The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 472

"Vers. 10-13.-The name Magor-Missabib wrongly applied. I. TnE HOPES OF JEnEMIA.H's ENEMIES, We have seen in the preceding passage (vers. 7-9) how the prophet was incessantly exposed to -exceedingly irritating taunts frorri his enemies; and how the pain of these taunts in a measure tempted hini to try if he could not escape the pain by ceasing to prophesy. Jehovah perfectly preserved him from this danger. The prophetic fire within him, divinely kindled and sustained, was too strong to be thus extinguished. It grew more and more, and the very taunts of the ungodly became as fuel to make it burn more fiercely. But this very faithfulness of the prophet only increased his danger as an object of persecution. His enemies will themselves begin to feel in clanger from this continual reference to their evil doings. Mere mockery has itself a tendency to go further. Bengel, referring to the development of the persecuting spirit, as illustrated in the apostolic days, says, "The world begins with ridicule; then afterwards it proceeds to questioning; ta threats; to imprtsoning; to inflicting stripes; to murder" (see 'Gnomon' on Acts ii. 13). Jeremiah has already been for a night in prison, and he knows not how soon a longer and worse imprisonment may come. He hears threatenings on every hand. The name Magor-Missabib that, by Diviue direction, he bas applied to Pashur, is retorted on him, as being, in the opinion of hls enemies, a name eminently appropriate to his present circumstances. So far ns the human elements were concerned, his chances of sarety appeared very poor indeed. His enemies arc numerous and crafty ; and, Rharpened by self-interest, they needed no ex.hortation to be watchful. Those who compare these confessions of the prophet at different times with the experiences of Jesus at the hands of his enemies, w\11 notice a. remarkable parallelism. What Jesus said with respect to the scribes and Pharisees is peculiarly forcible when considered in the light of Jeremiah's trials: "Ye are the children of them which killed the prophets" (Matt. xxiii. 31). IL THE SUFFICIENCY OF JEnEMIAH'B PROTECTION. Here is the man of strong faith, and of a speech full of confidence and calmness. He may well bo depressed; beset as he is with so much malice, brought into close contact with the worst wickedness of the human heart. But, on the other barid, he has this for his comfort, that, the closer wicked men come to him, the closer he finds himself to God, This is the service the wicked render to the witnesses of God, that, the more they persecute them, the more they press them towards the great Helper. The ungodly little dream of the service they render in this respect. So far as abiding results are concerned, the spirit of intoler- an_ce has done the direct contrary of what i~ was intended to do. The p\ll'poses of evil might have been bl)ttcr served if the Church of Christ had had an easier time of it in the beginning. He who is potentially the mighty, terrible One in the midst of his people, 011, xx. 1-18.] 'l'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH.