The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 229

IV. THEIR CURE. How shall this evil spirit be cast out and the right spirit be restored? In ver. 6 the prncess is shown to us. There is: 1. Realizati<m of the results of our sin. The backslider is Mpresented as contemplating with dismay the awful consequences of his sin, and asking," What have I done?" It is "the conviction of sin" which is the beginning work of God's Spirit in the sinner's heart. See'.the prodigal contemplating the ruin he had brought upon himself. 'l'his was the first step in his "coming to himself." 2. Repentance of our wickedness. (Ver. 6.) Not general repentance, but each man seeing his own wickedness and repenting of that. The man has come to look on it as God looks on it. Formerly he loved his sin, now he hates it. One element of our Saviour's atonement was this, that he in our nature and as our representative, looked upon our sin a.s God looked on it, and so offered to God for us a true repentance. We, however contrite in heart, could offer none such, for as it has been truly said, "Our very repentance needs to be repented of, and our tears wa.&hed in the blood of Christ." But this element of all true atonement-that he who makes such atonement looks on the wrong done as he who has been wronged looks on it-was present in Christ's atonement, and is one reason wherefore "the blood of Christ cleanseth from a.II sin." 3. Confession. This is the "speaking aright" which is told of in ver. 6. They had been denying, excusing, maintaining their sin heretofore, anything but speaking aright a.bout it; but now there is heard the right language of confession: "I have sinned." 4. Practical turning from the evil way. As before each had turned determinedly to his own self-chosen course (ver. G), now they would turn from it. Such is the way of the backslider's re.turn,and restoration, a way up which there is no smooth easy sliding as there was down, but in which every step has to be firmly made and resolutely kept to-a way difficult indeed, but, blessed be God, not impossible. V. THEm COUNSEL. Let ea.eh wanderer from God ask himself the question, "What have I done?" 1. Such inquiry can do no harm; and: 2. Is likely to be of great advantage. 3. The time for such inquiry is lessening day by day. 4. "It is a fearful thing" for an unforgiven man" to fall into the hands of the living God."-C. Ver. 6.-The way home. The text suggests much concerning this way from the far country of sin to the home of our Father and God. Tho LorJ is here lamenting that none of the people of Jerusalem were walking in it. Note- I. 'l'HE STAGES OF 'fHE WAY. 1. Realization of the ruin wrought by our sin. The soul is represented as contemplating this ruin, and asking, "What have I done?" This is the first stage, 2. Repentance. Each one is to repent of" his wickedness." We are not to lose ourselves in a general confession of sin, as too many do, but to think of our own sin apart from that of other people, and to think of what is especially our sin. Thus personal and particular, our repentance is the more likely to be genuine and godly. 3. Confession. "These that have sinned, theso and these only spenk aright when they speak of repenting, and it is sad when they who have so much work for repentance do not say a. word of repenting." But confession is this "speaking aright" which God desires to hear from us. Now, this conression is so acceptable to God because it glorifies his holiness and his love. His holiness; for the sinner has come to see sin as God sees it, and hence to hate and abhor it. He is of one mind with God about it as he never was before. And his love; for confession casts itself in faith upon a love that is deeper than its sin. Deep as is God's abhorrence of sin, the sinner in confession appeals to and lays hold on a love that is deeper still. Hence, when the sinner makes hi3 sincere confession before God, he is at once right out of "the for country," and home In the heart of God. The robe, the ring, the shoes, are put upon him ; the feast is pre- pared, and the merry-making, the joy in the presence of the angels of God, nt once begins. II. 'l'nE ATTENTIVE ODSERVEB OF THOSE WHO TRAVEL DY TlllS WAY. It is God who Is represented as bending down his ear, hearkening to what is said, listening for any wordd of confession, and ready to hear them if spoken. The text is the language of gracious expectation and desire on the part of God. It calls to mind the father's waiting for the prodigal's ret•un. How often had he looked with longing, loving gaze down the road along which his ref:ltrning son must come, if ever indeed he would come I He had looked so often that a. speck in the far distance would at once be discerned by him. Hence, "when a great way off," the father saw him. And so hore God is repre- sented as thn~ waiting for his guilty people's return. And how much there is to  228 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [cu. YIII. 1-~2.