Vers. 11 — 14. — Churchwardens. 1. These are generally chosen from the friends oj Che Church, as they who are to defend and guard the Church's interests should be. Who should care for the Church if not her friends ? 2. But sometimes men who are no friends of the Church have charge of her interests. 3. And not seldom they are wnwngst her best servants, and do their work diligently and well. 4. In these verses we have a signal instance of this. Here is the fierce, heathen, Israel-destroying Nebuchadnezzar, I'usying himself seriously about the safety of God's prophet Jeremiah. It is not simply a case of God shutting the lions' mouths, but constituting the lions his servant's sure though strange defence (cf. ver. 12). " Is Saul also among tlie prophets ? " — that was thought to be a marvel. But that the Chaldean monarch should be the faith's defender and the prophet's guard is no less strange. 5. And there have been otJier such instances before and since this. See what Egypt was to Joseph and Moses, the Philistines to David, the Persians to Daniel, Greece to Jews in Alexandria, Borne to Paul ; see also history ol the Lollards, Reformers, etc. And how often in the straits of God's people have they Ijad to confess that he has raised up lor them from most unlikely sources the helpers they have needed ! "The barbarous pc^ople showed us no little kindness " (Acts xzviii. 2), — as we have seen sometimes a weak, defenceless creature dwelling in the same cage with strong, cruel beasts, and not only unharmed, but jiroteoted by them. 6. How i§ all this to be explained f In this instance of Jeremiah the motives of Nebuchadnezzar are clear and comprehensible. Jeremiah had done his best to persuade his countrymen to submit to Babylon. His influence would be strong with the cnpiives in Babylon and serviceable to her monarch. The king would show that, whilst he punished his foes, he did not forget his friends. The reverence and awe which Jeremiah, so evidently God's prophet, aroused in the monarch's mind. But : 7. Be was yuaiUed of God. Jeremiah was no partisan of Babylon. The most terrible prophecies against her are his (cf. ch. 1.). No other explanation than that the care of God was over liim can account for theif favour to one who spoke so plainly and so evil concerning them. And their forbearance is the more remarkable when we remember the proud, cruel, and arrogant character ot the monarch whom Jeremiah thus, as it were, delied. 8. Many and most helpful art the lessons oj such facts as these. Enemies God can make our friends, perils oiv. protectors ; and because " the Lord's portion is his people," his will is ever to do theQ> <{ood. Such deliverances as these are designed to foreshadow our final and perfeo deliverance, and to deepen our confidence in regard thereto. — 0.
Vers. 16 — 18. — " In that ye ministered to the saints." " God," says the writer of th< Epistle to the Hebrews, "is not unrighteous to forget" such ministry. It is a strong expression, and seems to imply that God would be unrighteous if he did forget. Here in the story of Ebed-Melech, we have an instance of God's rewarding ministry to hii saints. For what Ebed-Melech did, cf. ch. xxxviii. 7, etc. For his recompense, set these verses (15 — 18). Consider —
L These eecompenses. They are : 1. A fact. How many instances there are 1— the widow of Sarepta; the Shunammite wonian ; Dorcas ; Paul's friends, Onesiphoruai etc. ; Jonathan ; Mary of Bethany ; Cyrus and the Persian nation, for their goodness t« Israel j the people of Malta (Acts xxviii.) ; our own country, for offering asylum t« persecuted Hollanders and Huguenots. And, besides such instances, there are repeated declarations to the same effect : " I will bless them thfit bless thee ; " " They shall prosper that love thee." The cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple " shah in no wise lose its reward." " Whoso shall receive one such little child in my Namt receiveth me." 2. Very great. (Cf. illiistratiuns given.) How comparatively slighi was the ministry I how cup of cold water-Uke ! yet how great the reward I Hew mucl
154 THE BOOK OP THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, [oh. xxxu. 1—18,
this country owes, in her commerce, her character, her fame, to her ministry to God « saints\ Many people denounce Cromwell for most things he did, but all applaud his interference with tlie bloody | apists on behalf of the persecuted Waldenses. Milton's grand lines, "Avenge, Lonl, thy slau;hteied saints," etc., have immortalized that deed as it deserved. No, indeed ; " God is not unrighteous to forget," rather is he most gracious to remember, all such ministries. 3. Varied. Sometimes the recompense is given at the time, in taiip;ible, material blessing. Sometimes such recompense is delayed, but comes afterwards in full measure. Sometimes it comes not here at all in outward recompense, but in .spiritual joy and peace — sunshine in the soul, approval of conscience, gladness of heart, conliruiation in good. But for all, and most of all, in eternity. " That is the great harvest-season of holy and benigUHnt deeds." " They shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." But : 4. Ever sure. They shall be recompensed. None of that good seed shall fall on other than good ground, or yield other than bountiful and beneficent fruit. The little gift "shall by no means," saitb our Saviour, " lose its reward." And his many present recompenses all confirm our faith in the truth of that blessed Word.
II. Theib REASONS. Sonie of them are probably such 88 these : 1. For the LorcPi own S'lke. Such ministries demonstrate the presence in the heart of that which he most ol all prizes — love. Tliey show " some good thing toward the Lord God." 'I hey delight the Father's heart, and his smile cannot be concealed nor his liand held back from blessing. 2. For the sake of those who thus minister, as Ebed-Melech did. God recom- penses them because they have thus cuniniitled themselves on the side of righteousness, and he would encourage tl em. 3. For tlie sake of those ministered to. God IJessins tlieir friends tends to raise up Friends for them, as they often need. "We will go with you, for we see that the I ord is with you." 4. For the sake o] truth and righteousness generally. Gud, by sucli recompenses, makes it evident on which side he is. Thus he cheers his people, dismays his adversaries, decides the waverer, and so advances the good cause in the world.
III. Their admonition. Follow the Lord's example; do not you forget those who have stood up for truth and ri^ht. Sympntliize with, applaud, defend such. Be such yourselves. Would you have done :-is Eb.d-Melech did? Do you when the Christian lad or girl is jeered at by godless comraile.s, in the school, the counting-house, the shop, the kitchen ? " Stand up, stand up, for Jesus 1 " — C.