The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 368

,imply ignored. When the cisterns nre empty, when the lnnd is chapped, when there is no wnter anywhere for man and beast, thou they can talk effusively concerning" the Hope of Isrncl, and the Saviour thereof in time of trouble;'' What self-accusation is implied iu this appeal! It was not in ignorance of Jehovah's claims that they had sinned against him. His past dealings were known and could be recollected under stress of need. If God could speak to Jeremiah as one familiar with the deeds of Moses and Samuel (eh. xv. 1), then we may be sure the God connected with those deeds was also known in his historical manifestations-known to some ex:tent at least to the great bulk of the people. IV. THE APPEAL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME KEENLY SENSITIVE TO Goo's SEPARA- TION FROM THEM. This is set forth by two figures. He has become as a stranger in the land, a.s a wayfarer pitching his tent for the night. The people profess to wonder why it is so, and yet they need not wonder. He who has been in their midst because, first of all, he has gathered them around him as the recipients of measureless privileges, finds ri'l'als raised on every high place and in every grove. His special commands are shut out from influence on the conduct of daily life. His messenger is scorned by rulers and conspired against by his own kinsfolk. What is all this but to become even worse than a st:-:inger? A stranger may advance through successive grades of acquaintance- ship into bosom affection and trust; but if he who is and ought to remain the centre gets pushed out little by little; even beyond the circumference, what force is there potent and exact enough to bring the former relation back? God had told these people how to treat the stranger, but instead of attending to his commands they had ended by making God himself a stranger. Needless, then, was it to ask the question," Why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land?" As well might the ebbing sea ask the rock round which it rolled at flood, why it had forsaken it. Jehovah had remained the same in truth, in love, aud in purpose. It was the people who had failed, and flowed further and further away from him. They talked of him as a mere wanderer among them, whereas they were the real wanderers, wandering in heart, dtifting about from one temporary satisfaction to another· (Exod. xxii. 21 ; Lev. xix. 9, 10, 33; Matt. xxv. 35; Heb. xiii. 2).-Y. Vers. 10-12.-The severities of Jehovah-sword, famine, and pest'ilence, I. THE occASION OF TITESE SEVERITIES. This occasion is stated. in ver. 10. The people have spoken of Jehovah as a stranger and traveller, which way of speaking gives oppor- tunity for asserting that it is they who are the real wanderers, straying from Jehovah's highway of righteousness and appointed service; and not only have they strayed, but they have loved to stray. The making of a straight path for Jehovah has been very hard and exacting, and the first voice of temptation to tum into an easier road has been listened to. And even now, out of the midst of their agonies, their cry has no repentance in it. They wish God to come into their midst and protect and comfort them, forgetting that if he is to be really in their midst they must turn from their iniquities. They must show clear signs of forsaking their sins before he can relax his severities. Dreadful as this experience of a waterless land is, they must look for the exciting cause of it in themselves. A disobedient child, suffering punishment at the hands of his parent, while he knows that one cause of his pain is the chastising instru- ment, knows also that it is a cause which only operates because of the wrong that he himself has done. If we would only give due attention, it is within our own l)Ower to keep the worst pains out of life. II. VAIN DEFENCES AGAINST TilE SEVERITIES. 1. The intercession of good men. Jehovah says once again to his prophet, "Pray not for· this people for their good." Jeremiah himself, naturally and commendably enough, is prompted to cry on their behalf. Bat doubtless they themselves also urge the prophet's intercession. 2. Fasting. Outward and visible humiliation; such attire and such attitudes assumed as were con- gruous with the cry of vers. 7-9. All this was easy enough without any humbling ur chastening of the heart. Fa.sting is too often followed by feasting. For a little while the fleshly comforts of life are superstitiously put aBide; but there is the full purpose of resuming them, and making up for Jost time. 3. Burnt offerings and ablutions, '.l'he people insulted Jcl:ovah by heaping before him the carcases of slain beasts. An idol was best served, according to the teaching of its priests, by those who made the on. xiv. 1-22.] THE BOOK OF 'l'l:lE PROPlIET JEREMIAH. 371