The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 278

lower natmc, but also the seductive force of the seeming success which idolatry had won and they had lost. Only such faith would serve them, and hence, in vers. 6, 7, 10-1:l, 161 the prophet bids them remember the incomparable glory, majesty, and power of tbe Lord, the true God, the living God (ver. 10), and the terribleness of his wrath. He reminds them that God is Creator (ver. 12) and Preserver (ver. 13). He who formed the earth governs it still, and be is their God, and they are his people. He is their "Portion," and "Israel is the rod of his inheritance" (ver. 16). And this which would be Israel's safeguard must be ours still. Let that living faith in the living God be lost, and at once resort will be had to symbols and substitutes for God, which, though in form they may be far different from the idols of the heathen, yet in substance and effect are the same. VII. ITs PRESENT-DAY LESSONS. There are 1mcb, for the peril of Israel is our own. 1. For we also may-and many do-substitute reverence for those things which arc associated with the worship of God for that worship in spirit and in truth which he alone cares for. Symbols, sacraments, creeds, Churches, religious observances,-any one of these may become an idol, that is, a substitute for God. They demand no strain and energy of our spiritual nature ; the senses or the intellect can grasp them; and they make no such strenuous demand upon the surrender of the will, the yielding of the heart to God ; they will let us do as we like, if not entirely yet far more than true spiritual worship ever will. And thus, though we be called Christians, we may be idolaters after alL 2. And let us guard against being deceived b_y the sanction which worldly success and present good so often le,nd to ways which God forbids. There was very much around Israel whose desirableness said to them, "Come with us, and we will do you good." Idolatry did seem to answer, whilst their religion did not. And the way of the wicked will often seem to prosper, whilst "waters of a full cup" of sorrow "are wrung out" to the people of God. The mighty bribe which Satan pressed upon our blessed Lord, if he would but renounce the way of the cross appointed for him by his Father, and take "all the kingdoms of this w"'rld and the glory of them "-that same blibe is pressed upon myriad souls still. 3. By constant and earnest worship of God let us cherish and keep nlive in our hearts that lh-ing faith in the living God made known to us in the Lord Jesus Christ, which alone can, but surely will, meet and overcome all those temptations to idolatry, which now, as of old, beset every human soul.-C. Ver. 16.-" The Portion of Jacob." By this expression," the Portion of Jacob,'' is meant the Lord God. Once again it is met with in Jercrniah's prophecy (eh. Ii.), where several of the verses of this chapter, our text amongst the rest, are repeated word for word. It is interesting to inquire the probable reason for this beautiful but unusual name being given to God. 'l'hat God is the Portion of bis people is a precious truth often declared. But this form of that precious truth is unusual, and may well lel\d us to ask why God is so called. And there can be little doubt, I think, that the motive of the prophet was to touch the hearts of those whom be addressed, and, if so it might be, to Wl\ken up again a longing after this "Portion of Jacob," which they were so fast letting go. There was an appealing power in this name, and for that reason it was probably chosen. '1.'he devout Jew loved to think and tell of God as the God of Jacob. You meet with the two names thus linked together r,erpetually in tbo psalms and often elsewhere. "The God of Jacob is our Refuge,' "The Name of the God of Jacob defend thee," etc. Sometimes we read of God os the God of A bro.ham, nnd as the God of Isaac, bnt more commonly as the Go<l of Jacob. Now, why is this? Is it not because that Jacob was more thoroughly the representative and Cother of the Jewish people than any other patrinrch? Abraham was a great hero of the faith; Isaac's career was too still and serene to be at all a pattern of their own; but Jacob, he was the typical Jew, both in the mingled good and evil of bis character, nnd in the manifold trials and vicissitudes of his life. A sorrowful, struggling, and often sinful man was he, sore chastened of the Lord ngnin and again, but never given over unto death• like the bush burning in the fire but never burnt, ar,d coming out of God's discipiines the better for having passed through them. In him the Jews saw their own character and career vividly portrayed, and they loved to feel that God was the God of Jacob; the God, therefore, whom they needed, and in whom he who was the 278 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHE'l' JEREMIAH. [ou. x. 1~25.