The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 521

fails to edify or satisfy. And in its effect upon the moral nature the true message dis- tinguishes itself from the false. "Fire," in its scorching, consumlng power, cannot well be counterfeited; hut such is the effect of the Word of God. The" hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces" demonstrates its legitimacy as an instrument of grace by its power upon the hard and impenitent heart (Heb. iv. 12).-M. Vers. 33-40.-Despising prophesyings. I. THE Ho:-.ouR OF Gon IS BOUXD L'P WITH ms Vfono. 1. It expresses his character. A careful, gradual unfolding of himself in his attributes and personal relations. 2. It declares his will. (1) His Law; (2) his gospel; both of which express his purpose. The prophecies of God with his promises and appeals. 3. In its loftiest embodiment-Jesus Christ-it is identified with himself. (John;, 1.) II. HE WILL NOT BUFFER IT TO BE TREATED LIGHTLY. To do so would be to court contempt, if not to condone the offence. As a si11:n of his displeasure : 1. Ile will give the false prophets another message to deliver. This is said satirically (ver. 33); their circumstances will prove that the true message is not one of acceptance but of rejection. 'l'he whole nation will be thrust out of covenant relationship. 2. Special penalties will be inflicted upon particular offenders. (Ver. 34.) Handling the Word of God deceitfully will bring upon a man evident tokens of the Divine displeasure. 3. The word" burden" itself will have a new and fearful significance. It was a spiritual offence to talk about " burdens" so lightly. People to whom the true message of God had no awful impressive- ness would be taught reverence and fear by that which he would inflict upon them. It would be a true" burden," not so readily got rid of (vers. 39, 40).-M. Ver. 6.-" The Lord our Righteousness." How pleasant it is, after a traveller has fur long days of travel been occupied in passing through a dreary, monotonous country, to come to a region where Nature puts on her loveliest and most attractive aspect; where, instead of flat plains, unrelieved by hill or dale, or any object on which the wearied eye can fasten with delight, you find yourself in a land of noble rivers and rushing torrent~, lofty mountains and exquisite valleys, flourishing cities and noble buildings! With what pleasure does the traveller enter such region after the far different aud far less delightful scenes he has been fatigued with for so long I Now, akin to snch pleasure is that of the persevering student of these prophecies of Jeremiah, when at length, quitting the monotonous and painful recitals of Israel's sins, and the distressing records of tho dread judgments of God which were to come upon them in consequence, with which tho foregoing chapters have been mainly filled, he enters, in these verses which belong to our text, on a portion of the prophet's writings which tells, not of sin, but o( ri::;hteous- ness; not of the Lord the Avenger, but of the Lord the Redeemer and Saviour; the Restorer because the Righteousness of his people. It is like an oasis in the desert; like what Elim must have been to the Israelites after their weary journey to Marah, where burning heat and thirst and much distress had been their continued lot. And no doubt Jeremiah and the faithful few who adhered to him wero wont to solace Lheir saddened minds by turning their thoughts, as they do here, away from the dark and terriblo present to the bright and happy future when Israel should dwell safely under the rule of the Lor,l their Righteousness. That was a. bright onlook, by means of which the heavy burden of the days in which tho prophet actually lived and laboured became more endurable, and their spirits wcro kept from being utterly overwhelmed. Now, concerning this glorious namo of Jehovah, "the Lorcl our Righteousness," we will first show that- I. Tms NAME DELONGS TO THE LORD JESUS CHnIST. It is impossible to conceivo of any devout Jew ascribing tho name of Jehovah to an ordinary earthly monarch, however great or famous ho might be. Every Jsraelito would count it bl11sphemy so to speak of him. Moreover, the extravaganco of tho assertions here made, if regarcle,l ns descriptive of an earthly monarch, preclude the possibility of their having been so intended. How could any such be called the righteousness of his people? Zerubbabel was undoubtedly a noble prince, and in such measuro as was possible to him answered to the prophetic description. He wns a branch of the house of David, and nothing is known agninst him. But his 1iower was very limited, and in no sense did he fill np the portraiture that is given here. Jew ancl Christinn aliko agree that neither he nor  628 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [rn. xxm. 1--40.