The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 29

voutly recogni~ed it in himself, in spite or all bis blind hostility to the name of Christ in former years (Gal. i. 15). We fail too often to take sufficient note or this mystery of God's foreknowledge and predetermination underlying the progress of the kingdom of truth and righteousness in the world. And yet we understand its history, we get at the heart and core of its meaning, only so far as we look through all surface appearances and, holding fast to the equally sure principles or human freedom and responsibility, discern the will that works out steadily, through chosen instruments, its own eternal purpose. IJ. THE SHRINKING OJI' A LOWLY SPIRIT FROM A POSITION OF EXTBAORDmARY DIFFICULTY AND DANGEB. ".Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child." '!'his was the honest expression of conscious personal unfitness. 1. The feeling was very honourable to him. Who that knows himself would not tremble on being summoned to such a work? To take up a solemn responsibility with a light heart and easy self- confidence is the mark of a vain spirit that courts rebuke. He who has any true sense of the greatness of his mission from God will often " Lie contemplating his own unworthiness." 2. It was a sign-of his real fitness /01' the work. Humility is the basis of all that ls great and good in human character and deed. " God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." The cry," Who is sufficient for these things?" is a symptom of in- herent nobleness and slumbering power. Jeremiah's feeling that he was" but a child," prepared him the better to become the representative of the Divine majesty and the vehicle of Divine strength. III. THE SPIRITUAL CONSTRAmT OF WHICH ALL TBUE SEBVANTS OF Goo ARE CON- SCIOUS. The prophetic inspiration came upon him and compelled him to deliver his message. "The word of the Lord was in his heart as a burning fire shut up in his bones, ... and he could not stay" (eh. xx. 9). A Divine commission thus asserting itself in the inward consciousness of him who received it, might well be called the "burden of the Lord." Great reformers, preachers, missionaries, martyrs, have ever been moved by some such Divine afflatus. So felt Peter and John before the Jewish Council:" We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts iv. 20). So felt St. Paul:" Necessity is laid upon me; yoa, woe is unto me, ifl preach not the gospel" (1 Cor. ix. 16). "Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." He must "speak" who is thus com- manded;. he must "go" who is thus sent. IV. THE COURAGE AND STRENGTH WITH WHICH Goo ENDOWS ALL WHO THUS OBEY HIS BIDDING. 'l'he ministry of Jeremiah is a signal example of the way in which the grace of God may clothe 'the most timid spirit with dauntless energy and victoriouM power. Be will never be "afraid of the faces of men," who knows that the Lord is with him. The fear of God casts out all other fear. Many a "little child" has thus become preternaturally brave ; "out of weakness made strong." The history of the kingdom of God among men abounds with illustrations of the way in which he "chooses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty." And every patient, heroic Christian life bears witness to the sufficiency of his grace. You can glory even in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, and distresses, if the "power of Christ " does but rest upon you (2 Cor. xii. 9, 10). V. THE MASTERY OF TRUTH OVER ALL THE HOSTILE POWERS OF THE WORLD. Jeremiah was" set over the nations and over the kingdoms," not as a prince, but as 11, prophet; not as wielding any form of mere brute force, but as the instrument of that silent energy of truth that casts down the strongholds of Satan in every land. His word was" like a fire and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces" (eh. xxiii. 29). Divine truth is the mightiest of all forces alike to" root out and to pull down, ... to build and to plant." The sovereignty of the world is hi~ of whom it is written," He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips sh11oll he slay the wicked" (Isa. xi. 4). The "many crowns" are on the he&d of him whose "Name is called The Word of God."-W. 22 'CHE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [en. n. 1-37.