The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 382

Ver. 1.-The limits of intercessory prayer, "Though Moses and Samuel" etc. 1. This Ycrse seems at first sight to be in contradiction to the many Scriptures 'which assure us that the "effectual fervent prayers of righteous men avail much." The Bible teems with promises that God will hear when we call upon him. But here is a decided declaration that, let even the holiest and the most eminent for their intercessions stand before God in prayer, they should not avail to secure what was denied. 2. And were there only this verse, the difficulty would not be so great. But experience is con- tinnally supplying us with fresh instances in which blessings earnestly sought have yet been denied. 3. And this also in regard to spiritual things. Were it only tem- poral blessings God refused to give although we asked him for them, we could readily understand that, though they seemed so good in our eyes, in his they might be seen to be hnrtful. We know that in such things we do not know what is best. But the refusal of prayer is found in regard to things that we know are good and well pleasing to God-in regard to things spiritual and eternal, e.g. in the prayers of pa.rents for the conversion of their children, of teachers and pastors for those committed to their charge. 4. Hence from this verse and from such experience of rejected prayer, the sad conclusiou has been drawn tbat, in spite of the most earnest intercession, the souls we pray for may be lost, our intercession be of no avail. For does it not say even to Jeremiah, who himself was an eminent intercessor with God, that there were yet greater than he -such as Moses and Samuel-but that if even they, etc. (cf. references for instances of their intercession). 5. And some have tried to escape the difficulty by drawing a sharp contrast between the intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ and that of these men of God. '!'hey have said, had Jesus interceded, it would have been otherwise. But this is not true, for our Lord would not have interceded as Jeremiah did. He also foretold great calamities as overhanging Jerusalem and her people, but we have no record of his ever having prayed that they might not come. He sought unceasingly their eternal salvation, but he did not pray against the destruction of Jerusalem. It is not permissible, therefore, to account for the failure of such intercession as that of Jeremiah, on the ground that it is only human intercession and not that of the Son of God. 6. But before we certainly conclude that intercession for the eternal spiritual well-being of others may after all be in vain, though the intercession have been such as that of the great servants of God here spoken of, who touched the utmost limits of intercessory prayer, let us note (1) That it was not/or spiritual blessings that Jeremiah was interceding. Bis piteous entreaties were "concerning the dearth" (eh. xiv. 1), that that might be removed. It was strictly a prayer for temporal mercies and deli- verances. It is, therefore, unjust to conclude that intercession for things spiritual and eternal may fail because, as we well know, it may fail for things material and temporal. Note also (2) That the utmost limits of intercession had been reached. '!'he prophet himself had offered no scant or insincere petition, and the intercession of these great Haiuts of God spoken of was, we know, of the mightiest order. Defore, then, wo con- clude lhat such intercession in re(;';ard tQ spiritual things can be c;,f no avail 1 le~ \JS ti@  cu. u, 1-21.] THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET JEllE11llAH. 38.5