The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 313

making ;-the thoughtful among them would feel that God could have employed IiCi better figure to suggest how full Israel was of productivity of the most practical sort. Mention is ma.de in Hosea (xiv. 6), as well as here, of the beauty of tha olive tree. In one sense the olive wA.S not beautiful. As far as the picturesque was concerned many trees excelled it. But, after all, the deapest beauty, the only beauty that will bear inspection, is that which comes from pleasant experiences and associations; and those who were rich in profits from the labour of the olive would see in it 11, beauty absent from many trees otherwise more attractive. The olive, to one seeing it for the first time, might seem a tree of small practical use. But experience proved that its performance was gre.at, and so it became more and more a name of honour. And this tree, having in it such capabilities, God had planted. The olive tree needs a special soil to bring out all its capabilities. Dr. Thomson says, speaking of a certain plain full of olive-orchards, "The substratum of these plains is chalky marl, abounding in flint . . . . Jn such soil the tree flourishes best, both in the plains and upon the mountains. It delights to insinuate its roots into the clefts of the rocks and crevices of this flinty marl; and from thence it draws its richest stores of oil. If the overlying mould is so deep that its roots cannot reach the rock beneath, I am told that the tree languishes, and its berries are small and sapless." And so God planted bis people, being such as they were in his eye, in a land promised and duly prepared. Nay, in a certain sense, they were planted even before they reached the land of promise. They were planted and became fruitful as soon as ever God took them in hand, fruitful even amid the pains of Egypt and the desolations of the wilderness. ll. THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS OLIVE TREE, .All the wealth that came from this olive tree was being used for bad purposes. The fatness of the soil went into the olive, but the fatness of the olive did not come back to God in grateful and propor- tion.ate service. Nay, rather, it was used against him; and the harm it did was to some extent measurable by the good it might have done. The axe is laid, not only at the root of the tree that brings forth no fruit, but also at the root of the tree that brings forth its fruit to be used in hostility against him who planted the tree. Israel might say, "Is it not plain that God favours us, for are we not as the green, fair, fruitful olive? Why, then, shonld we believe threatenings that seem contradicted by these signs of favour?" These were signs of favour indeed, but they were also grounds of expecta- tion. And when the expectation was utterly disappointed, and when the fruit of Jehovah's gracious dealings was used to prop up the abominations of idolatry, it was time for him to work in all the severity of righteous judgment.-Y. Vers. 18-23.-The prophet in his own country. This passage describes a peculia1 peril to Jeremiah, and a peculiar peril to those who conspired against him. I. A PECULUR PERIL TO JEREMIAH. His life was full of perils-" perils from his own countrymen" in many ways, perils from the palace with its great men, from priests and false prophets, from every devotee of idolatry, from every one, in short, whose vices and iniquities he lashed with the scourge of his Heaven-inspired tongue. He would expect to make enemies in these directions. But here is peril from an unexpected source. He was not at all prepared for it, and when the knowledge of it in all its hideous reality came upon him, he was correspondingly excited. Yet, though the peril was unexpected, it was by no means to be marvelled at. As soon as we look at the position of Jeremiah and the consequent feeling of his kindred, we cease to wonder. Much may be said, and justly, of the strength of natural affection; but the selfishness so deeply settled in every human breast, and so potent, is stronger than any tie of nature. Perhaps a mother's love may be trusted to stand out against it, but Scripture shows, in more than one instance, to what lengths a brother's jealousy will go. 'l'hink of Cain and Abel, Joseph and bis brethren, Moses and Miriam, and David and his elder brethren. Christ said that "a man's foes should be they of his own household;" but this was not a new thing. It was but the continuing of an old and sad difficulty i_n the way of regenerating the world. If things had gone as they ought to have gone, 1t we.a in the comparative retirement of Anathoth that Jeremiah should have found some slight opportunities of rest in the midst of his arduous public labours. That he had some quiet place of rest and of converse with like-minded spirits is very probable, but be would find it as Jesus did. Jesus, we know, found bis nearest approaches to home ofJ. nr.1-17.] THE BOOK OF TBE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 3i3