The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 134

too. But he must also be my Might. The power to endure, the strength to toil, tho daily grace for daily need,-whcnce can it come but from him who ha.s said," Beca.usc I live, ye shall live also?" True ma.nhood, real virtue, is therefore a.n impossible thing apart from Christ. More or less stunted a.nd distorted forms of it there ma.y be, but the Divine ideal, never. May he help us to remember this. Thus, then, complete catholic, condemnatory of the world's standards, commenda.tory to the conscience' compelling resort to Christ, is this Divine ma.nhood of which our text tells. Bul notc- 11. THE DIVINE DJSA.PPOINTMENT A.ND DISMAY A.T NOT FINDING IT WHERE IT MAY SJ JUSTLY BA.VE BEEN EXPECTED. Observe the words of our text, how they cha.llenae the most thorough search everywhere, implying that the Lord himself ha.d made su;h search-he whose eyes (ver. 3)" are upon the truth," who is keen-visioned to discover hie own in the densest crowd or in the most obscure abode. But now he challenges any to make a like search. Let them run to and fro in the by-streets, in the broad ways in market-places, in all parts where men congregate ; let them in every such place see: know, seek, if they can find even one true man. And the challenge is made not in scorn nor in anger, but in disappointment and dismay. For where, if not amongst God's own professed people, and in the centre of their worship, Jerusalem ; where, if not there, could such as God sought be found? But not even there were they; there were "none righteous; no, not one." But what was found this whole chapter plainly declares. There was horrible wickedness-wickedness which only such appalling images as the 6eventh and eighth verses of this chapter could fitly describe. And this not amongst the ignorant poor only, but amongst the great, the well instructed also (vers. 4, 5). And where there was a form of religion the power was wanting, as the second verse tells. They might use devout words, but the Lord, whose eyes were on the truth (ver. 3), knew how hollow that profession was. So that there was not one man such as God desired. And, though willing to spare, God was forced to punish (ver. 9). This and much more of a like sort prevails all through the chapter. But the contempla.tion of it fills the Divine mind with disappointment and disma.y. It is deep distress to him that he caonot find what he so much desires to find. Are we quite sure tha.t the like question might uot be asked in our day? Is the Divine idea.l of manhood so constantly realized ? Is there not very much to ma.ke a devout heart fear lest a like search might lead to a too much like result? Let us remember what it is God looks for in us. Not that which the world thinks so much of, but this manhood; and be mourns when he finds it not. And let it be our prayer that more and more we ma.y be men according to his miod. Note next-- IIL THE DIVINE DEMONBTRA.TION OF THE DELIGHT A.ND JOY HE BAB IN IT, lie ,;ays if there be but one such man, he will spare Jerusa.lem for his sake. Such is the meaning of the last clause of this verse. What higher proof (sa.ve one which we will note anon) could he give of his estimate of this ma.nhood? He gave large proof when he told .Abraham that if there were ten righteous in Sodom he would spa.re the city for their sakes. And he is continually doing the like of what he here ea.id he would do. He is continually blessing the bad for the sa.ke of the good. "Ye are the salt of the earth," said our Lord to his disciples, implying thereby that, but for his people, tho world would go to corruption. " For the elect's sa.ke those days shall be shortened "- the days, he meant, of Jerusalem's destruction, which were then, as in Jeremiah's time, ~wiftly drawing on. And how often we read of bad and wicked descendants and suc- c8ssors on the throne of David, who for his sake were dealt with far other than they deserved ! And to-day, how many godless children of pious parents are for like reason dealt with in like manner I The Church might well, did she choose, cha.Henge the world to say where it would be without the Church. 'l'he impious sneer at, persecute, and despise the godly; but were it not for those they so sha.mefully use, theirs would be a short shrift and a quick going down into hell. And let all who are living godly in Christ Jesus be cheered by knowing that, though persecuted by the world, they a.re yet most precious in the Lord's sight. Now finally note- IV. THE SUPDEME DEMONSTRATION Goo HAS GIVEN OF HIS DELIGHT A.ND JOY !N IT. ~Ve tw·n to the gospel for this, and it enables us to reply to the Divi1;1e ch~ll~?ge to find a man;" for we have found l,im "of whom l\fosesand the prophets did wnte -the rn""u Christ JesuR. He bas answered to the Divine description, and for his sako not a. city err. v. 1-31.] TIIE IlOOK OF THE PROPHE'r JEREMIAH. 131