atlantic Coast Prayer Line,
*(704)976-PRAY, or (704 ) 331-9734 or (704 ) 331-9735.
Would you like to share your prayers with others? Would you like to
have your special prayers go out over the prayer line9 Then Write To:
Sister Betty Christian, P O Box 85, Badin, N.c 28009.
*This Number Available After November 26 1986. .75 per call
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