Vers. 18-30.-God's appeal, for vindication of his vengeance. Note- 1. THE CHALLENGE. (Ver. 18.) God summons the nations, the congregations, the earth, to serve as on a grand jury, and to vindicate by their verdict the righteousness of his procedure. Now, from this challenge we learn: 1. The universality of conscience. There is a moral sense, a knowledge of right and wrong, implanted in all men by God. It is "the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world." 2. That God desires to have this universal conscience approving what he has done. (1) He takes for granted that his procedure will be scanned and judged by men. (2) But this he desires and approves. (3) He asks only for a true deliverance upon the case before them. 3. God desires us to regard his actions, not as right because they are his, but as his because they are right. It is a perilous thing to defend the rectitude of Divine actions-as they have been defended, e.g. the massacres of the Canaanites-on the ground that his will makes them right. That is not the method whereby we are to "vindi- cate the ways of God to man," Abraham did not so, but asked, "Shall not the J udgo c,f all the earth do right?" Not malce right, but do it. But what condescension on tlie part of God, thus to submit himself to our judgment ! But he does this because he so yearns for our love, and becauso love cannot ho apart from moral approval. II. THE STATEMENT OF THE MATTER ON THE PART OF Goo. 1. God declares what he will do (vers. 19-21). 2. How he will accomplish his purpose (vers. 22, 23), 3. How terrible its accomplishment will be (vers. 24-26). .And then he gives: 4. 'l'he grounds of his procedure (vers. 19, 28, 29). III. THE CALLING OF THE WITNESS. (Ver. 27; cf. Exposition.) Jeremiah was to observe and declare the guilt of those whom God condemned. IV. THE VERDICT ANTICIPATED. (Ver. 30.) Men shall call them "reprobate silver." CONCLUSION. Let us tremble at that righteousuess of God which the whole earth will confess when he condemns the sinner. Let us lay hold on that righteousness of God which is for us in Christ.-C.
Ver. 19.-The fruit of thoU{Jht. I. THOUGHT HAS FRUIT. In all departments of life its fruit i~ seen-scientific, political, social, moral, religious. Thoughts are born in some one mind. Sown by words spoken or written, and by the influence of the lives of those in whom they are born; they germinate by contact with other minds; they appear abuve ground in the tendencies of any given age; they bear fruit in tho achievements of the age. II. THOUGHT BEARS GOOD FRUIT OB EVIT,, ACCORDING AS THE LAW OF' Goo IS HEl'DED OB REJE0TED. "Wherewithal shall a young man clca□ se his way? lly taking heed thereto CMXOrding to thy Word." c11, VI, 1-30.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEUEMIAH. 175
III. TnE 0HIBF PARTAKER OF THE FRUIT OF THOUGHT WILL DE THE THINKER. (Of. text.) And it is true both of good thoughts and ill. As a man thinkcth so is he. CoNCLUBION. Let it be our prayer that we may come into full sympathy with him who said, "How precious are thy thoughts unto me, 0 God! " So shall the fruit of our thoughts be precious likewise.-C.
Ver. 20.-AbhO'T"fedsacrifices. I. THERE ARE SUCH. (Cf. tixt; Ps. 1.; etc.) II. THEY MAY HAVE MANY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICES. 1. Costly: " Incense from Sheba." 2. Regular. 3. Correct. III. BUT YET THEY ARE ABHORRED OF GOD. "To what purpose," etc.? (Of. our Lord's denunciations of hypocrites.) This because: 1. They lack sincerity. 2. They yield no fruit in holy obedience. 3. They cause the Name and worship of God to bo hated of men. 4. They render more hopeless the true repentance of the offerer. IV. WHEREFORE ABE THEY OFFERED? 1. Conscience will not allow men to throw off all regard for religion. 2. Custom demands it. 3. Worldly interests a.re served by it. 4. '!'here is a secret reliance upon them as furthering their good before G?d. V. WHAT DO BUCH FACTS TEACH us? Not to throw aside outward forms of worship: many do this on the ground of insincerity often associated with them. But to see that whilst we worship outwardly we worship also in spirit and in truth. To measure the worth of our worship by its power over our conduct. To join on all our poor, marred offerings, which is all that at the best they are, with the perfect sacrifice which Christ has offered for us a.11.-C.