The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 575

appalling to its hearer, whose inner sense of degradation and falseness would enhance its force. It is possible that the time and manner of this communication may have been intended to awaken repentance; failing which it was carried into effect. All around us such judgments are taking place, and it is well for men to examine what manner of spirit they are of ere they presume to occupy sacred offices or to set them- selves against the laws of God's kingdom.-M. ~ Vers. 10, 11.-Preswmption inr:reasing with impunity. The meekness of Jeremiah's r.eply emboldened the false prophet, and he forthwith proceeded from words to actions. l'he symbol appointed by God was publicly removed from the shoulders of Jeremiah -tod destroyed. Opposition to the spirit and will of God could scarcely go further. 'l'he interpretation given to the action reveals how false and dangerous the position ,issumed. I. THE SERVANTS OF Goo ARE FREQUENTLY AT APPARENT DISADVANTAGE AS COMPARED WITH THE SERVANTS OF SATAN. The action was so sudden and unex- pected that Jeremiah had but little to say, and eventually went his way, sad but silent. Everything seemed to favour his opponent. The "patriotic party" was enthusiastic, and not to be restrained. The wisdom of this world is prompt and versatile because.it is unprincipled; and it is bold because it is profane and unbelieving. Yet this is the condition under which the followers of the truth are to contend. I!. THE SERVANTS OF SATAN ARE THEREBY ENCOURAGED TO MORE PBONOUIICED BEHAVIOUR, AND COMMIT THEMSELVES BEYOND RECALL. Hananiah's case illustrates this in two ways, viz. : 1. Sacrilegious action. Touching the person of the prophet. Deliberately destroying the yoke which he must have known was of Divine appoint- ment. 2. Its definitive interpretation. He not only rebelled :against the Lord, but committed himself to a prediction with a :fixed. date, and one that must soon arrive. The necessity of .the position he had assumed was upon him. Woe to the prophet of lies who ventures upon definite and verifiable prophecies I There is no halting-place to those who begin systematically to oppose God's truth. They must ere long be caught in their own snares. With the sense of reverence the fear of consequences is forgotten and caution is discarded. IIL BY so DOING THEY HASTEN THEIR OWN JUDGMENT. The triumph is brilliant but short-lived, and purchased at terrible cost. Let sinners pause when their crimes are made easy for them and excess follows upon excess. The motion of the rapid may Lut. precede the fall (Jude 8-13). When human resources and precautions a.re exhausted, it may be a sign that God will undertake his own cause. His servants are justified at such a tiLUe in looking for and invoking his help, which is likely to be of a very signal and determining kind.-M. Vera. 1-17.-..4 false prophet and his fate. I. HANANIAH's PRESUMPTION. Note his direct challenge to the true prophet. He seeks out Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah," in tbe presence of the priests and of all the people." A prophet was, of course, bound to make.his utterances in public, but Hananiah waited his chance until he found an opportunity of bearding the hated Jeremiah in as open a way as possible. He speaks (!{CJ)licitly in the Name of Jehovah. He is not afraid to take the great Name in vain. Let us be warned lest we heedlessly utter, under the pretended authority of God, what is nothing more than the daring imagination of our own hearts. 'l'ho falso prophet ventures on the very figure which had been employed by the true prophet. It would almost seem as if Jeremiah bad habitually borne something in the shape of a yoke, and if so, it must have been a very irritating sight to the false prophets. Little wonder that, under the pretence of a prophetic mission, he ventured on the removal of this yoke. Above all things, there is the confident assertion with respect to lime. Notwithstanding all the manifest difficulties of the achievement, Hananiah is not afraid to say that in two years Judah will again ·be :firmly resting on its old founcla- tions. Thus from all these indications of presumptuous action, we have an illustration of how confident heretics are in their error. Too often we a.re doubtful and partial in our statements of truth. We lack that faith and that thorough-going assertion of the truths God has revealed which a.re so necessary to make those truths full of operative and irresistible force. Hananiah here is as confident as he can be in all his deadly 5S6 THE BOOK OF THE PHOPHE'l' JEREMIAH. [on. :xxix. 1-32.