The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 349

Other nations might play the part of girdle to their deities, but there was really nothing of substance to gird. But when Jehovah drew Israel to himself, there was the oppor- tunity of a real, glorious, and ever-extending service before thew. Other nations chose and fabricated their gods; Jehovah chose and separated Israel, and in doing so intended the con1Jection to be a very close one, and provided all the means by which it might become such. II. THE INST.ABILITY OF THE GIRDLE. The very Israelite who was to be taught lessons by this gir<lle, when be chose a girdle for himself, was generally able to make it serve his purpose. He would get it of some durable substance, to wear long. Elijah and Jolin the Baptist were girt with leathern girdles. The Israelite, in the girdle with which he was familiar, dealt with that which was altogether under his control. The longer he wore it, the easier he found it,and the more amenable to his touch. If it began to tear and slip, and to slacken and hinder just when it should have been tightest and most helpful, its owner would very soon get rid of it as a deceiving girdle. But while Jehovah could bring his people very close, and compel them in a certain sense to remain with him, he could not make them cleave to him. Cleaving could only be done with 1,urpose of heart, and must be a voluntary action, 'l'hese people were not as a piece of linen or leather, to be folded exactly as the wearer might choose. If they had been they could not have rendered the service Jehovah wished from them, and in tha result they showed that they did not wish to cleave to God. Be could not trust them . .Again and again he tried them, only to find that they cared nothing for their relation to him, nothing for the golden opportunity of setting forth his praise and glory,;. III. THE HUMILIATION OF THE GIRDLE. Jeremiah was told to take this linen girdle and bind it round his loins, Linen was the material of the priests' garments; and was not Israel a consecrated people? Jeremiah, belonging to a priestly family, would easily be able to get hold of a linen girdle; although the dir_ect10ns given to him here wi;>Uld seem to show that this particular girdle we.s, in wme way, to excite special attention. Notice bow the instructions were given to the prophet bit by .bit. At. first he is simply told to put on the girdle. It we.s there to teach its own lesson to all who had eyes to observe and a disposition towards timely repentance. Then with his girdle he ,ras to take a journey to Euphrates. That su.ch a journey was long, difficult, and tlungerous, is true as men count length, difficulty, and danger, but to a prophet the greatest difficulties and dangers come from refusing to take the way of God, however long it may be. Jonah had to go to Nineveh; what is there uureasonable in sup- posing that Jeremiah had to go to the neighbourhood of Babylon? It may have been just as profitable a use of time to take long journeys there as to go on giving testimony against those who resolutely closed their cars. Besides, it was by Euphrates that the ;:irdle Israel was to be marretl. It was to be shown to them that, if they would not a.et as a girdle, they could easily be made useless for any other purpose. If they would not he God's people, they should achieve no position for themselves. If they would not honour the name which he had given them, there was no other name by· which they could get distinction. lf they would not be to his praise and glory, as the girdle cleaving firmly and serviceably to him, then they should be to his praise o.nd glory as the marred girdle. If we will not do what God witihes us to do, then he takes care that we shall not do what we ourselves wish to do. 'l'he girdle brought back frorn Euphrates was found profitable for nothing. That which is meant for salt of the earth and loses its savour, is thenceforth good for nothing but to be ce.st out o.nd to be trodden uudcrfout of men.-Y. Vere. 15, 16,-.4 demand for the timely giving of what is due to Jehovah. It will be observed that the previous verses of this chapter set forth the doom of Jehove.h's npostatc people by two very expressive figures. '!'here is the figure of the girdle, marred- and become good for nothing by lying so long in the damp recess of the rock. 'l'here is also the figure of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, from those high in station down to the common people, every one of them becom~ as it were a livi~g- wine-skin, fille~ with drunken fury, destroying one another and bemg destroyed. 'lh1s figure, bordermg on the grotesque, presents as impending a very terrible scene. But with the verses now lo be considered there returns what we may call an evangelical interval. Though in these prol'hecies of Jeremiah gloom of necessity Freclominates, yet there are equally necessary OH, xm. 1-27.) 'l'IIE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 351