A True Prophet Always “Builds”
Thank God for the words, “to build and to plant.” The Lord’s purpose was to restore and to heal. Jeremiah was fearlessly to deliver prophecies of swift-coming judgments, yet he was to accompany these messages with assurances of forgiveness to all who would turn from their evildoing.
RR 145.5
Jeremiah worked to encourage the people of Judah to lay spiritual foundations broad and deep by thorough repentance. For a long time they had been building with material that Jeremiah likened to dross: “People will call them rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them.” Jeremiah 6:30. Now he urged them to build for eternity, throwing away the rubbish of apostasy and using as material pure gold, refined silver, precious stones—faith, obedience, and good works—which alone are acceptable to God.
RR 146.1
The word of the Lord was, “‘Return, backsliding Israel, ... and I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord, ... ‘for I am married to you.’” Jeremiah 3:12-14.
RR 146.2
And in addition the Lord gave His erring people the very words with which they could turn to Him: “We do come to You, for You are the Lord our God.” “We lie down in our shame, and our reproach covers us. For we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.” Verses 22, 25.
RR 146.3
The reformation under Josiah had cleansed the land of shrines to idols, but the hearts of the multitude were not transformed. Thorns had choked the seeds of truth that had sprung up and given promise of an abundant harvest. Another backsliding like that would be fatal.
RR 146.4
Jeremiah called attention repeatedly to the counsels given in Deuteronomy. He showed how these could bring the highest spiritual blessing to the nation. “Ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16.
RR 146.5
On one occasion, at one of the principal entrances to the city the prophet urged the importance of keeping holy the Sabbath day: “‘If you heed Me carefully,’ says the Lord, ‘to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it; then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, ... and this city shall remain forever.’” Jeremiah 17:24, 25. If the people did not act on the appeals to obey the God of their fathers and to hallow His Sabbath, the city and its palaces would be utterly destroyed by fire. Only by the firmest measures could they bring about a change for the better; therefore the prophet worked most earnestly for the unrepentant. “O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved.” Jeremiah 4:14.
RR 146.6
But the great mass of the people left the call to repentance unheeded. Those who ruled the nation had been untrue to their trust and had been leading many astray. From the beginning of Jehoiakim’s reign, Jeremiah had little hope of saving his beloved land from destruction and captivity. Yet he was not to remain silent while complete ruin threatened the kingdom. He must encourage those loyal to God to continue in rightdoing, and if possible he must persuade sinners to turn from iniquity.
RR 146.7
The Lord commanded Jeremiah to stand in the court of the temple and speak to all who went in and out. He must not soften a word!
RR 147.1
The prophet obeyed. He lifted his voice in warning and pleading. “‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates.’ ... ‘Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words, saying, “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these.”’” Jeremiah 7:2-4.
RR 147.2
1978
RR
Royalty and Ruin
[{"para_id":"1978.18","title":"Foreword","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0003_eng_f_foreword_1978_18.mp3#duration=149&size=1962793"},{"para_id":"1978.28","title":"Introduction\u2014The Glorious Destiny Israel Might Have Had","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0004_eng_f_introduction_the_glorious_destiny_israel_might_have_had_1978_28.mp3#duration=435&size=4256193"},{"para_id":"1978.50","title":"Solomon\u2019s Spectacular Beginning","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0005_eng_f_solomon_s_spectacular_beginning_1978_50.mp3#duration=613&size=5680934"},{"para_id":"1978.79","title":"Solomon\u2019s Magnificent Temple","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0009_eng_f_solomon_s_magnificent_temple_1978_79.mp3#duration=936&size=8262889"},{"para_id":"1978.126","title":"Prosperity and Pride Bring Disaster","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0015_eng_f_prosperity_and_pride_bring_disaster_1978_126.mp3#duration=650&size=5974976"},{"para_id":"1978.160","title":"How Solomon Missed His Chance","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0020_eng_f_how_solomon_missed_his_chance_1978_160.mp3#duration=968&size=8518796"},{"para_id":"1978.203","title":"Solomon\u2019s Deep Repentance","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0025_eng_f_solomon_s_deep_repentance_1978_203.mp3#duration=679&size=6204107"},{"para_id":"1978.240","title":"Rehoboam\u2019s Arrogance: The Kingdom Torn Apart","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0031_eng_f_rehoboam_s_arrogance_the_kingdom_torn_apart_1978_240.mp3#duration=700&size=6372999"},{"para_id":"1978.272","title":"Jeroboam Leads Israel Back to Idol Worship","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0035_eng_f_jeroboam_leads_israel_back_to_idol_worship_1978_272.mp3#duration=545&size=5130626"},{"para_id":"1978.298","title":"National Apostasy Brings National