Vers, 1 — 6. — Silencing a prophet. A short time before an attempt was made upon his life ; now it is imagined that the prophet will yield to harsh treatment and intimidation. The natural heart of man is so foolish that it cannot but credit man with the authorship of Divine truth, and suppose that he can control and modify the inspired messages of God. Nay, the sinner is often so left to himself as to suppose that his own precautions will prevent the communications of God's Spirit, or at least the carrying of these into effect i
I. Faithful witnesses of the tbuth hat sohetimes bk brought into oheat BTBAITB. God does not guarantee a smooth experience and an easy life to his servants. Quite the contrary. His Son prepares his disciples for suffering many things (Matt. x. 16—22). Jeremiah would seem to be alternately exposed to harshness and kindness — he was in the prison and yet in the palace. The bribe, or the deceitful promise, may be as great a trial as the cruelty. Seclusion for a prophet and patriot must have been very hard to endure at such a time, and full of spiritual perplexity. Great things were being done, and national destinies decided, whilst he was held fast, helpless, and with little reliable information of what was going on. So God often lays aside his servants just at a time when there would seem to be most occasion for their activity. " His thoughts are not as our thoughts."
II. The Wobd of God is not thereby hindebed. 1. 7( m not sQenced, (Ver. 1 ; eC ch. zxziU. 1.) The communion of the soul with Gkid cannot be broken by externa]
CH. XXTIL 1—44.] THE BOOK OF THE PEOPHET JEEEMIAH. 66
meana. Aa well might one nj, "Thus far, and no further," to the ocean or the day.
Many of the graodest revelations of God dale from prisons. 2. Resistance only hastens its progress and fulfilment. Persecution ani martyrdom have done more for Christianit} than a thousand direct agencies. How the voices multiply t 3. Those who oppose it ensure its speedy visitation upon themselves.
in. God will uphold and comfort his afflicted servants. The greatest trial to Jeremiah would have heeu Gud's silence: at this season the "Word of the Lord " must have heen his greatest consolation and reassurance. Earthly deprivation may he heavenly Uberty. Sufferers for the truth know and feel that God is with them. — M.
Vers. 6 — 15.— Purchasing hy Divine command. The passage a locus dassieus for various questions and formalities connected with the Mosaic Law. Ahraham bought a field for his dead ; Jeremiah bought one for a nation yet unborn. If no other circum- stance had been recorded concerning the latter, this alone would entitle him to be enrolled amongst the fathers of the faithfuL
I. God's servants are bometihes called to perform strange and BnrauLAB ACTIONS. The piophet bidden to purchase a field when the land is overrun by the Chaldeans ; a poor man to procure and expend money upon a speculation for which there was no earthly security ; a prisoner to acquire laud there seemed so little likeli- hood of his ever seeing. Much of Christian duty is summed up in that experience. We are not to stumble at earthly anomalies or anachronisms, but to live and labour and spend " as seeing him who is invisible."
II. The will of God is a sufficient reason fob Doina such things. That is, the revealed will. Men who act by revelation have not to ask for reasons before acting. Obedience is their role ; afterwards they may ask for light. Christians have to commit their way unto the hoii, and trust where they cannot trace. They are led by a higher reason, which cannot err.
III. What God commands ought to n dons fbomftlt, lovinqlt, axd with EXACTITUDE. Jeremiah at once performs the duty. He liasteas to relieve his kins- man from perplexity and loss. And the business part of the engagement is executed with the greatest care and all the formalities of law. No flaw is suffered to enter into the bargain. The importance and duty of Christians being model busine.ss men. What is done for God and under his supervision should be done thoroughly. Justice precedes and facilitates charity.
IV. Transactions apparently small and trifling mat have great meanings. How different the feelings of the parties to this transaction 1 The money absolutely of little amount ; relatively it was worth much. We are reminded of the widow's mite. That document was the title deed to a kingdom. This is the spirit in which Christiana should do business. We ought never to forget that we are heirs of the kingdom. The world has been sold under sin, but we are free. Let us strive to " lay up treasure in heaven." Let us make our title clear to its liberties and joys. In the meanest under- taking let us be guided by this spirit. In the confidence of Christ let us redeem the world. Let our motto be "Everything in the spirit of Christ!" Men cannot be just and honest unless they are inspired, even for the least things, as Jeremiah was. A large and general brotherliness, an implicit faith in God's Word, ought to govern us in all our affairs. Above all, our own relation to Christ, our personal transactions with him, should at once, with prayer and laith, be made sure 1 — M.
Vers. 16 — 25. — The prayer of Jeremiah. L Cleab and unmistakable duties SHOULD BE fulfilled ERE MEN ENTER UPON DiviNE EXERCISES. The deed had already been executed.
II. Circumstances or tbial ass pebplexitt should lias men to thx thbonb
or GRACE.
III. The known character and past action of God should influence men's judgments op present experiences and strengthen their faith. It is good ta rehearse these even in private devotions.
IV. SlN8 SHOULD BE FREELY AND HONESTLY CONFESSED.
V. One saint mat intercede fob mant sinners.
5« THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, ton. xxxu. 1—44
VI. The fbateb of faith ib answebed. (Vera. 26 — 44.) — M,
Vers. 37 — 40. — TJie unities of the Divine kingdom. (Cf. John xvii.) L Unitt d
THE EXPERIENCE AND PBTVILEGES OP 8ATINO OBACE. (Ver. 37.)
II. Unity with God.
III. Unity in spieit and laboub with one anothbb. (Ver. 39.)
IV. Unity of DESTiNY. (Ver. 40.) — M.
Vers. 1—44. — A story of OocPs sustaining grace. This whole chapter may be summed up under some such heading as this. For it begins with showing us CJod's servant Jeremiah in a position in which he sorely needed sustaining grace, and then it proceeds to narrate the threefold process by which this grace was communicated to him. The manner in which God sustained Jeremiah is very much akin to that in which ho will sustain all his servants who may be in similar need. If any be so now, let them give hged to this record. Note —