The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 254

in sacrifice, a.e that which was pure a.lone could be. The doves were allowed to fly about the temple and to rest on its roofs and pillars (see H. Runt's picture of the 'Finding in the Temple'). But purity opens the door of heaven, and enraptures the beholder with the beatific vision there. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Winge are these, therefore, well likened to those of a dove, "covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold." Yes," keep thyself unspotted from the world," and God shall so manifest himself to thee that thy soul shall be at rest, let the wicked rage around thee as they may. And the dove was the selected symbol of the Holy Spirit. "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove," said John the Baptist. But hie wings will bear thee where thou mayest see the fatherly love of God, his wisdom guiding all, and his gracious purpose being more and more accomplished. "He will take of the things of Christ and show them unto thee." And in them thou ahal,e have peace. The psalmist's passionate longing may then be fulfilled for us. We may have "wings like a dove." ·These, of meekness, purity, and the blessed Spirit of God. And so, without quitting the station assigned us or departing to any wilderness, wo may have even now the rest of God.-C. Ver. 1.-The doings and doom of deceit. The verses from ver. 2 to the text set forth its doings, and the text and remainder of the chapter foretell its doom. Note- 1. DEOEIT. It is a terrible indictment that the prophet brings. He affirms that deceit is: l. Universal. Ver. 2," They be all," etc. Ver. 6, "Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit;" i.e. it is everywhere, all around yon. That: 2. It has broken up the most sacred relationships: "They be all adulterers" (ver. 2). 3. It has turned their solemn assemblies into a conclave of liars (ver. 2). 4. It is practised deliberately. Ver. 3: as a man deliberately bends and takes aim with his bow. 5. It has mounted the judge's seat (ver. 3; cf. true translation of phrase, "They are not valiant for the truth "). 6. It has smoothed the way for all evil. "They proceed from evil to evil" (ver. 3). 7. It has destroyed all confidence (1) between neighbours, (2) between brethren (ver. 4). 8. It is diligently studied. Ver, 6, "They have taught," etc. "They take the utmost pains to go crookedly." 9. Jt is cruel and deadly in its aims (ver. 8). In view of a condition of things so horrible, how unanswerable is the demand of ver. 9, "Shall I not visit them for these things?" etc. I It will be found in all the judgments of God upon nations that those judgmente have never come until there was no other way of dealing with such nations, if the moral life of the world was to be maintained. II. 1TB DOINGS. 1. It had made dwelling amongst them i-atolerahle to the righteous. (Cf. ver. 2.) Jeremiah longs to get away from them. 'l'he most desolate solitude would be preferable to living amid such a people as this. It ill an ominous sigu for a community when the godly, however compassionate, however long-suffering, can no longer endure to dwell in their midst. 2. It had made the thought of God intolerable to themselves. Vere. 3, 6, "They know not me, saith the Lord." Just as a man mny meet one whom he desires to have nothing to do with, but when he meets him will pass him as if he did not know him ; so deceit had made these people, as it makes a.II such, desirous of having nothing to do with God. Therefore they will not recognize or acknowledge him in any way. 3. And at last it had, made them intolerable to God. Ver. 7: God asks, "What else can I do for the daughter of my people?" (cf. Expo- sition). There was nothing now but for the judgment of God to go forth against them. Thereforo note- III. 1TB DOOlll. Ver. 7, "Therefore thus saith," eto. .And down to ver. 22 these awful judgmente of God are set forth. Inquire, therefore, what there is about deceit which renders it so hateful in the eight of God. 1. Tliere can be no doubt that it ia so. "Lying lips are an abomination unto the Lord" (er. Ps. xv.; Acts v.). "All liars shall have their pa.rt in the lake that burneth," eto. 2. And some of the reasons arc: (1) Deceit cometh from Satan, who was "a liar from the beginning," and "the father of lies." It was by his lies that our first parents were deceived and sin was brought into the world. (2) It is the source of infinite misery and distress. It is " the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil" which still work well-nigh all our sorrow and our shame. (3) It tends to the destruction of human society. All our well-being and comfort depend upon good faith being maintained between man and man, " But t1ow, 254, THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [en. 1x. 1-26.