The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 266

preclict with tolerable correctness how long it will take the mischief to run its course . .And shall not God be much more discerning? All doleful statements as to the rottcn- nc8S of society have come to be called jeremiads, as if they were really in the same class as the statement of Jeremiah here. But very often such doleful statements ara only the result of ignorance and partial views, coming from a defect in him who sees and not in the thing seen. Jeremiah stated the simple truth here. If there had been hopeful signs they would have been mentioned, for God never lacks in an encouraging recognition of the preservative elements in society. To one who notes the warnings of Isaiah it will be nothing wonderful that the evils perceptible in his time should have strengthened into the deplorable universality indicated here. And even now, in places where the outward signs of Christianity abound, there are proofs that society might, in no very long time, approach the description of Jeremiah. The same evils are continually present, though kept in check. No one trusts a stranger. He must first of all take the lowest place, and do such things as need the least amount of trust, and so gradually work himself into the highest place of esteem. No one complains that he cannot win confidence at the first. Family jars and disputings are proverbial. Jesus, we know, divides brother against brother; but it is nothing new that he thus brings into society, for Jacob is the supplanter of Esau, and brother complains against brother to this very Jesus, because he thinks himself defrauded of his rights in the inheritance. There were two couples of natural brethren in the company of the apostles, and in their carnal days they were found hotly embroiled in the dispute as to who should stand greatest in the kingdom. There are abundant seeds of evil in society which are mercifully prevented from having free scope, else the result might soon show us that Jeremiah was in no wise going beyond the essential truth in what is said here.-Y. Vera. 23, 24.-Exultation of heart and life according to the will of God. I. MAN IS BET BEFORE us HERE AS BEING IN A STATE OF VERY LIVELY EMOTION. He is spoken of as glorying; and the Hebrew word used is such as suggests the idea of a man, not only intensely pleased within his own breast, but whose pleasure, like heat burstini:: into flame, finds vent in words and songs of exultation. The glory and exultation felt by the mind within may appear in many ways-in the face, in the gestures, in the speech; but the prophet indicates here the highest kind of expression, that of poetic and musical utterance. Genius comes in to render permanent certain experiences of exultation, the record of which would otherwise speedily pass away. There is thus set before us a certain state of mind and a certain expression of it. And be it observed. that this state of mind is not condemned in itself; nay, it is rather invited and encouraged. It is only condemned when it is produced by a wrong consideration of the objects exciting it, and there is a plain direction how to produce it in the right way. Hence we see how God iutends man to be raised into great activity or emotion. It is a wicked thing to repress and starve the feelings. Some there are who act as if the expression or emotion were a thing to be ashamed of; they seem to think they nre doing a good work in trying to kill everything like living feeling within them. Now, it is perfectly certain that God would encourage everything which gives the emotions a large part to play in human life, and particularly the joyful emotions. Notice, for it is nn interest;.. ing thing to notice, how it is Jeremiah, the weeping prophet as he is cnlled, who here points out to his erring brethren the way to the best sort of exultation. 'l'he truth is that Jeremiah was a rejoicing believer as well as a weeping prophet. He wopt over Jerusalem, as did the greutcr Ono who came long after; but it is plain that he must also have had deep joys in his own soul, even as Jesus had. God wishes us to cultivate the singing, exultant heart; for that we all may have, even when we lack tho singing lip. We are to have much grief and pity, continuul sorrow of heart, because of the world's sins, but it argues a great lack and a great loss if we have not ruuch joy because of God's salvation. '1.'he exultation which comes from a selfish use of the world and a selfish success must be put away; but only that another and purer kind of exultatiou may take its place. !L THE WARNING LEST THIS EXULTATION• 'WITH THE CONSEQUENT EXPRESSION 01' IT, SHOULD BE PRODUCED IN A WRONG WAY. 'l'hree classes are spoken of-the wise, the i;trong, the rich. Wise a~d strong by ~atural endowm~nts; rich by t~e. ncquirement of visible, tangible possessions. And WISe, strong, and nch men may re101ce and boast 266 'l'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [en. Ix. 1-26.