a future, Ch. 41. Give other
illustrations. (6) The express predictions of the Messiah as we find
them fulfilled in Jesus. (7) Point out the passages portraying the
future glory of the church and the spiritual prosperity of the race.
(8) Passages predicting the restoration of the Jews from captivity.
(9) Some predictions already fulfilled: (a) God's judgments on the
kings of Israel and the nation of Israel, Ch. 7. (b) The overthrow of
Sennacherib, Chs. 13 and 37. (c) Disasters which should overtake
Babylon, Damascus, Egypt, Moab and Idumea, Chs. 13, 15, 18, 19 and 34.
(d) Vivid and marvelous descriptions of the final fate of Babylon and
Idumea, 13:19-22; 34:10-17. (10) The theology of Isaiah or his views
on such subjects as the moral condition of man, the need of a
redeemer, the consequences of redemption, Divine Providence, the
majesty and holiness of God, the future life, etc.

* * * * *

Chapter XVI.

Jeremiah and Lamentations.

The Author. (1) His name means "Exalted of Jehovah," and he is ranked
second among the great Old Testament writers. (2) He lived the last of
the sixth and the first of the fifth centuries before Christ. His
ministry began in 626 B. C., the thirteenth year of Josiah (1:2), and
lasted about forty years. He probably died in Babylon during the early
years of the captivity. (3) He was of a sensitive nature, mild, timid,
and inclined to melancholy. He was devoutly religious and naturally
shrank from giving pain to others. (4) He was uncommonly bold and
courageous in declaring the message of God, it was unpopular and
subjected him to hatred and even to suffering wrong. He was unsparing
in the denunciations and rebukes administered to his nation, not even
sparing the prince. (5) He is called the weeping prophet. He was
distressed both by the disobedience and apostasy of Israel and by the
evil which he foresaw. Being very devoutly religious, he was pained by
the impiety of his time.

Condition of the Nations. (1) Israel, the northern kingdom, had been
carried into captivity and Judah stood alone against her enemies. (2)
Judah had fallen into a bad state, but Josiah, who reigned when
Jeremiah began his ministry, attempted to bring about reforms and
restore the old order. After his death, however, wickedness grew more
and more until, in the later part of the life of Jeremiah, Jerusalem
and the temple were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and Judah was led away
in captivity. (3) The world powers of t