The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 478

to many, and those who enjoy Divine privileges should be especially careful as to how they behave. The world of heathenism witnessing the behaviour of Judah would be confirmed in its unbelief, or would misinterpret the genius of the religion of Jehovah. It might suppose that Jehovah was but a likeness of one of its own gods, full of partiality. This impression must be dissipated, and it could only be so by firm and prompt dealing with the offence. II. A FINAL PEREMPTORY SUMMONS TO REFORMATION 18 GIVEN. It might be supposed enough to have dealt silent and summary punishmonts upon the guilt,y land and its king. But this would not consist with: 1. God's revelation of righteousness, In blessings as well as in punishments a rational connection had to be shown with the behaviour and deserts of their subjects. The sinner's own conscience had to be addressed ere he was cast off for ever ; and the indictment was of world-wide concern. A warning and an example were required for the general guidance of men, and for their apprehension of the justice of Heaven in punishing those upon whom the calamity came. 2. God's mercy. The scheme of redemption does not exclude the possibility of the sinner himself being saved. On the contrary, this is its chief aim. Just as it would not be consistent with God's character to suffer unrighteous practices to continue unrebuked, so " God would not be God" were the penalty to be unannounced and without alternative of salvation. With many sinners of to-day he deals in like fashion. The warning is given with gentle, repeated, and terrible emphasis, and the way of escape is pointed out so plainly that "the wayfaring man, though a fool, may not err therein." Ill. HE HIMSELF WILL BE THE ANTAGONIST. "I am against thee" (cf. ver. 5). 1. This was a reversal of his normal relation to Israel. It would be hard for people of their habits of thought to realize; and it is stated boldly in order to emphasis. Not mere neutrality. He is to be a belligerent-the belligerent with whom they have to do. They must have felt foredoomed to failure. They knew his power and resources, for had they not been employed on their own behoof in the past? Is not this the present consciousness of many? They know that God is against them. Are they prepared to carry the war on to the end? 2. It represented the utter wrongness and hopelessness of their cause. The "rock of the plain" would be of little avail against him. The forces of the world were at his command ; and their own hearts would fail them for fear against this ghostly combatant. Against the righteous one the sense of an evil cause would be the parent of discomfiture, IV. YET TBE PUNISHMENT WAB TO COME FROM WITHIN THEMSELVES. "I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings;" "I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof." It is not easy to gather from these vague statements the precise form the punishment would assume. But the description agrees best with the circumstances of Jehoiaki.m's reign, who built palaces of cedar, and ruled with despotic violence. A literal rendering of the terms of the judgment is scarcely permissible. Is civil war meant? Or court intrigues, that may issue even more disastrously? In any caso it would be the result of a reaction against the tyranny and wrong-doing of the court. 1. The elements of destruction are within the 6inner himself. Many •already know something of what hell is in themselves. 2. The resul,ta of sin will be its punish- ment.-M. Vere. 1-14.-Saved so as by fire. This chapter has been by some means put out of its proper place; for it treats of King Zedekiab, whilst in later chapters circumstances connected with the reigns of the kings who preceded him a.re given. But being placed here it serves to show how God's servants, despised at first, come to be honoured at last. The stocks had been good enough for Jeremiah-so the last chapter tells-and hie enemies had smitten him as if be were a common felon. Here we find the king and high officers of the court coming and beseeching his intercession and help to avert the calamity which was so fast coming upon them and the nation at large. "Give us of your oil," said the foolish virgins to the wise. And again and a.gain has it been and will it be that the ungodly shall come to covet earnestly the place in God's favour which his servants only enjoy, but which, together with them who sought it when they did not, they have heretofore despised. 'l.'hose who honour God he will honour, and will cause their enemies to come and confess that God is with them of a truth. 'l'hus on. xxt. 1-14.] THE IlOOK OF TH.El PROPHET JEREMIAH. 485