Ruin","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0039_eng_f_national_apostasy_brings_national_ruin_1978_298.mp3#duration=521&size=4942058"},{"para_id":"1978.326","title":"Elijah Confronts King Ahab","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0043_eng_f_elijah_confronts_king_ahab_1978_326.mp3#duration=538&size=5074816"},{"para_id":"1978.350","title":"The Voice of Stern Rebuke","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0046_eng_f_the_voice_of_stern_rebuke_1978_350.mp3#duration=982&size=8629665"},{"para_id":"1978.407","title":"God Vindicated on Mount Carmel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0052_eng_f_god_vindicated_on_mount_carmel_1978_407.mp3#duration=763&size=6879565"},{"para_id":"1978.446","title":"The Prophet Loses Faith and Panics","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0057_eng_f_the_prophet_loses_faith_and_panics_1978_446.mp3#duration=700&size=6374113"},{"para_id":"1978.485","title":"\u201cWhat Are You Doing Here?\u201d","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0061_eng_f_what_are_you_doing_here_1978_485.mp3#duration=669&size=11485212"},{"para_id":"1978.520","title":"God\u2019s Call to Modern Apostates","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0064_eng_f_god_s_call_to_modern_apostates_1978_520.mp3#duration=925&size=8174277"},{"para_id":"1978.555","title":"Jehoshaphat, the King Who Believed God","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0068_eng_f_jehoshaphat_the_king_who_believed_god_1978_555.mp3#duration=850&size=7574026"},{"para_id":"1978.597","title":"The Fall of the House of Ahab","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0072_eng_f_the_fall_of_the_house_of_ahab_1978_597.mp3#duration=1025&size=8972879"},{"para_id":"1978.648","title":"Elisha Called to Succeed Elijah","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0076_eng_f_elisha_called_to_succeed_elijah_1978_648.mp3#duration=905&size=8012120"},{"para_id":"1978.691","title":"The Healing of the Waters","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0080_eng_f_the_healing_of_the_waters_1978_691.mp3#duration=389&size=3888195"},{"para_id":"1978.712","title":"Elisha, Gentle Prophet of Peace","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0082_eng_f_elisha_gentle_prophet_of_peace_1978_712.mp3#duration=585&size=5456096"},{"para_id":"1978.740","title":"Captain Naaman Healed of Leprosy","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0085_eng_f_captain_naaman_healed_of_leprosy_1978_740.mp3#duration=585&size=5454617"},{"para_id":"1978.773","title":"Elisha\u2019s Closing Ministry","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0088_eng_f_elisha_s_closing_ministry_1978_773.mp3#duration=824&size=7364973"},{"para_id":"1978.814","title":"Jonah, the Prophet Who Ran Away","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0094_eng_f_jonah_the_prophet_who_ran_away_1978_814.mp3#duration=814&size=7283394"},{"para_id":"1978.862","title":"The Decline and Fall of Israel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0097_eng_f_the_decline_and_fall_of_israel_1978_862.mp3#duration=687&size=6268266"},{"para_id":"1978.898","title":"A Nation \u201cDestroyed for Lack of Knowledge\u201d","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0101_eng_f_a_nation_destroyed_for_lack_of_knowledge_1978_898.mp3#duration=442&size=4312447"},{"para_id":"1978.919","title":"Prophet With a Message of Hope","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0103_eng_f_prophet_with_a_message_of_hope_1978_919.mp3#duration=480&size=4610321"},{"para_id":"1978.942","title":"Isaiah\u2019s Message: \u201cBehold Your God!\u201d","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0106_eng_f_isaiah_s_message_behold_your_god_1978_942.mp3#duration=571&size=5345139"},{"para_id":"1978.971","title":"Ahaz Almost Ruins the Kingdom","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0110_eng_f_ahaz_almost_ruins_the_kingdom_1978_971.mp3#duration=603&size=5594131"},{"para_id":"1978.995","title":"King Hezekiah Repairs the Damage","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0112_eng_f_king_hezekiah_repairs_the_damage_1978_995.mp3#duration=523&size=4954286"},{"para_id":"1978.1021","title":"Visitors from Babylon See the Wrong Things","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0115_eng_f_visitors_from_babylon_see_the_wrong_things_1978_1021.mp3#duration=512&size=4866224"},{"para_id":"1978.1055","title":"An Angel Destroys the Assyrian Army","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0118_eng_f_an_angel_destroys_the_assyrian_army_1978_1055.mp3#duration=971&size=8546058"},{"para_id":"1978.1119","title":"Isaiah\u2019s \u201cGood News\u201d for All the Nations","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0125_eng_f_isaiah_s_good_news_for_all_the_nations_1978_1119.mp3#duration=659&size=6048640"},{"para_id":"1978.1151","title":"Manasseh and Josiah: the Worst and the Best","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0128_eng_f_manasseh_and_josiah_the_worst_and_the_best_1978_1151.mp3#duration=615&size=5695400"},{"para_id":"1978.1189","title":"The Long-lost Law Book Discovered","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0132_eng_f_the_long_lost_law_book_discovered_1978_1189.mp3#duration=671&size=6142392"},{"para_id":"1978.1228","title":"Jeremiah, the Man Who Felt God\u2019s Anguish","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0136_eng_f_jeremiah_the_man_who_felt_god_s_anguish_1978_1228.mp3#duration=912&size=8073159"},{"para_id":"1978.1270","title":"Judah\u2019s