The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 416

Ver. 11.-Parlridge-nests. I. ILL-OOTTEN RIOHES BETOKEN AN UNNATURAL CON- DITION OF BOOIETY. It is not natural that strange eggs should be found in a partridcre- nest. Violence e.nd_fraud and more subtle sharp-practice are proofs of a disorgani;ed state of society. II. ILL-GOTTEN RICHES MA y BE MINGLED WITH JUST GA lNS. It may not be that all the eggs a.re strange. The business man who is dishonest in some transactions may be honest in others; but bis very correctness may be only a cloak for his fraud. III. ILL-GOTTEN RICHES MAY PROSPER FOR A TIME. The eggs are hatched. Schemes of fraud succeed, The wicked prosper. IV. ILL-GOTTEN RICHES WILL ULTIMATELY BE LOST, How often does the ablest device of dishonesty fail of ultimate success I The swindler is taken at the height of his prosperity, If he is not discovered be cannot take bis wealth with him when he dies. V. II.L-aOTTEN RICHES LEAVE THE POSSESSOR OF THEM CONVICTED OF FOLT.Y. He thinks himself supremely clover, and smiles with contempt on bis credulous victims. But be is really the greatest dupe of his own devices, since in the end all his labour is wasted and bis ultimate condition ruinous (Luke xii. 20, 21). "Honesty is the best policy " in the long run, though, as has been shrewdly observed, no man is truly honest who only acts on this maxim. Vers. 12-H.-The Hope of Israel. I. THE REVELATION OF THE HoPE OF IsRAEL. 1. God is revealed as the Hope of his people; i.e. as the source (1) of their highest good -a. "fear" at first (Gen. xxxi. 42), but when better known a " hope ; " (2) of a good not yet attained-a. hope, not a full fruition; but (3) of a good assured for the future-a true hope resting on good promises, not a vain dream. 2. God is thus revealed in connection with the sanctuary, (1) because the worship of God enlarges the knowledge of God; (2) because the sanctuary is the centre of religious instruction, either by symbolic service as that of the temple, or by direct teaching as that of the Christian Churches. God must be known to be loved and trusted. They who neglect the duty of public worship Jose the privilege of receiving light on Divine truth which would be a comfort and help to them. 3. Experience confirms this revelation of God. The glorious character of God bas been true of him " from the beginning." The antiquity of the temple was the proof of this to the Jew, the history of Christendom should be more so to the Christian, II. THE FOLLY OF FORSAKING THE HOPE OF ISRAEL. 1. It is foolish to forsake God. We know that it is wrong; we have to learn that it is also injurious to ourselves. The character of God should make this apparent. Such a character as bas been above ascribed to him shows that he is "the Fountain of living waters," i.e. the one Source of pure, life-giving energy. Though no true religion can be founded on low molives of self-interest, self-interest should at least show us the mistake of irreligion. 2. The results oi forsaking God are shame and destruction: (1) shame, because the stay of confidence which was chosen in preference to God is seen at last to be a rotten reed, while God is manifested as worthy of all trust; and (2) destruction, for "they shall bll written in the earth;" sin is graven as with a pen of iron upon a rock, but the lifo of the sinner is written in dust, to be dissipated and forgotten, a wasted career, with nothing solid and lasting about it. III. THE PRAYER OF CONFIDENCE IN THE HOPE OF IsBAEL, (Ver. 14.) 1. A prayer for healing. Though we hope in God we may suffer at present. We need not so much improved circumstances as a bettering of the condition of our own souls-not so much wealth as health. 2. A prayer for salvation. The prophet feels himself in danger. Dangers of various kinds wait on a.II of us. Salvation is a large word, meaning deliverance from all real harm, It is a large thing to ask for, but not too much for faith. 3. A prayer of assurance-" I shall bo healed." What God does he docl! effectually. 4. A prayer of bumble thanlcfulness-" For thou art my Praise." True faith rests, not on our merits, but on God's mercy, and therefore all prayer shoultl confess his goodness and all supplication be mingled with thanksgiving (Phil. iv. 6). 422 TIIE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [on. xvu. 1-27.