Vers. 15-17.-The prophet's claim upon Jehovah, and the grounds of the claim. That which urged the prophet thus to cry to God for succour is stated with areat emphasis in ver. 18. He is suffering as from a perpet,ual pain and an incurable wound. 1t is by such a cry as this that we are able to estimate something of the continuous reproach which he must have had to -endure. We know how, in later days, the Jews docracd the steps of Christ and afterwards of Paul; and these persecutors of Jeremiah ~ro their ancestors. Against them Jeremiah could do nothing himself. So far as human sympathy was concerned, he was alone or nearly alone, not able to command even the forbearance of his own kindred, and therefore he had to turn all th.e more to God. It was well, indeed, that he was thus shut up to the one resort. In his approachto God, we find him stating three claims for God's immediate attention to his position. I. SUFFERING FOB JEHOVAH's SAKE. Every suffering man has a claim upon God, even when his suffering comes by his own transgression. God is very pitiful to the tortured conscience of the man who has been wakened up out of a selfish and dis- ubedient life. It can be no pleasure to him to see a being of such sensibility as man suffering from any cause whatever; and when a man is suffering for truth, for righteousness, for the gospel and the kingdom of God, then we may be sure that there is a peculiar movement of the Divine. nature to help and strengthen such a sufferer. God would help his servant in this very instance, by enabling him to look at his suffer- ing in the right way. The suffering was an evidence of successful work ; successful because it bad been faithfully and courageously done. If only the prophet bad softened some words the Lord had put into his mouth and omitted others, he might have escaped reproach. But reproach smiting on a good conscience is helter than contempt falling deservedly on the coward who trims to stand well with everybody. Then the prophet would also be made to feel that it was a good thing to bear what God was bearing him- self. His long-suffering towards his enemies requires that his friends should also be patient. It is better to be abused in bearing testimony for God than to share in the rancorous conflicts of selfish men. Prophet and apostle alike had this for their ex perie □ ce, that they were compelled to suffer for the Lord's sake; .and he who bore the clearest, purest testimony of all, viz. Jesus himself, was the one who suffered the most. That good and true men, trying to serve God, should often become impatient under biting, bitter words is not wonderful. The true thing to be desired in such a state of mind is not to escape the reproaches, but to have the inward joy increased, so that it may be an effectual counterbalance to all that comes from outside. "If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye" (l Pet. iv. 14). li. 'JHE COMPLETE ASSOCIATION OF THE PROPHET WITH THE PROPHETIC WORD. He did not receive it into his mind reluctantly and listlessly, but as one who hungered and thirsted after righteousness. As the word fell on bis inner ear it was devoured. It came to him as from the excellent glory; he recognized it as Divine. He was not as many, who will pamper and cram themselves with delicacies that are pleasant to the taste, and turn away with unconcealed aversion from food full of nutrition and healt.h. Hence they became to him the joy and rejoicing of his inward life. .All words of God, apprehended in their real meaning, give strength, peace, satisfaction, harmony in the nobler parts of human nature. Jeremiah is thinking of the parallel which may be drawn between food for the body and food for the spirit. The food which we take, just because it is pleasant for the taste, may be anything but a joy and rejoicing to the lieart. We must eat what is really good for food, evidently intended for food, if we would be kept from ill consequences. It was because these words were readily accepLed and fully received that they became a joy and rejoicing to the heart, and then iu the strength, fortitude, zeal, thus communicated, the prophet went forth to his arduous work. Here surely is the secret of his steadfastness. God had put his words iu his servant's mouth (eh. i. 9); but that was all he could do. It was for the prophet l,1mself so to treat the words that b., dhould give them with all the added force of hi~ C.IW □ sa:,~llfied 1,ersonality. t>thcr men might have uttered the same words, yet so Uij ou. XVL 1-21.] 'l'HE BOOK OF THg PROPHET JEREMIAH.
to rob them of all force and sting. Notice in particular that if these words of God t 0 the prophet-words mostly so stem, spoken nearly all from the jt1dgrnent-seat-wcn, nevertheless the joy and rejoicing of his heart, how much more may such an'experience be expected from receiving the evident gospel words of the Lord Jest1s ! "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life" (John vi. 63). III. THE PROPHET'S LIFE WAS CONSISTENT WITH HIS MESSAGE. .According to his message, which was soon proved to be a word of truth, the whole land was advanc- ing ever more swiftly into a season of the greatest st1ffering and sorrow. Yet the people would not believe the message, but went on, just as usual, a~sernbling for their merry-makings. If now the prophet had joined in these merry-makings, the people would have had some plea for their neglect. As it was, they could find no excuse in any inconsistent conduct of bis; as be spoke, so he acted. Probably some of them tried to draw him in, to get him away from what, in their shallowness and haste, they would reckon mere morbid fancies. Others would accuse him as being one who cared for no pleasure of life himself, unless it was the pleasure of souring the pleasure of others. And yet we see the prophet could be as thankfol for joy and rejoicing of heart as any one. It is the greatest possible mistake to suppose that those who keep away from the world's pleasures are filled with gloom. A service of God, filled with joy, may soon become a real experience. But if talking about it stands instead of the reality, then the pretence will soon be shown by the avidit.y of our turning towards worldly pleasures,-Y.