Amazing Stubbornness","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0141_eng_f_judah_s_amazing_stubbornness_1978_1270.mp3#duration=987&size=8670774"},{"para_id":"1978.1317","title":"Zedekiah, Judah\u2019s Last King","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0146_eng_f_zedekiah_judah_s_last_king_1978_1317.mp3#duration=749&size=6764369"},{"para_id":"1978.1352","title":"Zedekiah Fails His Last Chance","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0150_eng_f_zedekiah_fails_his_last_chance_1978_1352.mp3#duration=735&size=6655694"},{"para_id":"1978.1400","title":"Not All Was Lost!","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0155_eng_f_not_all_was_lost_1978_1400.mp3#duration=554&size=5205633"},{"para_id":"1978.1430","title":"Daniel, a Captive in Babylon","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0160_eng_f_daniel_a_captive_in_babylon_1978_1430.mp3#duration=720&size=6535417"},{"para_id":"1978.1474","title":"Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s Dream of World Empires","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0165_eng_f_nebuchadnezzar_s_dream_of_world_empires_1978_1474.mp3#duration=596&size=5541163"},{"para_id":"1978.1514","title":"Three Hebrews in the Fiery Furnace","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0170_eng_f_three_hebrews_in_the_fiery_furnace_1978_1514.mp3#duration=594&size=5527784"},{"para_id":"1978.1549","title":"Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s Seven Years of Madness","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0175_eng_f_nebuchadnezzar_s_seven_years_of_madness_1978_1549.mp3#duration=474&size=4562002"},{"para_id":"1978.1576","title":"Belshazzar\u2019s Feast: Babylon\u2019s last night","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0178_eng_f_belshazzar_s_feast_babylon_s_last_night_1978_1576.mp3#duration=835&size=7452592"},{"para_id":"1978.1625","title":"Daniel in the Lions\u2019 Den","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0185_eng_f_daniel_in_the_lions_den_1978_1625.mp3#duration=520&size=4930825"},{"para_id":"1978.1658","title":"Cyrus Sets the Exiles Free","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0190_eng_f_cyrus_sets_the_exiles_free_1978_1658.mp3#duration=813&size=7280325"},{"para_id":"1978.1703","title":"Bitter Opposition Fails","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0194_eng_f_bitter_opposition_fails_1978_1703.mp3#duration=897&size=7954322"},{"para_id":"1978.1756","title":"Satan, the Accuser; Christ, the Defender","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0202_eng_f_satan_the_accuser_christ_the_defender_1978_1756.mp3#duration=661&size=6062727"},{"para_id":"1978.1791","title":"The Secret of Success in God\u2019s Work","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0206_eng_f_the_secret_of_success_in_god_s_work_1978_1791.mp3#duration=314&size=3285458"},{"para_id":"1978.1807","title":"Esther, the Hebrew Girl Who Became Queen","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0209_eng_f_esther_the_hebrew_girl_who_became_queen_1978_1807.mp3#duration=511&size=4858755"},{"para_id":"1978.1831","title":"Ezra, the King\u2019s Trusted Friend","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0212_eng_f_ezra_the_king_s_trusted_friend_1978_1831.mp3#duration=574&size=5367758"},{"para_id":"1978.1869","title":"Ezra Sparks a Spiritual Revival","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0218_eng_f_ezra_sparks_a_spiritual_revival_1978_1869.mp3#duration=496&size=4737588"},{"para_id":"1978.1895","title":"Nehemiah, Man of Prayer and Action","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0222_eng_f_nehemiah_man_of_prayer_and_action_1978_1895.mp3#duration=369&size=3723678"},{"para_id":"1978.1917","title":"Nehemiah Accomplishes the \u201cImpossible\u201d","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0225_eng_f_nehemiah_accomplishes_the_impossible_1978_1917.mp3#duration=600&size=5571940"},{"para_id":"1978.1953","title":"Nehemiah Bravely Rebukes Selfishness","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0229_eng_f_nehemiah_bravely_rebukes_selfishness_1978_1953.mp3#duration=379&size=3806176"},{"para_id":"1978.1974","title":"Union With the World Hinders God\u2019s Cause","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0231_eng_f_union_with_the_world_hinders_god_s_cause_1978_1974.mp3#duration=460&size=4453285"},{"para_id":"1978.1997","title":"The Joy of Forgiveness and Healing","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0233_eng_f_the_joy_of_forgiveness_and_healing_1978_1997.mp3#duration=363&size=3677127"},{"para_id":"1978.2022","title":"Nehemiah\u2019s Painful Work of Reformation","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0234_eng_f_nehemiah_s_painful_work_of_reformation_1978_2022.mp3#duration=602&size=5591954"},{"para_id":"1978.2054","title":"Darkness Precedes the Dawn","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0238_eng_f_darkness_precedes_the_dawn_1978_2054.mp3#duration=1104&size=9602904"},{"para_id":"1978.2125","title":"Where Is God\u2019s True Israel?","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0243_eng_f_where_is_god_s_true_israel_1978_2125.mp3#duration=1037&size=9069232"},{"para_id":"1978.2182","title":"Visions of a Glorious Future","mp3":"\/mp3\/1978\/0250_eng_f_visions_of_a_glorious_future_1978_2182.mp3#duration=651&size=5977869"}]