The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 20

spare no class, no rank, no order. Kings, princes, priests, and people were all to bo alike solemnly warned of the sure judgments that were coming upon them. And the like work has to be done now. How prone we all are to speak with bated breath or the retribution of God! bow ready, to ourselves and to others, to explain away or to 6often down the awful words of God against sin aud the doers thereof I_ Preachers and teachers of God's truth, beware lest the blood of those who perished becauso you warned them not be required at your hands (Ezek. xxxiii. 6) I II. l3uT IT IS A DREAD COMMISSION. The shrinking of Jeremiah from it is manifest all through this chapter. Before the heavy burden which be was to bear was fully disclosed to him, he exclaims (ver. 6), "Ab, Lord God! behold I cannot speak: for I am.a child." And the assurances, aids, and encouragements which are given him all show how much needed to be done ere his reluctance and trembling fear could be overcome. The whole cha1,ter tells of God's gracious preparation of his servant for the arduous work he had to do. And whosoever now undertakes like work, if he have no realization of its solemnity and burden, it is plain that God has not called him to speak in his Name. To bear a man tell of the awful doom of the impenitent in a manner that, if it be not flippant, yet seems to relish bis task, and to hail it as an opportunity for rhetorical display, is horrible in the extreme, and will do more to harden men in sin than almost anything beside. The subject is so sad, so serious, so terrible, that he who believes in it at all will be sure to sympathize with the prophet's sensitive shrinking from the work to which he was ordained. If when sentencing criminals who have broken the laws of man to their due punishment, humane judges often break down in tears, though their punishment touch not the soul,-how can any contemplate the death that is eternal unmoved or without the most solemn compassion and tenderest pity? And to incre!Lse the fear and shrinking with which Jeremiah regarded the work before him, there was the seeming presumption of one so young-little more than "a child" in years, ex- perience, or knowledge-undertaking such a work. The hopelessness of it !Llso. As well might a sparrow think to fly full in the face of a hurricane, as for the young prophet to think to stay the torrent of sin which was now flooding and raging over the whole life of his people. Sin and transgression of the grossest kind had become their habit, their settled custom, their ordinary way. All that he had to tell them they had heard again and again, and had despised and forgotten it. What hope of success was there, then, for him? And the fierceness of the opposition he would arouse would also deter him from the work. It was not alone that the faces (ver. 17) of kings, princes, priests, and people would darken upon him, but they would (ver. 19) "fight against" him, as we know they did. Well, therefore, might he say, "Ah, Lord I I cannot." And t<Klay, bow many are the plausible reasons which our reluctant hearts urge against that fidelity in such work as Jeremiah's which God requires at our hands I But God will not allow them. See-- III. How HE CONSTRAINED JEREMIAH TO UNDERTAKE THIS WORK. 1. Ver. 5: he gave him certainty as to his being called to the prophetic work. To know that we are indeed called of God to any work is an unfailing source of strength therein. 2. Ver. 7 : ho made him feel that necessity was laid upon him ; " thou shalt go; " "thou shalt speak." (Cf. Paul's "Yea, woe is me," etc.) So Jeremiah himself afterwards says (eh. xx. 9) God's word wa6 like "a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." What a help to the preacher of God's truth is such a conviction as this! 3. Ver. 8: he promised his presence and delivering grace. Consciousness of security and safety in God will give a dauntless courage in the face gf any and of all opposition. 4. He gave him special qualifications for his work. Words and power of speech (ver. 9). Immovable and unflinching strength of will, a determination and resolve that would not waver (ver. 18). 5. He showed him that the rooting up and the destruction were not ends in themselves, but to lead on to planting and to building afresh (ver. 10). To know that W{' are working on to a good and blessed end is no small encouragement to us in workinE; through all manner of difficulty to reach that end. 6. He made him vividly realize the n11,ture and nearness of the judgments he foretold. This was the purpose of the visions of the rod of the almond tree and thi, seething pot (vers. 11-15; for explanation, see exegesis). The first visi~n told of God's judgment close at hand. The second, of the quarter whence these Judgmenis come, and of the fierce, fu1ioll!I character of the foes who should come upon them, CII. I. 1-19.) 'l'HE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 13