The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 105

thing may seem to be slipping away from them. And then, oh how true our text is of them then l And the approach of death, with the "fearful looking for of judgmcnt." And should none of these have succeeded in this life to shatter their false trust, how will the dread solemnities of God's fudgment day certainly do this l See the conster- nation of those on the left-hand side of the Judge, who asked, "When saw we thee," etc.? (2) The moral rectitude, the credit for righteous character, on which they havo stayed their souls. This too may be, will be, suddenly spoiled. Sometimes sudden temptation will do this. Unguarded by any Divine power, the man's weak resolves giYe way under unusual pressure,, and character is blasted and the good name gone, as in a moment. Transient visions of the Divine holiness, the claims and requirements of Go~'s La".'I' flashing upon him as did the lightnings from Mount Sinai,-such mani- fostnt10ns -will reveal the man to himself, and "spoil" his self-complacency for ever. The light of eternity must do this. Tried by the standard God has given, self- righteousness must give way. (3) His external prosperity on which his heart was :fixed. To have nothing but what this world can give, and to have that suddenly taken away, as it often is, as at death it all must be,-whose should this confession be if not his of whom we are speaking? (4) His life itself, to which he clung so tenaciously, 0h, what a wrench that will be when the man to whom this life was all is by the ·nand of death ruthlessly torn away from it I And oftentimes this is sudden, unlooked for, at su..:h an hour as he thinks not, as he has made up his mind that it will not come. Like him to whom God said, "Thou fool I" These, then, are they from whom this con- fession-bitter lamentation and wail of woe rather should it be called-is heard. What agony of heart can be conceived more awful than that of the worldling and the god- less, when "suddenly their tents are spoiled"? God grant it may not be ours. Note- II. THE QUESTION, "What wilt thou do," etc.? Who can tell what the delirium of dismay and despair will drive a man to under such circumstances? See Judas the traitor. Suddenly his tent-the hope of his gains-was "spoiled," and we know what, in the remorse and despair which fastened upon him, he did. But some will harden themselves still more. Others will plunge into business, pleasure, sin, nnd there seek to drown the tortures of tho mind. It is impossible to forecast what one and o.nother will do, and least of all can they tell themselves. But it is God who asks this ques- tion, and that with the gracious intent that we should turn to him for the answer. Let us do so. Perhnps your tents are spoiled already. Before, therefore, you say what you will do, ask of God what thou shouldest do. 1. Is it thy inward peace, the calm and unconcern of thy life, that is spoiled? 'l'hen "acquaint thyself with God, and be at peace." 2. Is it thine estimate of thine own righteousness? Do not seek to mend or patch it up in any way (cf. Phil. iii.). Seek from Christ the righteousness that is of faith.. 3. Is it thine earthly prosperity that is shattered? "Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth." Have your treasure for the future in heaven. 'l'horc, "where neither moth nor rust," etc. 4. Is it thy very life that is being taken from thee? Oh, we.it not until this tent is actually spoiled. "To Jesus do thou fly, Swift us the morning light, Lest life's young golden bee.ms should die, In sudden endless night." IlL Tirn OBDEB IN WHICH TlllB CONFESSION AND QUESTION ABE PLACED, The question is asked before the spoiling ~akes place.. Like ~s it is asked, "How shall _we escape if we '.neglect so great salvat10n ? " The rntent 1s that we should, by turning to God and coming within his sure defence, escape that spoiling of our tents which must come on all not within that defence. .And so in the other question, which is like unto it, the intent manifestly is that we should not neglect so great salvation. Then Jet this good will of the Lord be done. Come over amongst those whose tents cannot be ~roiled, and away from those upon whom the spoilers shall fall certainly, suddenly, and 6oon.-C. Vere. 19-30.-" The fellowship of Christ's sufferings." The extreme anguish of the prophet which is revealed in these verses justifies the affirmation that, like St. Paul, Jeremiah al.llo knew " the fellowship of Christ's sufferings." Consider- cu. 1v. 1-31.] 'l'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEP.E~lIAll. 101