The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 376

II. Tms Is AN UNNATURAL OCCURRENCE, No such event could occur in the physical ·world. Therefore it proves that the human world is deranged. III. Tms IS A CALAMITOUS oocURRENCE. National modifications may be both peaceful· and profitable. Empires are slowly welded together, colonies gradually assume powers and rights of independence, internal reforms are quietly effacing the old order. 'fo tho indiYidnal natural death in old age is painless. It is tho violent and premature end that causes disaster. TV. THIS IS AN OCCURRENCE RESULTING FROM ERROR OR WRONG-DOING We cannot say that the cause is always to be traced immediately to the suffeters, ' With nations it may be generally so, but not with individuals. But still a law of inorallty, of social order of nature, has been broken, if' not by the sufferers still by soll:le a~ent. • LV. Tms IS AN occuRRENCE TB.AT MAY COME As AN A0T OF DIVINE JUDo:r,izjrr.' It is not universally so, particularly in regard to individuals. But it offon 1s tlie case. 'l'hus it was with the Jews, with Rome, in the dark ages, etc. Therefore let us beware of presuming on the apparent distance of the day of judgment. • Yer. 15.-Tne prayer of tluJ persecuted. I. THE GROUNDS OF ms PLEA, 1. .A confessor's fidelity. Jeremiah was suffering for God's sake. This plea implies (1) innocence; (2) a special claim for God's help. He who can urge such a. plea is the heir of one of the great beatitudes (Matt. v. 10). It is important to note that the promise of Christ rests, not on the mere fact of persecution, nor even on unjust persecution, but on persecution for righteousness' sake. The martyr is honoured, not for Ws suffering, but for his fidelity. 2. The knowledge of God. "0 Lord, thou knowest." When men misjudge, God knows all. They who are cruelly maligned by men may take refuge in the fact that God knows their innocence. It is better to have his approval in face of a world's scorn and hate, than the flattery of the world for false merits together with. the anger of the all-seeing God. How happy to be in such a case that we can fearlessly appeal to God's knowledge of our fidelity in suffering I Too often trouble is consciously deserved. 3. The long-suffering of God. The best man can but ask for .God's µiercy. Often has that been sought in the past. Yet God is not weary of hearing his helpless children's repeated clies. "His mercy endureth for ever." lL THE OBJECTS OF HIS PRAYER. 1. To be remembered by God. It is something to know that God thinks of us. His sympathy is.a great consolation. The traveller in the desert is not utterly alone when he calls to mind those dear ones at home, in whose memory he is constantly cherished, and who are therefore with him in spirit, while the unfortunate man who is buried in a crowded city, neglected and forgotten by his old friends, is essentially lonely and desolate. God's remembrance of us is the prelude to his active help. He remembers" for good." If Christ remembered the dying malefactor when he came into his kingdom, that fact ca1Tied with it the assurance that the poor man should be with Christ in paradise (Luke xxiii. 42, 43). 2. To be visited by, God. Our consolation is not in a pitying though absent God, but in an abiding presence and a close communion. If God visits he will come in power to save. 3. To be avenged of his enemies. This was a natural desire, considering that (1) the prophet was in the midst of his distresses,-it is easy to judge coolly from the outside when we are not feeling the oppression of cruel persecution; (2) he lived in Old Testament times; and (3) he did not desire to execute vengeance himself but appealed only to the great Judge. For us Cbristia11s the right prayer is, not for harm to come upon our enemies, but for their forgiveness, as Christ and Stephen prayed. Still, we may rightly seek for 1h11 overthrow of wicked powers, the frustration of iniquitous schemes, and the just and necessary punishment of persistent evil-doers. 4. For life to be spared. Jeremiah does not ask for triumph, for comfort and ease, for liberation from his arduous lifelong task, but simply for life. The love of life is natural. Men have work to do, a mission to fulfil, and it is right to desire to have time to complete this. Others were benefited by the life of Jeremiah. He was the prophet of his age, and a voice sp_eaking for all ages. It is our duty to seek to escape persecution if we can do so honourably, that _we may continue to serve God and work for the good of mankind (Matt. x. 23). Court.mg 11- marlyr•~ death is prac_tically equivalent to committing suici?o out of per~onal van1t):',_ 1nd much the same thing as falling under the second of Christ's temptations, Yet 11 OH. xv. 1-21.] 'l'llr~ BOOK OF ·rm.: PROPllET JEREMIAH. 370