The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 419

2. Exceeding human diagnosis. No c:-ne is so ignorant of his own (fopravity as the sinner himself; and no earthly eye can read the true significance of the symptoms. 3. Pre- eininent in th1'$ respect. It is the source of it all, The master is g1·eater than his work. The centre contains all the threads of connection. II. ITs INTERPRETER. 1. Jehovah, Because (I) he made it; (2) he is related to it in its constitution and conscience; (3)" .All things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do." 2. This qualifies and authorizes Mm to judge. lt is not his only qualification, nor is that the sole reason for his knowledge. But it is obvious that, as knowing man so intimately, he also is able to judge of his state. And he alone has the standard of perfect righteousness.-M. Vers. 12, 13.-The saint's Refuge. The construction of the clauses of the twelfth verse is very difficult., and it is not easy to determine their exact relations. It may be better to take them as simple and independent exclamations, united in their being addressed to a common object rather than by any grammatical nexus: "0 throne of glory, height from the beginning, place of our sanctuary I" But, taken by itself, this would have no particular sense. It is only as a preface to ver. 13 that we can thoroughly understand its bearing. Jeremiah, full of anxiety and distress at the general depravity, looks instinctively upon Jerusalem, and reflects that only through that which it represents can the future of Israel be secured. There is a. gradually ascending climax of spiritual reference, culminating in the words, " Hope of Israel, Jehovah." I. THE SAVING POWER OF THE HOLY CITY IS DERIVED FROJII Bllll OF WHOJII IT IS THE SJIRTh""E. It ii obvious that the descriptions of Jerusalem are all relative to this, which gathers up and concentrates everythiug in a person. The serie11 of epithets of vers. 12 and 13 are cumulative, and express a gradually deepening spiritual insight. 'l'hrough the material the prophet looks until his eye rests upon the spiritual. God is the centre of attraction and the Saviour of the worehipping soul. Everything in the ritual and teaching of the temple pointed to him. The glory of the temple was his. It was only as he condescended to use it that men could find therein the spiritual ;rest and safety they needed. And the same is true of the Church of Christ. It is not the institution which saves, but Christ working in and through it. 'l'here is danger of this beiµg overlooked by non-spiritual men. .Association connects the grace of salvation with the means or instrumentality, and ignores the original source. It is the virtue of the prophet's insight that it penetrates the veil of rites and ordinances, ancl, fastens itself. upon God as the only saving power. 1. Spiritual men sliould examine themselves and see whether they rest upon this true spiritualfoundation. 'l'he process of the prophet's mind is one through which all true saints have to go. In many instances there will not be the eagle-like directness and happy immediacy of his discovery. 'l'here may be clouds and difficulties. But no true satisfaction can be attained until he be discovered and rested in. We are all prone to stay ourselves upon prescription, antiquity, authority, that are merely human. The doctrine, the rite, the priesthood, may inter- vene, not to unite, but to separate. 2. It behoves those who call themselves by God's name to exalt and honour him. If there is danger of his being ignored or pushed into the background, the more need is there of a bold and frequent assertion of his power aud grace. 3, It is only by a living, experimental, practical faith that this connection with God can be sustaiued. The sorrow and trouble of Jeremiah drive him inwards for cowfort. His meditation was like a voyage of the soul through the straits and shallows of ceremonialism into the great ocean of the personal presence and love of God. ll. THE TIIREEFOLD CLAIJII OF Gon's CITY TO THE BEGABD OF MEN, Jerusalem, ns the seat of the theocracy, was: 1. The seat of authority and splendour. 'l'he power of Israel amongst and against the nations consisted in the spiritual influence emanating from Jerusalem and its temple. The house of God, as the centre of all rule and influence, is a thro11e. It is its own protection, and its authority is self-sustained anJ self-commended. It is a refuge for the oppressed and a place of justice for the wronged. "Go round about 1.m: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks;" for this city is our city, aud "tl,is Gud is our God for ever and ever." "Because thou hast made the Almighty ... ihy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shnll nny plague come nigh thy on. xvn. 1-27.] 'l'llE BOOK OF TllE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 425