The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 164

beautiful old age ie that described in the seventy-first psalm-beautiful for its confidence in God, for its humility and meekness, for the vigour of its desire for God's glory, and for its bright onlook int-0 the future I And such beauty often belongs to old age, so that "at eventide there is light." We probably all of us know of some on whom the shadows of evening are falling fast, because the day of their life "goeth away ; " but how calm, how serene, how peaceful, how bright, is their old age! They do not say, nor do others say concerning them," Woe unto us I for the day," etc. But in the text we have a precisely opposite feeling, one of dismay and .sore grief because of the day's depar- ture. And this lamentation is one uttered, not alone by those of whom the prophet wrote, but by many others also, Therefore let us- I. LISTEN TO THOSE WHO MAKE THIS LAMENTATION, And: 1. There were those of whom Jeremiah wrote. The Chaldeans, who were about to invade Judrea and Jerusalem. 'l'he text occurs in a vivid description of the troubles they would bring upon his people. He is representing their eagerness, their furious haste to assail and capture the doomed city. Hence the interruption of nightfall is fiercely resented by them. They would lengthen out the day if but they could. Like as Joshua bade the sun stand still (Josh. x.), that he might complete the overthrow of bis enemie.~, so would these Chaldeans like that the sun should stand still, that they might complete the overthrow of theirs. And because that caunot be, therefore they exclaim, " \Voe unto us!" etc. What a lesson these Cbaldean soldiers give to the professed soldiers of Christ I Would that we had the like zeal in our endeavour to win the kingdom of heaven ! But it is only the violent, those who are in real earnest and pot forth all their "force," who shall take it. 2. But if we take the day as referring to the day of life, we shall often hear in. Holy Scripture the like lamentation. The saints of the Old Testament, how they shrank from death: "Oh, spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more;"" The dead praise not thee, neither any that go down into silence;" "The living, the living, shall praise thee, as I do this day." The overflowing gratitude of the hundred and sixteenth psalm is because of deliverance from the dreaded death. How Hezekiah (Isa. xxxviii.) piteously wept and prayed that he might not die! They knew not that to depart was far better; death was to them only gloomy, silent, dark, and where fellowship with God was not. Hence this" ·woe unto us!" etc., expresses the common feeling of Old Testament times at the going awny of the day of life. 3. But there are those who still make like lamentation. Let us listen to them. (1) Those from whom the day of opportunity is going away. We none of us like to miss oppor- tunities. Even to miss a train vexes us. How much more when we see slipping fast from us the power of gaining and doing great good! 'l.'he scholar who has let slip the opportunities of winning the knowledge which would fit him for his life's work, but now must go forth all ill equipped, and so must with shame take a lower place. The youth or man who has failed to win the confidence of those about him, and now has to lenve them without the great advantage which their confidence would have given him. The professed disciple of Christ who has some child, some companion, some one over whom he had influence, leaving him for a distance, or, more grievous still, by death, and he has never used his opportunity of speaking to him on behalf of Christ. This is n woe indeed, a reflection bitter to have resting upon oue's conscience. 'l'he brother or sister, the husband or wife, the companion or friend, who have let 11:0 opportunities of showing kindness, of comforting and helping those who looked to them for such comfort and help, and now it is too late. Ah I that is a dreadful thought, to think of what you might have done for them and ought to have done but did not, and now can never do. All these are instances in which those from whom the day of opportunity is going away will often lament," Woe unto us I" It is with a bitter pang that we sco "the shadows" of that" evening stretched out." (2) Those from whom the day of prospe:l'ity is going away. Listen to the patriarch Job (xxix. 3): "Oh thnt I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me!" And all through the chapter he continues his sad lament over happy days gone by. And so now to see the like befall ourselves-health, wealth, friends, dear children, or those even dearer still, all going from us, what wonder that such say,'.' ~Voe is us l "_etc.? ,Uut son1e~imes it is on account of the going away of the day of sp1ntual prospenty. 'Ihe mournlul retrospect of days of purity, peace, strength, enjoyment of God, deli~ht iu his worship, usefuluess in his service; but these now all goue or l~t disappcarin,::. Ah I the backslider, the JlrnRMIAH, M 162 THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [oH. v1. 1-30,