The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 463

HOMILIES BY V.ARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers.1-3.-17.e behaviour of the wicked towards the truth. I. THEY REGARD THE TBUTH AND ITS MINISTERS AS THEIR GREATEST ENEMIES. If Pashur had known better he would have refrained from such exhibitions of temper. The prophet would then have been accounted the greatest benefactor of his country. Not the soldier on the battle-field nor the statesman in the councils of empire could have rendered so signal a service as Jeremiah did in simply but persistently telling the truth. Much of what he said was patent to every honest observer. By saying what he did the prophet did not bring into existence that which did not exist before; and, if it really existed, it was better that it should be recognized and reckoned with. The evils he denounced were the real enemies of the country, and not those who pointed them out and suggested their reform. It is, however, unpleasant to the carnal mind to have its faults and sins exposed. With many the calamity is not that evil should be done, but that it should be found out. II. THEY ABE NOT SCRUPULOUS AS TO THE MEANS THEY EMPLOY TO SILENCE THEM. He" smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks." These means of punish- ment were e.t hand, e.nd he used them at once. It was legal power used illega11y, or law employed to the detriment of righteousness, Pe.ssione.te hatred is shown by the whole course of action. Could anything elso be expected of those who tried to subvert righteousness? They must needs do it unrighteously. Even the condenrnation of Christ was legal only in appenrance. Ill, TnE BEHAVIOUR OF THE OPPONENTS OF THE TRUTH IS FREQUENTLY C0NDE:r,H,"ED DY ITS OWN INCONSISTENCY AND VACILLATION. "It came to pass on tho morrow, that Pe.shur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks." 1. The course dictated by passion is seen to be impolitic and foolish. 2. 17.e guilty intention is weakened by the outcries of conscience, It is this conscience which makes cowards of us all-or heroes. Here it led to vacillation, which discredited the policy to which Pe.shur wns already com- mitted, nnd made its author ridiculous. 'l'his is one of the reasons why men can do nothing agaiust the truth. It sbines by its own light and confounds the machinations that havo been wrought in darkness. 3. Truth has a powerful ally in the bosoms of its worst enemies, IV. OPPOSITION 'l.'0 THE TRUTH IS CERTAm TO FAIL, "Then se.id Jeremiah unto bim," etc. (ver. 3), The prophet is only the more vehement e.nd enthusiastic. Ill-timed antagonism to his message he.s provoked him to coin a nickname for J>ashur, which linked the impending judgment inseparably with his memory. It was o. bad eminence richly deserved. He was to be the refutation of himself, to see all his predictions falsified, and to reap the curses of those ho ha.cl deceived as they perished in their sins. How often in his disgraceful exile he must have wished he had let the messenger of God alone (Acts v. 38, 30) 1-M. Vers. 8-6.-Magor-Missabib; or, the jute of a false prophet. Tho person here mentioned cannot with certainty be identified. He will the better servo as a type e.nd representative of bis kind. '!'here is no ogc 01· country that has not had its Pasbur. I. TnE INFLUENCE HE EXETICISED, 1, Its character, .Absolute and despotic. At 470 THE BOOK OF' THE PROPHE'r JEREMIAH. [cu. x:x. 1-18.