The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 265

Vers. 4-S.-77w social bond a rope of sand. This is very strong language for a man to use concerning the society in which be lives, but it harmonizes with the strength of the language which the prophet has been using with respect to himself in vers. 1, 2. A very bad state of things ca.nnot be described by mild words. Such descriptions as that in this passage make plain how just and necessary the impending desolation of Jernsalem was. He who has just expressed such wishes for himself must speak with words that startle when he comes to counsel all who, in the midst of many perils, would wish to act prudently. I. THERE IS .AN IMPLICATION HERE AS TO WHAT BOCIE'l'Y m IBBAEL MIGHT HAVE BEEN. Without looking for perfection, it was reasonable to expect something a. great deal better tha.n what the prophet saw. There is the strength and help coming from real friendship. The more men are brought together the more chances they have of making most precious friendships. Modern facilities of intercourse have probably done much to enlarge such relations. Men meet oftener and communicate more easily than they were once able to do. But it ought to be especially true of those living near one another that neighbourhood and acquaintance, other things being equal, should lead on to friendship. '.L'he claim of friendship is recognized as something special-beyond the claim of kindred, humanity, and common country. In time of trouble we look to friends as those to whom we have a right to look, and we must be ready for similar claims upon ourselves. The prophet indicates also the claim of brotherhood. Brother should help brother. Not, of course, that mere natural nearness can compensate for deeper differences of disposition and temperament; but the remembrance of a common parentaa-e should have at least the negative effect of destroying all temptation to injure. '£hen there is general integrity in all dealings between man and man. It is one of the most reasonable of all expectations that we shall so live and act that our word shall bB as good as our bond. That which is fair and just towards every one should be wished and provided for. The good name of each should be the care of all. II. TH.EBE IS A VEBY BOLD STATEMENT AS TO WHAT THE SOCIETY IN ISBAEL ACTUALLY WAS. The man who could speak thus must have been a man of great courage-a man into whom God had put a spirit of resolution agreeing with the words he had to speak. Stern, unsparing words are only belied and made to look ridiculous when uttered by a faltering lip. If the prophet's words here were true, this was a society only in name. Some may say that such words could not be true-that things could not possibly be so bad. But, remember, these are the words of a prophet of God,_ and God is be who searches the heart and can tell exactly how far adv1mced in corrupt10n a society is at any particular time. Note how a skilled physician will assert the existence of mortal mischief in a patient when as yet there is no sign of it to others, and also OH. IX. 1-26.J THE BOOK OF nrn PROPHET JEREMIAH. 2C5