The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 283

affected all classes and in all ways, in mind, body, e.nd estate. 2. So severe. It was not a" light affliction," but "the iron entered into their souls." 3. And it was self. caused. 'l'he fangs of remorse were fastened in them by the consciousness they could not escape, that they had brought all their sorrows upon themselves. 4. And they drew down so many others, and innocent ones, in their own doom. This is ever one of the most fearful_ torments to the ~oul o; th~ guilty.. ". I have ruined, not myself only, but my wife, children, parents, friends.' 'Ihe dart, if it be pluno-ed first into the heart of those we love, will rankle in our own all the more terribly when it pierces us. 5. And the light of God:s countenance was gone. With that we can bear anything. Paul and Silas sang praises in the dungeon at Philippi. But withdrawn, driven away by our Rin, then is the soul sad indeed. 6. And it was irreparable. The wrath of God had arisen, and there "was no remedy" (cf. ver. 20). But note- IL THE SPIRIT IN wmcrr IT WAS DORNE. "But I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it." Now, these words might be used to express a spirit of sullen hardihood, Some have so understood them. But we rather regard them e.s the language of pious submission. It is tbe true Israelite who speaks; not the godless, idol-loving multitude, but the chosen of God wbo were mingled among them. And that this is so is shown: 1. By the check the speaker puts upon his lament. He was about seemingly to launch out in great complainings when be arrests his speech by recollections of a different kind : "But I said," etc. He would not allow himself in any more complaint; he replies to all such thoughts by the considerations he now brings forward. 2. He recognizes the cause of all these sorrows (ver. 21). It was their failure to" seek the.Lord," the pa~tors becoming" brutish "-their grievous sin. Mere sullenness would never make such a confession as this. 3. And the spirit of vers. 23-25, so lowly, devout, and filled with sacred desire,-all these show that we are to understand ver. 19 as the utterance, not of defiant hardihood or any other evil spirit, but as that of submission. Parallels, there- fore, are to be found in the submission of Aaron at the death of his sons (cf. also Le.m. iii 18-21, 39, 40; Micah vii. 9; Ps. lxxvii. 10; xxxix. 9, etc.). • III. 'I'IIIS SPIRIT GREATLY TO BE COMMENDED, 1. Jlor its nature. It is not the spirit of a stoic, of one who sets his teeth firm, and resolves to endure, come what may; but it is tender, gentle, and keenly susceptible of pain. Nor is it silent. Its voice is heard in prayers, confessions, praises, and it is ever desiring more of God's presence and grace. Nor is it slothful. It will be open-eyed to see and alert to a.et if aught can be done to minister relief or gain deliverance. Thus it does not violate any good instinct or dictate either of nature or conscience, as it would do were ,it charac- terized by either of the undesirable qualities named. They each have some sort of semblance of submission, but are far away removed from being identical with it or necessary to it. But submission consists in that calm composure of our whole nature, that meek acquiescence in the will of God, however painful that will may be. And there- fore this spirit is commendable: 2. For its comeliness, How morally beautiful and lovely it is l We never tire of it, never do anything but in our hearts e.dmiro and 1iraise it, and long to make it our own. How our hearts go out towards those that have eminently manifested it! As Aaron (cf. supra); Job saying,11 The Lord gave, and the Lord haih taken away," etc.; Moses; and above ali, our Saviour. Notwithstanding all bis present and most deserved glory as our risen Lord, it is to him on the cross, crowned with thorns, in all the glory of his meek submission-to him the heart of humanity ever turns with adoring love and trust, 3. For its self-conquest. Under the smart and distress of great loss and disaster, how ready the understanding is to think hard thoughts and to utterly resent what God has done I And the will, how sullenly it frowns upon God, and with lowering brow refuses to submit I And the passions, how they rage in torrents of tears and wild wailing cries of angry agony I And the lips, what hard speeches they are prompt to utter (cf. "I said in my baste, All men are liars ") ! And the hands, how eager to take revenge upon any who have been the means and instruments of our affliction I But the spirit of submission holds all these hot, eager forces in, as with bit and bridle, and bids thom all be still. 'l'hey are, as wero the lions before Daniel, awed and subdued by his calm, hallowed presence. Blessed is he who can thus conquer himself. None else shall couquer him, and least of nil any of tho m~re ci_rcumstances of life (cf. Prov. xvi. 32). 4. l•'or its wisdom. "'l'hero are few tLrngR rn the world so totally and entirely bad but some advantage me.y be mado of OH. L 1-25.] .rHE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 283